The ban on open display of tobacco products in large shops and sales from self-service tobacco vending machines will be introduced on 29 April. Two orders laid in Parliament today by Minister for Public Health Michael Matheson set the date for the display and vending machine bans to come into force in Scotland.
Highlands and Islands MSP Rhoda Grant is highlighting figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) “model-based “ unemployment estimates for local authorities which show an unemployment rate for the Highland council area of 4.7 per cent compared with the 2.8 per cent rate from the ONS’s monthly claimant count for Job Seekers Allowance. (JSA) .
The commissioning process of the new traffic management arrangements to reduce delays as the result of the resurfacing of the Kessock Bridge from 11 February is now underway. The introduction of the traffic signals will be phased to reduce the immediate impact of the change on road users.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (February, 5th) sold 56 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (27) averaged 204.7p (-3.7p) and sold to 217p per kg and £1480.00 gross.
£ 24,371,090.50 million spent in the Highlands & Islands region alone on redundancy. - 4,473 people pushed out the door.
Highland Council’s Trading Standards are warning all Highland businesses to be on their guard against rogue ‘charity’ publishers and operatives that use deliberately misleading sales talk to sell advertising space over the phone or by email or text. Publications may include advertising space in charity leaflets, wall-planners, crime prevention diaries and the old favourite of business directories.
People in the Highlands are being urged to enter local schools, nurseries or individuals into the Scottish Education Awards 2013 before the deadline for submissions on Friday 22 February 2013. The awards, which celebrate the achievements of schools and teachers across Scotland, have attracted hundreds of nominations so far but many more schools and individuals are worthy of acknowledgment.
A pioneering advice service from The Highland Council planners has proved to be popular with the developers in Highland. The Pre-Application Advice Service for Major Developments, a cross Council and public agency project led by the Planning and Development Service, continues to go from strength to strength and has reached the milestone of 100 pre-application advice packs issued to the development industry.
Investment by the Scottish Government in schools, hospitals, roads and other infrastructure is set to support 40,000 jobs across Scotland this year, Nicola Sturgeon said today. The Deputy First Minister was speaking as the Scottish Government published an update to its multi-billion Infrastructure Investment Plan (IIP), first unveiled in December 2011.
isitors to Caithness who have recently stayed at Ackergill Tower are giving the hotel some of the best reviews any hotel could ever expect to receive. Visitors have enthusiastically endorsed the hotel as a top class and friendly place to go with many facilities and extras.
HiDigital Workshops - Thurso Caithness Horizon Centre 21st February 2013 and 22nd February 2013 (Choose your day) 9.30 to 13.00 - Build your own Business Website 13.00 to 14.00 - Lunch 14.00 to 17.00 - Getting started with Social Media Could your business grow if you knew more about working online? Whether you want to learn about the basics of social media, or tackle cloud computing, online marketing and cyber security, we have a workshop for you. Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Business Gateway want to help businesses and social enterprises take advantage of the latest digital technology.
The long-term viability of councils’ trading standards services is under threat, potentially leaving consumers without important protection from rogue traders, scams and unsafe goods, says the Accounts Commission. Protecting Consumers, a report published on Friday 1st February 2013, looks at trading standards and food safety services provided by Scotland’s 32 councils to protect the public in areas ranging from food poisoning to doorstep cons and internet fraud.
Issued by Scotland Transerv Work starts on the major refurbishment of the A9 Kessock Bridge on Monday 11th February 2013 for 17 weeks. The installation of the traffic management will start at 10pm on Saturday 9th February to be in place for the commencement of the works.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has published a new guide providing advice to community organisations for managing funds generated from renewable energy projects. As an economic development agency with a particular and unique remit to strengthen communities, HIE recognises the importance of this opportunity.
For the third year in succession, The Highland Council is recommending a council house rent increase below the rate of inflation. The Finance Housing and Resources Committee agreed to contain the average weekly rent increase to £1.35, the rent rising from £67.60 to £68.95.
Highland Councillors have agreed in principle to a “radical” new way of providing temporary accommodation for people who find themselves unintentionally homeless. The Council has a statutory duty in relation to homeless households and one of its key duties is to provide temporary accommodation until settled accommodation can be offered.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts, (January, 30th) sold 1,179 sheep of all classes. Lambs (836) averaged £39.53 and sold to £67.50 gross for Texels from Woodside, Muir of Ord Ewes (270) averaged £47.96 and sold to £94 gross for a Charolais from Whitebog, Rosemarkie.
The Highland Council is being recommended to freeze the Council Tax for a sixth successive year and confirm a budget of £548.436 million for 2013-14 when it meets on Thursday 7 February. The Council Tax bands will remain: Band A: £775.33: Band B: £904.56; Band C: £1,033.78; Band D: £1,163.00: Band E: £1,421.44; Band F: £1,679.89; Band G: £1,938.33; Band H: £2,326.00.
Council clears up and calls on landowners to check wind damaged trees. Following a night of severely windy weather (29 – 30 January 2013) The Highland Council is encouraging landowners to check trees and vegetation near to public roads which have been damaged by the gales.
The Scottish Government today confirmed it will accept all of the Electoral Commission recommendations on the referendum question and campaign spending limits. See full recommendations at - http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/scotland Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she was delighted with the recommended question - ’Should Scotland be an independent country? Yes/No’ – and confirmed that it will be this question that is put before the Scottish Parliament.
