Urgent plea over proposed removal of emergency towing vessels The Leader of The Highland Council, Councillor Michael Foxley, has renewed his call on the UK Government to delay for six months the withdrawal of emergency towing vessels around the UK shoreline pending consideration of new income-generating proposals presented by the task force he chairs. Believing an announcement is imminent, Councillor Foxley has written again to Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox and Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman urging a reprieve for the four emergency towing vessels, two of which are based in the Highlands and Islands.
The care home operator Southern Cross, which runs four homes in the Highlands, has announced that it intends to transfer their homes "to new operators in an organised fashion during the next few weeks". Southern Cross states that: "Landlords will be asked to nominate alternative operators who they wish to operate their properties.
A brother and sister from Thurso who set in motion a fund-raising campaign to upgrade their local playpark, have formally opened the community facility. With the help of their parents, Dylan and Amy Cameron, 2 Dale Road, Thurso, set about the task of raising money to refurbish the Pennyland Drive playpark and their efforts were rewarded at Thursday's opening ceremony.
The Highland Council is about to start trialling various options to reduce street lighting energy costs in the Lochaber area. The trials, to run from mid July until early December, will take place at locations in Banavie, Strontian, Kinlochleven and Fort William.
THE Highlands and Islands Consortium, which is made up of Argyll and Bute Council, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, The Highland Council, Moray Council, Orkney Council and Shetland Islands Councils, has awarded framework contracts for providing design services in civil engineering, transportation, planning and environmental related projects. Framework contracts are agreements which set out specific terms and conditions for contracts.
Don't be caught out by bogus holiday clubs and scams warns Highland Council Trading Standards Advice and Enforcement staff from The Highland Council's Trading Standards will be on hand this weekend at Inverness Airport to offer advice and information to Highland holidaymakers heading for the sun. Every year it is estimated that almost 400,000 UK consumers fall victim to bogus holiday clubs at a cost of over £1 billion.
The Highland Council has appointed eight independent directors to serve on the board of its new arms length company, High Life Highland, which will deliver community learning and leisure services on behalf of the Council. They are: - Craig Ewan Douglas Graham Linda Kirkland Elizabeth McArdle Donald McLachlan Kenneth Nicol John Watt Laurence Young They will join four Highland Councillors on the board.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
