News Archive
27/1/2011
Budget Bill Debate - £1.3 Billion Cut
Ahead of the Budget Bill debate in the Scottish Parliament today, Finance Secretary John Swinney said:"I look forward to Stage 1 of the Budget Bill and debating a budget that will protect jobs and frontline services, promote economic recovery and support the move to a low carbon economy. Scotland's budget next year has been slashed by £1.3 billion as a result of Westminster cuts, planned by the previous UK Government and extended by the current UK coalition.27/1/2011
UK GDP Figures - Warning From John Swinney
Speaking in response to the publication of UK GDP figures, which show the UK economy contracted by 0.5 per cent during the fourth quarter of 2010, Finance Secretary John Swinney on Tuesday said:"Today's shock UK figures entirely vindicate the Scottish Government's decision to defer the UK coalition Government's Emergency Budget cuts for 2010/11 to next year, so that we can continue investing and building recovery now. Clearly, Westminster's cuts go too far and too fast, and are choking off the UK's recovery.27/1/2011
Farm Income Estimates 2010
Scotland's Chief Statistician today published Scottish Farm Income Estimates 2010, containing the first release of aggregate Total Income From Farming (TIFF) estimates for 2010 and average Farm Business Income (FBI) estimates for 2009-10, along with revisions for previous years. Main findings: Total Income From Farming (TIFF) increased by £122 million to £618 million between 2009 and 2010.27/1/2011
Glasgow 2014 Digital Game Competition
Budding computer games designers are being given a unique opportunity to design a digital game for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Any student studying in Scotland is eligible for the competition which will see both the winner and runner up take home a cash prize of £2014.27/1/2011
Go ahead for A90 Upgrade - Aberdeen - Ellon
Transport Minister Keith Brown today gave the go ahead for the upgrade after considering the findings and recommendations of the public local inquiry. The improvements will provide continuous dual carriageway between Aberdeen and Ellon and remove the bottleneck caused by the existing single carriageway.27/1/2011
Law Change To Protect Tenant's Deposits
Regulations governing the approval of a national Tenancy Deposit Scheme were laid in the Scottish Parliament. The regulations are expected to become law in March.27/1/2011
THOUSANDS IN FIRING LINE AS CUTS BITE
UK Housing Benefit changes will penalise the poor Around 60,000 households will face severe hardship when UK housing benefit changes take hold in Scotland, Housing and Communities Minister Alex Neil said today. In April, 55,000 households will be given nine months to either lose housing benefit or move out of their home.25/1/2011
Highland Emergency Restrictions On Use Of Road Salt Removed
A 2,000 Tonne load of salt delivered to Inverness yesterday (24 January 2011) has boosted total stock on salt for Highland Council roads to 14,800 Tonnes. With a further 8,300 Tonnes due later in the week, stocks are now sustainably above the 12,800 Tonne threshold at which Councillors decided last week that restrictions should be lifted.25/1/2011
Highland Libraries Award For Quality Service Provision
The Highland Council's Library Service has received acknowledgement for their commitment to providing high quality services at the inaugural Scottish Library Excellence Awards. With public libraries in Scotland attracting over 30 million visitors per year and academic libraries attracting 12.8 million, the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) acknowledged the achievements of Highland libraries.25/1/2011
Council Welcomes Progress At Nigg
The Highland Council has welcomed the progress announced today (Tuesday 25 January 2011) in reactivating the former Nigg oil fabrication yard in East Ross. Global Energy has confirmed it has been given preferred bidder status and is in the process of purchasing part of the site owned by US company, KBR, and securing a long term lease of the section owned by the Wakelyn Trust, with a view to taking over the site in April.25/1/2011
Young People Wanted
Young people from across the Highlands still have time to stand as candidates in the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) elections which take place across Scotland in March. SYP is the national organisation which provides young people aged 14-25 a platform to represent young people across Highland and Scotland and is an opportunity to influence politicians and formal decision makers.24/1/2011
Council Focuses On Trees And Woodlands
Planning consultations seek views on sustainable design and impact of development on trees and woodland. An eight-week public consultation gets under way today Monday (24 January 2011) on two new planning documents produced by The Highland Council's Planning Environment and Development Service, which provide guidance on the design of buildings as well the impact of developments on trees and woodland.24/1/2011
New Extended Way Of Paying Council Bills
Highland householders are being advised by The Highland Council of new and extended ways of paying their Council Tax, rent and other Council bills. The new payment system takes effect from 1 April - the start of the new financial year.21/1/2011
Emergency Measures Remain In Place To Conserve Winter Salt Supplies
Members of The Highland Council's Transport Environmental and Community Services Committee have agreed that emergency measures to conserve road salt should remain in place until the stock returns to a sustainable level of 12,800 tonnes, which provides eight days of supply at heavy usage. The latest stock level stands at 12,300 tonnes and it is hoped that the restrictions can be lifted by the end of next week, if further scheduled salt supplies arrive.20/1/2011
Councillors Agree Action Plan For Offshore Renewable Energy
Members of the Planning, Environment and Development Committee have agreed a 10 point action plan for offshore renewable energy development which will assist The Highland Council to deliver set objectives for the economy, communities and the environment. The Action Plan, which received cross party support, covers issues surrounding infrastructure, the supply chain, community benefit and workforce and skills.20/1/2011
Environmental Improvement Projects Support Sustainable Economic Growth
In a presentation given to the Highland Council's Planning and Economic Development Committee on January 19th, Ann Hackett, Principal Projects Officer, highlighted to Councillors how over £4 million of Environmental Improvement Projects have contributed to sustainable economic growth throughout Highland Communities. Chairman of the PED Committee, Councillor Ian Ross said: "The Planning & Development Capital Programme is relatively modest when compared to the big Council services, but it enables us to tap into other sources of external funding.18/1/2011
Council Moving Towards Arms Length Organisation For Culture and Leisure
Council updates members on development of a business case for arms length organisation Members of The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport Committee have welcomed the confirmation of a portfolio of services, facilities, staff and budgets to be included within the development of the business case that will explore establishing an arms length organisation (ALO) to manage and deliver the Council's Community Learning and Leisure Services (CLL). Included within the portfolio being considered for the business case are: some 300 buildings and property; around 460 staff; and services covering adult and youth work, culture, facilities, libraries, sport, and health and well being partnership working.18/1/2011
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 18 January 2010
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (January, 18th) sold 85 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (41) averaged 166p (-6.9p) and sold to 176p per kg and £1,188.00 gross.18/1/2011
Test purchase operation gets underway in the North
NORTHERN Constabulary will be utilising the power of the test purchasing legislation to target unscrupulous licensed traders who sell alcohol to under 18s in the coming months. Test Purchasing schemes are designed to target the illegal sale of alcohol to young people and the irresponsible and anti-social behaviour that stems from that.15/1/2011
