The Leader of The Highland Council, Councillor Drew Hendry, has written yet again to the UK Government urging a re-think over its under-occupancy policy, which he says is impacting heavily on the Highlands and in particular remote and rural communities. In a letter to Lord Freud, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Welfare Reform, the Leader urges the Government to back a recommendation from one of its own committees – the Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee – to exempt settlements of fewer than 3,000 people.
Highland Councillors have unanimously accepted changes to the Council’s Service structure to align teams into five Services rather than the current seven, delivering year-on-year savings of £350,000 from 2014/15. The current seven Services are: Education, Culture and Sport Health and Social Care Finance Chief Executives Service Housing and Property Planning and Development TECS The proposed new Services are:- Children, Education and Adult Services Finance Corporate Development Capital and Development Community Services The changes will be implemented in two phases.
Communities benefit from £1.5 million of funding Today, Energy Minister Fergus Ewing announced that seven local communities throughout Scotland will benefit from £1.5 million of funding for district heating projects through the District Heating Loan Fund. Seven projects from as far north as Wick to Lockerbie in the south have been awarded funding support.
Payments made under New Entrants Scheme. Hundreds of new farmers across Scotland are set to receive a share of £2 million funding.
Passenger numbers grew by more than 11,000 at Scotland’s regional airports last month. Latest figures show that HIAL’s 11 airports handled 126,672 passengers in September, an increase of 11,229 (+9.7%) on the same month last year.
The Highland Council is fully supporting the Scottish Government’s Ready for Winter Campaign which was launched today (Monday 21st October 2013). The national campaign focuses on being prepared in the community; at home; on the move and in the workplace and encourages people to use the “extra hour”, when the clocks go back at the weekend to “Take an Hour” to make themselves better prepared.
LOCHMADDY, Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd., (October, 18th) sold 321 weaned calves and store cattle and 9 breeding cattle and 10 OTM cattle at their annual show & sale. Prior to the sale the judge Mr G.
All £60 non-endorsable penalties increased to £100 on 16th August 2013. Included in this could be fines for not displaying a tax disc, no MOT, VEL plate offence, no seatbelt on children.
FORT WILLIAM, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (October, 21st) sold 2,187 store sheep of all classes. Lambs (1,352) averaged £34.85 per head and sold to £72 gross for Suffolk crosses from Arisaig Farms, Arisaig.
The Scottish Countryside Alliance welcome Richard Lochhead MSP’s address at the Scottish Nationalist Party’s autumn conference and his announcement that rural development is a Scottish priority. However we wonder what substance lies beneath his words for Scotland’s rural and wider country sports sector.
The Scottish Countryside Alliance (SCA) is asking Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill MSP to reconsider his stance on the licensing of low-powered air weapons in Scotland. Serious doubts have been cast over planned new controls of air weapons after Scotland's most senior frontline police officers warned licensing would be unwieldy and too expensive.
The Riverbank Practice Patient Participation Group (RPPPG) is undertaking a survey to obtain patients’ views on the current provision of services at the Practice. The survey will take place between Monday 21st October 2013, through to Friday 15th November 2013, inclusive.
13 February 2014 The Business Support Roadshows will begin at 4pm with short presentations from each organisation attending detailing how they can support your business. This will be followed by workshops addressing key business issues.
Highland Councillors will be asked next week to amend the Council’s Service structure to align teams into five Services rather than the current seven, delivering year-on-year savings of £350,000 from 2014/15. New Chief Executive Steve Barron has prepared a report for consideration by the Council at its meeting on Thursday 24 October, which recommends changes - to be introduced in two phases - to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and performance of the Council’s services.
Caithness Chamber of Commerce has been set into action following announcments about the rollout of rual braodband as Caithness will not see any benefit for some time yet. The chamber has contacted their meber businesses but would be interested to hear from any Caithness business that thinks slow broadband is affecting their business.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (October, 17th) sold 2,539 store sheep. Lambs (2,361) averaged £51.20 and sold to £66 gross for Cheviot lambs from Knockglass, Dornoch.
National anti-wind farm march & protest, Perth 19th October 2013: STOP THE SPIN! Protestors from across Scotland are converging on Perth on Saturday for the climax of the SNP's annual conference. Police and organisors are expecting higher numbers than ever before.
Police seize drugs with an estimated value in excess of £20,000 across the Highlands and Islands. Police Scotland - Highland and Islands Division are to report 19 people to the Procurator Fiscal and have seized drugs with an estimated street value in excess of £20,000 and around £5,500 in cash during an intelligence led operation.
Increased cod TAC would help prevent discards, while days at sea reduction would cripple fishing industry. A further reduction in the number of days fishermen can go to sea would be devastating for Scotland’s already fragile fishing industry.
The Highland Council’s commitment to biomass as a heat source has enabled a Lochaber-based green energy company to employ two new apprentices to help service a four-year £1.2 million per year contract with the Council. Biomass heat specialists, HWEnergy, who are based at Torlundy, Fort William, now have an in-house team of more than 50 who install, maintain and service biomass boilers as well as supply wood chips and pellets.
