Highland Convener gathers support in Brussels for continued EU funding for Scotland's rural areas The future of the Common Agricultural Policy and its likely impact in Scotland was discussed at the Committee of the Regions (CoR) on Monday 3 May with CoR member Councillor Sandy Park, Convener of The Highland Council, actively participating in the discussion stressing in particular the challenges facing Scotland's farmers and rural communities. Councillor Park, who was attending his second meeting of the CoR's Natural Resources (NAT) Commission following his nomination to the CoR by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), said: "The future of CAP post 2013 is an issue which is generating huge interest and a great deal of political debate back home in Scotland.
An Inverness-based social enterprise which helps the most vulnerable people in society has been granted £162,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) towards its expansion plans. New Start Highland (NSH) currently operates from premises in the city's Carsegate and works in the wider Inner Moray Firth area.
'Give it a Grow' is the message being put out by The Highland Council to mark the tenth annual Compost Awareness Week, which runs from 2-8 May 2010. This year Zero Waste Scotland and The Highland Council are encouraging us all to try our hand at new composting activities in order to do our bit for the environment.
Public urged to make their views known on Highland community care consultation Members of the public have eight weeks left to make their voice heard in a consultation on changes to community care services in the Highlands. The deadline for comments on The Highland Council and NHS Highland's plans for changing Community Care is Tuesday 15 June 2010.
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross Divisional Licensing Board have recognised that The Scottish Cup Final between Ross County and Dundee United on the 15th May 2010 is a special event of local significance. They have decided to allow on-sales premises to remain open until 1am on Sunday 16th provided that the premises licence holder makes an application for extended hours.
Around 1000 volumes of Church of Scotland archives have recently been transferred from the National Archives of Scotland in Edinburgh to the Highland Archive and Registration Centre in Inverness. On a visit by the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland to Inverness this week, the Moderator, Rt Rev Bill Hewitt marked the importance of the return of volumes dating from the 1640s to the 20th century covering parishes in the presbyteries of Inverness, Ross, Sutherland, Lochcarron Skye, and part of Moray.
The estimated population of Scotland was 5,194,000 in mid-2009. This was a rise of 25,500 on the previous year, and the highest population since 1979.
The number of people in the Highlands seeking to vote by post at the General Election has increased again. Across the three parliamentary constituencies, 21,908 voters have registered their interest in voting by post, 9,734 more than at the General Election in May 2005, and 16,224 more than in June 2001.
For the past year Northern Constabulary has been working on a dedicated project to make the Special Constabulary even more special. The forcewide project has been running since June last year.
Welcoming the Caithness Mòd 2010 - A'cur fàilte air Mòd Ghallaibh, 2010 a workshop for accommodation providers, retailers, catering establishments and visitor attractions Thursday 29 April at 6.00pm Caithness Horizons, Thurso Friday 30 April at 10.00am Mackays Hotel, Wick This year between 8-16 October Caithness will welcome the Caithness Mòd 2010 - Mòd Ghallaibh. The Mòd is Scotland's second-biggest festival and is a competition-based festival, for children and adults, that celebrates the Gaelic language through music, dance, drama, arts and literature.
A total of 21 candidates are seeking election on Thursday 6 May in the three Highland UK Parliamentary constituencies. Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross Constituency has attracted five candidates; Ross Skye and Lochaber Constituency, seven candidates; and Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey Constituency, nine candidates.
PULTENEYTOWN ACADEMY PRIMARY SCHOOL As part of the inspectorate's ongoing strategy for evaluating the educational provision of local authorities, reports are issued today (20 April) on the inspection by HMIe of the quality of education at Pulteneytown Academy Primary and nursery class in Wick and Crossroads Primary School, Dunnet in Caithness. Pulteneytown Academy Primary and nursery class in Wick successfully develops motivated and creative children who are enthusiastic learners ready to take on challenges.
CROSSROADS PRIMARY SCHOOL The report on Crossroads Primary School is based on an inspection visit which was carried out in March 2010 and comments on the quality of education at the school. In the report HMIe highlighted as strengths the children's ability to reflect and report on their overall achievements; the arrangements made by the school for meeting the needs of children who needed additional support; the active support of parents for the work of the school; and the role played by the school in bringing together the local communities.
Offenders subject to community service orders across the whole of Scotland will be busy collecting litter and cleaning up local areas this weekend to support the Keep Scotland Beautiful Spring Clean campaign. In Highland 75 offenders who are being supervised by the Criminal Justice Service within The Highland Council's Social Work Service are scheduled to take part in the first national-wide Community Service clean up event.
The Apprentice Day ran for the fifth time this year on Wednesday 17th March 2010. On the day, young people from all parts of Highland got the chance to play the "Apprentice" by shadowing senior officials within the Highland Council and partner organisations, Northern Constabulary, Highland and Islands Fire and Rescue Service and NHS Highland.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts, (April, 21st) sold 924 store, breeding and feeding sheep. Lambs (368) averaged £62.58 and sold to £86.00 gross for Cheviots from Balloan, Conon Bridge.
Guidelines for Laptop / Tablet Security Your laptop whether for personal or business use is a valuable piece of equipment. If it contains sensitive information such as your banking details or your business or employers details then it may have a value way beyond even the cost of the machine itself.
KBR has been actively seeking a viable and sustainable opportunity for the use of its Nigg Yard. Though the facility is uniquely qualified and positioned to support fabrication and the marine industry, KBR has not been successful in its efforts.
Scottish Government advice service for travellers and families went live today Tuesday 20th april 2010 The Scottish Government will launch a helpline tomorrow to offer advice to travellers and their families affected by the disruption to air travel caused by the volcanic ash cloud. The service will be available to travellers stranded overseas, and to concerned relatives calling from this country and will complement the FCO helpline which will remain the main point of contact for travellers needing specific assistance while overseas.
The Highland Council has been advised by Fort William Waterfront Ltd that they have withdrawn from their plans to develop the Fort William Waterfront development. The company say their decision is linked to the current global economic situation which dictates that this scheme is not capable of being funded in today's market.
