Highland Councillors meeting, on 4th March 2010, approved a draft Community Council Scheme for Highland for consultation between April and June this year. The Council began a major review of Community Councils last September, commencing with a three month consultation on boundaries.
The Highland Council has agreed proposals for consulting with the public over options to identify major savings in 2011/12 and 2012/13. At its meeting on 11 February, the Council identified more than £12 million of savings in 2010/11 and more than £11 million of savings in 2011/12 and 2012/13.
To mark Fairtrade Fortnight and as part of the current campaign for the Highlands to become officially recognised as a Fairtrade zone representatives from the Inverness Local Fairtrade Group were at Council Headquarters earlier today (Thursday 4 March 2010) to promote a leaflet highlighting local cafes and traders who have signed up for FairTrade. The group chatted to Councillors as they served FairTrade tea and coffee and on display were examples of locally produced food items and FairTrade gift ideas.
Highland Councillors were advised today (Thursday) that the funds available to them in 2011-12 to promote affordable housing developments is to be significantly reduced by the Scottish Government. Councillor Margaret Davidson, Chairman of the Housing and Social Work Committee, revealed that funding was being cut to £17.5 million - a bigger cut than anticipated and 45% less than the current funding level of £32 million.
People living in Caithness are being offered expert advice and information on taking the next step in their careers. Skills Development Scotland, Scotland's national skills body, is hosting a careers convention on Wednesday, 3 March 2010 at 6.00pm onwards in Wick Assembly Rooms.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (February, 25th) sold 47 registered Cheviot females at its inaugural show and sale. The adverse weather conditions seriously affected the hill sheep entry and intending purchasers, but a very satisfactory trade was realised for the brave souls that made the sale.
NATHAN WINS TOP APPRENTICE AWARD Nathan Mackay, 20 from Watten scooped the Scotland Apprentice of the Year award at last weeks National Skills Academy for Nuclear Annual Awards ceremony in Manchester. Nathan, employed by Rolls Royce at Vulcan completed his Modern Apprenticeship in Instrument Technician in the record time of three years and one month.
A total of 16 secondary schools and 72 primary schools were closed today (Thursday) as a result of the continuing adverse weather. Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross Primary School Closures (29): Ardross; , Bonar Bridge; Bower;, Bridgend (Alness); Coulhill (Alness); Craighill (Tain); Crossroads (Caithness); Dornoch;, Edderton; Gledfield (Ardgay); Halkirk; Helmsdale; Hill of Fearn; Hilton of Cadboll; Inver; Kiltearn; Kinbrace; Kinlochbervie; Lairg; Milton; Newmore; Obsdale; Reay; Rogart; Rosehall; Scourie; South Lodge (Invergordon); St Duthus Special School (Tain); Tarbat Old.
The Highland Council has this week written to a random sample of 14,000 Highland households, with the aim of securing agreement from 2,300 volunteers to serve on a Citizens' Panel. The Panel will be used on an ongoing basis by the Council as one method of consultation with the public.
Three months in and Alternative Vitality continues to be an oasis of calm and relaxation in the centre of Wick. Offering a wide range of cognitive and complementary therapies such as hypnotherapy, life coaching, meditation, HypnoBirthing and Hypno-Band (which is a virtual gastric band), massage, aromatherapy, reflexology, Swedish massage, Indian head massage and Indian Face massage.
Councillors Bill Fernie, Chair of the Education Culture and Sport Committee and David Henderson, Councillor for Inverness Ness Side respectively along with the Council's Youth Convener Magnus Monahan and Danny Alexander, MP for Inverness, Nairn Badenoch and Strathspey ditched their shirt and ties for cycling gear. They were be at the Inverness Leisure Centre to launch the re-developed Black Isle Cycle Challenge in aid of Highland Hospice.
Exclusive offer - 25% off only available until 14 March 2010 Highland Hospice is offering a time limited discount for a week aboard the beautiful Bristol Pilot Cutter "Mascotte" and the modern "Gael Force". By booking on this ethical holiday before March 14 sailors and aspiring sailors can support a worthy cause (90% of funds go directly to the charity) and gain the holiday of a life time as they sail on the stunning West coast of Scotland.
Highland consumers are being 'cold called' at home with the promise of free household alarm systems. However, the offer may sound too good to be true and Highland Council Trading Standards Service are warning householders to be on their guard.
A message from Caithness Deaf Care. 'We would like to reassure our clients that they can continue to access local services at both of our centres on the following days and times:- Wick - Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10.00 am - 2.00 pm Thurso - Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10.00 am - 2 00 pm' .
If you need a map for one of the business listed in our index remember all you have to do is click the postcode highlighted in blue and the google street map shows you where it is located..
The Accounts Commission for Scotland says councils and services are improving. But the scale of the budget challenge they face means councils need to take urgent action.
Pathfinder progress update report - Resources Committee Members of The Highland Council's Resources Committee on 17 February 2010 have welcomed the completion of the £70 million Pathfinder North Broadband Project, which is one of the largest local government shared services projects in the UK and is also one of the largest collaborative broadband procurements in Europe. The Pathfinder North Broadband Project will provide high capacity broadband links to 801 schools, libraries and other local authority buildings throughout the Highlands and Islands.
Scots Tory MEP Struan Stevenson is to host a special meeting for farmers and hauliers angry about the way livestock regulations are fiddled in parts of the EU, but strictly applied in Scotland. The meeting in Wick on March 1, concerns the Transport Regulations which look set to be changed again, even though UK farmers complain that other EU farmers don't comply with the current rules.
Resources Committee Report -17 February 2010 Highland Councillors have welcomed a new agreement with third sector organisations in Highland - voluntary, charity, community organisations and social enterprises - which aims to strengthen working relationships. The "compact", which comes into effect on 1 April, is the result of extensive consultation between the Council, NHS Highland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the third sector.
Resources Committee Report Highland Councillors have today agreed to a package of measures to reduce costs arising from Members' travel, catering, councillor surgeries and accommodation expenses. At the meeting of the Council on 17 December 2009 it was agreed that £50,000 would be removed from the members' budget in 2011/12.
