Local Authority News
23/6/2011
Council Agree To Moratorium On Rural Primary School Closures
The Highland Council has accepted the imposition of a one-year moratorium on rural school closures but is to seek an urgent meeting with Scottish Cabinet Secretary, Mike Russell, to discuss the Council's current procedures in regard to reviewing its education estate and the broader issues relating to the education of pupils in rural schools. Councilors accepted that the moratorium until June 2012 would be used to allow a commission on the delivery of rural education to review the legislation and its application and to make recommendations on how to reflect best practice.23/6/2011
Classroom Support Needs review Agreed
The Highland Council has agreed that the budget for the service provided by classroom assistants in primary schools be reinstated in 2011-12 and that further work is carried out to redefine the role of classroom support needs to ensure that future support is child-centred and needs-driven. The Council agreed recommendations of a cross-party Working Group, which received advice from a professsional task force.23/6/2011
Councillors oppose any move to close Fort George army base
The Highland Council is to write to Dr Liam Fox the Secretary of State for Defence and Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, expressing its opposition to any moves by the UK Government to close the army barracks at Fort George. Meeting in Inverness on Thursday23 June2011, the Council discussed an emergency report from Stuart Black, Director of Planning which highlighted the importance to the Highland economy of the Ministry of Defence base near Inverness.23/6/2011
Care and Health Service Integrations Moving On
Planning for Integration - the development of a lead agency model in Highland for care and health services Highland Councillors and Directors from NHS Highland have agreed to proceed with plans to integrate health, education and social care services in the Highlands. Meeting jointly for the third time in Inverness on Thursday 23 June 2011, the Council and NHS Highland confirmed their commitment to producing a model for care and support services for adults and children, that they believe can also influence developments across Scotland.16/6/2011
Caithness Children Promote Recycling Message
An award winning mural designed by North Primary School promoting recycling has been used to create eye-catching banners which will be on display at the Council's Recycling Centres at Wick and Seater. The Recycling Mural competition, run by the Council's Waste Aware Team, proved to be very popular with 55 primary schools submitting a total of 119 entries, with a wide array of styles and ideas.16/6/2011
National Convener of Children's Hearings Scotland visits Highland
Bernadette Monaghan, the National Convener of Children's Hearings, Scotland, met with members of The Highland Children' Panel Advisory Committee on thursday 16 June 2011 as part of her consultation with local authorities on the future structure and function of the Children's Panel Area Support Teams. Her post, and the reform of the Children's Hearings system that is underway, are all the result of the Children's Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011, which was passed in January 2011.16/6/2011
Former Pupil Returns As Head For North School
The new head teacher of Wick North Primary School is Ms Wendy Scollay who is currently head teacher at Kilchuimen Primary in Fort Augustus. Originally from Wick and a former pupil at Wick North Primary, Ms Scollay starts as head teacher at the school in August for the new term.16/6/2011
A Step Closer For Integration Of Health & Social Work Services
Planning for Integration - development of a lead agency model in Highland for care and health services Highland Councillors and the NHS Highland Board will be asked next week to press ahead with plans for the integration of health and social care services. The Scottish Government is looking to the Highlands to produce a model for care and support services for adults and children, that can influence developments across Scotland.14/6/2011
Highland Council Action plan To Support Marine Renewables
Actions set out to support marine renewable energy in North Highland The Highland Council has published a 10-point Action Plan which it is developing with key partners, to help plan for the growth of the marine renewable energy industry in North Highland. This follows on from Onshore Visioning workshops held at the Castle of Mey in August 2010 and February 2011 to which a wide range of people and organisations were invited.12/6/2011
Independent Candidate Wins Tain And Easter Ross By-election
Tain and Easter Ross by-election result •Detailed election results The five-cornered by-election for Tain and Easter Ross (Ward 8) on The Highland Council has resulted in a victory for Mrs Fiona Robertson, Independent. The by-election followed the death of SNP councillor Alan Torrance, 68, in March after a long illness.
12/6/2011
Council Urges Public Not To Feed Seagulls
The Highland Council is reminding members of the public not to feed seagulls as it re-launches its campaign to raise awareness of the problem of seagulls nesting in Highland urban areas. A guidance leaflet on seagull control is available on the Highland Council website at: www.highland.gov.uk/seagullcontrol and from Council Service Points, Libraries and Transport Environmental and Community Services offices.12/6/2011
Kessock Bridge Repairs Will Delay Journey Times 19 - 26 June
At peak times significant traffic delays are anticipated Major repairs are required to the north expansion joint on both carriageways of the Kessock Bridge and remedial works to the bridge deck surfacing. The works will start on Sunday 19th June 2011, for 8 days using a 24 hour contra flow working with a 30mph speed restriction.9/6/2011
Partnership lays "foundations for the future"
Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership (CNSRP) Business and community leaders heard an upbeat assessment of future prospects for the north as senior partners in Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership (CNSRP) met last week in Wick with members of the Partnership's Advisory Board to discuss current issues. Following the meeting, CNSRP Chairman Sir Anthony Cleaver said "This was a particularly good time for our joint meeting as we were able to reflect on the three-year plan we set out in 2007 and to look forward to our current plan for the period 2011-2014.6/6/2011
High level of interest for board of High Life Highland
The Highland Council has welcomed the high level of interest from members of the public applying for positions of directors of the board of High Life Highland, the new arms length company which will deliver community learning and leisure services on behalf of the Council. When the deadline closed on Friday 3 June, the Council had received 35 applications.2/6/2011
Independent Highland Councillors Move To Save Classroom Assistant Jobs
HIGHLAND Council's Independent Group held discussions aimed at removing the threat to classroom assistants. The main independent grouping are in coalition with the Lib Dems and Labour.2/6/2011
Council Will Consider Moratorium On Rural School Closures
Council to consider impact of proposed moratorium on rural primary school closures The Highland Council is seeking a meeting with Scottish Cabinet Secretary, Mike Russell, to discuss his request that Scottish councils place a one-year moratorium on rural school closures. The Highland Council is currently reviewing its entire school estate with a view to maximising the educational benefit of all Highland pupils.1/6/2011
Panel members sought for Social Work Complaints Review Committee
The Highland Council is seeking to fill three panel vacancies on the Social Work Complaints Review Committee, which gives impartial consideration to complaints raised by clients of the Social Work Service, their carers or representatives. Complaints may relate to assessments, to their outcomes or to the delivery of Social Work Services.28/5/2011
New Agreement On Listed Buildings
Pioneering agreements between Highland Council and Historic Scotland paves the way for improved service delivery Following a successful pilot project, the Highland Council is to apply to Historic Scotland for the Removal of Duty to Notify for certain types of category B listed building consent applications. Previously applications for listed building consent for category A and B listed buildings had been formally notified to Historic Scotland who then had an opportunity to review and call in for determination if they disagreed with the council's decision.26/5/2011
Taxi fare increases agreed in the Highlands
The Highland Council's Transport Environmental and Community Services Committee has confirmed a new scale of maximum taxi fares in the Highlands. If there are no appeals against the decision, the increases will take effect from Monday 27 June.25/5/2011
