Local Authority News
13/5/2011
Caithness Heat and Power To Be Wound Up
The 242 households in Wick which receive their heat and hot water from Caithness Heat and Power (CHaP) have been told that attempts by The Highland Council to find a private operator to take over the district heating system have been unsuccessful and that the Council will now work with residents to reinstate domestic heating systems in their homes. In a letter hand delivered to their homes earlier today (Friday), CHaP Company Secretary, Michelle Morris, Assistant Chief Executive of The Highland Council, advised households that the Council and the directors of CHAP have been striving over a long period to find an operator from the private sector to take over the district heating system The Council was initially involved in discussions with a company called Clearpower.13/5/2011
Highland Motorists Warned To Be Alert To Walk To School Week
Motorists in the Highlands are being alerted by The Highland Council that Monday 16 - Friday 20 May is National Walk to School Week and over 11,000 pupils at 89 primary schools throughout the region could create an increase of pedestrians around schools. Walk to School Week is a national campaign with a simple aim - to encourage all parents and children to make walking to school part of their daily routine.12/5/2011
Safe Highlanders and Islanders 2011
Almost 2,500 Primary 7 pupils from Highland schools will be immersed in the challenging issues of community safety and crime prevention when they attend Safe Highlanders and Islanders events in Inverness and four satelite locations including Fort William, Portree, Lairg and Wick. The Inverness event will take place in Cameron Barracks between 11 and 20 May 2011.12/5/2011
Directors Sought For High Life Highland Board
An opportunity has arisen for people with an interest in community learning and leisure services in Highland communities to become involved as Directors of the board of High Life Highland and its trading subsidiary to deliver these services on behalf of The Highland Council. The Council has agreed to establish High Life Highland as a company limited by guarantee (with charitable status) with the Council as the sole member and with a wholly owned trading subsidiary.12/5/2011
Adult Basic Education looking for new volunteers
The Highland Council's Adult Basic Education Co-ordinator for Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey is seeking volunteers to help locals with their learning. Mohamed Hamada, ABE Co-ordinator is looking for people who might be interested in becoming voluntary tutors.12/5/2011
Transformation Of Health, Education And Social Work
Go ahead for health, education and social care integration project Members of The Highland Council and directors of NHS Highland have unanimously confirmed their intention to progress far-reaching plans to integrate health, education and social care services in the Highlands. The target date for implementation is April 2012, using a lead agency model that would see NHS Highland provide services for adult community care and the Council providing services for children.
7/5/2011
Rogue Traders Warning To Householders
Highland householders warned to be on guard against doorstep rogue itinerant traders. Trading Standard officers from The Highland Council are calling on residents to be on their guard against rogue itinerant traders calling door at their door.19/4/2011
Council Pressing Hard To Retain Tug On West Coast
Council remains vigilant in campaign to retain full coastguard and tug services. The Highland Council has assured rescue staff in the Western Isles of its total support for the retention of a 24 x 7 coastguard service in Stornoway and the emergency towing vessel that patrols the Minches from its Stornoway base.18/4/2011
Postal Voters Uged To Make Their Vote Count
A record number of Highland electors have applied to vote by post at the Scottish Parliamentary elections and the national referendum on the UK voting system on Thursday 5 May. A total of 25,137 electors across the three Highland constituencies of Caithness, Sutherland and Ross; Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch and Inverness and Nairn will be receiving their postal votes from tomorrow (Tuesday).17/4/2011
Council Development Plan Scheme 2011
The Highland Council has submitted its latest Development Plan Scheme to Scottish Ministers. This document sets out the key pieces of work being undertaken by the Development Plans Team over the coming year, and sets out how people can get involved with these projects.17/4/2011
Council Seeks Views On Planning For Wind Energy
The Highland Council has prepared new planning guidance for wind energy developments and now wants to hear what the people of the Highlands, developers and interest groups think about it. The new guidance will be used in the consideration of planning applications for wind energy developments.13/4/2011
Traditional Building Skills Courses at Orkney College June/July 2011
Sash and Case Window Repair Lime Pointing and Harling Stonemasonry Chimney Repairs Portland Cement Repairs The 1 day courses cost £125 each and funding is available towards course fees and travel costs from the Pulteneytown Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS), supported by Historic Scotland and the Highland Council. For further information contact the CARS project officer on 01955 602 199 or by e-mail bryony.robinson[AT]highland.gov.uk and leave a message giving your name and contact details.7/4/2011
Gail Ross Wins With Huge Majority For SNP
Local lass Gail Ross won her council seat for Wick easily. Today at the count she came out way ahead after the various counts.
6/4/2011
Progress Made in delivering ICT contract
Highland Councillors have been assured that a £66 million ICT contract with Fujitsu is being robustly monitored to ensure that upgrades of computer and telephony equipment in Council offices and schools are delivered. Councillor Carolyn Wilson, Chairman of the Resources Committee, said she was satisfied that clear signs of improvement in performance were evident following recent high level meetings with Fujitsu representatives as well as through reports on local delivery.6/4/2011
Election/referendum registration reminder
With both the Scottish Parliament election and the national referendum on the UK Parliament's voting system taking place on Thursday 5 May, electors in the three Highland constituencies are being urged to ensure they are registered to vote before the deadline for receipt of applications of Friday 15 April. Voters are also reminded that the deadline for seeking a postal vote is 5 pm on Thursday 14 April.4/4/2011
Is You Business Prepared For Any Emergency?
Council asks Highland businesses and voluntary sector if they are prepared? 17,000 businesses and voluntary sector organisations are being urged this week to ensure that they have plans in place should their activities face a major crisis. Along with the annual billing of non-domestic rates, the Council is including a short information leaflet that asks people if they are prepared.1/4/2011
Public reminded of changes to ways of paying Council bills
Highland householders are reminded by The HighlandCouncil of new and extended ways of paying their Council Tax, rent and other Council bills, which took effect from Friday 1 April - the start of the new financial year. The public will be able to pay by cash at any Post Office and more than 300 PayPoints and Payzones throughout the Highlands.31/3/2011
Public Briefings On New Wick Council Offices
Town and Country Planning (Development management Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2008 Planning Application Pre-Application Consultation The Highland Council's Housing and Property Service are conducting pre-application consultation on the following development proposal; Redevelopment of the existing Council office buildings at High Street/Market Place, Wick, KW1 4AB Further information can be obtained from The Highland Council's Housing and Property Service, Town House, Inverness, between 9:00am and 5:00pm Mondays to Fridays. Public consultation briefings will be held at the Assembly Rooms, Sinclair Terrace, Wick , on Friday 1st April 2011 between 1:00pm and 5:00pm and on Saturday 2nd April 2011 between 9:00am and 1:00pm.29/3/2011
Redundancies Avoided In Council Grounds Maintenance
Through working closely with the trade unions and following effective vacancy monitoring and redeployment policies, The Highland Council has been able to avoid making any grounds maintenance staff redundant following the outsourcing of routine grass cutting work to a private contractor. When the Council decided to invite the private sector to compete for grass cutting contracts last year, it was estimated that 22 staff would transfer to the successful bidder under the TUPE Regulations, and that a further 33 posts would be at risk of redundancy.28/3/2011
