Highland Councillors have confirmed that emergency measures to conserve road salt supplies will remain in place until the Council has built up a stock of at least 10,500 tonnes - seven days of treatment. Emergency measures were taken by the Chief Executive on Friday 15 January when supplies fell to 6,900 tonnes and the Transport Environmental and Community Services Committee agreed today (Thursday) that these should remain in place to conserve stocks.
From 8th January the Highland Council is advertising its vacancies on a new Scottish Local Government Jobs Portal. Teachers jobs that previously were advertised on TES will no longer be found there.
A local Blind Persons Companion Travel Scheme is to be implemented in the Highlands by The Highland Council in conjunction with First Scotrail from from 23 May 2010. Members of The Highland Council's Transport, Environmental and Community Service Committee this week approved the scheme which will allow one companion to travel with a blind travel card holder on each journey for a flat fare of 50p.
The operator of the Shapla Tandoori Restaurant and take-away at 2 Castle Road, Inverness has been prosecuted this week after Highland Council environmental health officers uncovered a catalogue of poor hygiene offences during inspections in 2008. In September 2008, officers visited the Inverness restaurant and found evidence of poor hygiene standards, including inadequate cleaning; failing to protect food from contamination; failure to maintain the premises and equipment in good repair, and have in place a food safety management system.
See Highland Council Website. Article posted originally on 20 December 2010.
Local businesses have given their backing to Baillie Wind Farm following planning permission being granted by the Scottish Government to build the 52.5MW, 21 turbine wind farm at Bardnaheigh Farm, Westfield by Thurso. The ??80 million project will supply almost 25,000 homes with renewable energy.
The Highland Council and HIE meet with Aberdeen and Northern Marts to discuss planned closures in Dornoch. Following the announcement by Aberdeen and Northern Marts of the planned closure in April of the Scotch Premier Meat plant in Dornoch with the loss of 29 jobs, representatives from The Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise met with owner Aberdeen and Northern Marts in Inverurie on Tuesday 19 January.
At today's Planning, Environment and Development Committee members acknowledged the decision of the Scottish Government on the Beauly to Denny power line but expressed concern that the Council's aspirations for the undergrounding and re-routing of the line in certain locations had not been taken up by the Government. Officers have been asked to approach the Scottish Government and Scottish Hydro-Electric Transmission Limited for clarification on a number of inconsistencies in the requirements of the consent and for discussions on the constitution and operation of the various liaison groups.
Members of The Highland Council's Planning, Environment and Development committee have unanimously agreed to keep up the pressure on KBR to make a clear decision about the company's intention for the Nigg Fabrication Yard in Easter Ross. Members also agreed that the Council write to both the Scottish Government and National Government to acknowledge their support to date and requesting their continued support to ensure the considerable potential of the site, which would bring economic benefits to the whole Highlands, is realized.
Highland Councillors are being asked to review the Council's waste collection strategy to ensure a reduction in the amount of waste going to landfill and to increase the amount of waste recycled. At the same time, the review is aimed at improving the effectiveness of the service and providing the best value for money.
Efforts continue to tackle potential flood threats. The number of flood watches across Scotland has dropped from 19 to 3, as freezing temperatures eased over the weekend.
A funding pot of £40,000 is now available to environmental enthusiasts in Caithness over the next three years. The Caithness Partnership has secured the funds from Scottish Natural Heritage and the Highland Leader Programme to operate a Caithness Environment Fund.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (January, 20th) sold 516 store cattle and 86 OTM cattle. Bullocks (314) averaged 186.2p and sold to 228.6p per kg and £1,100 gross.
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DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (January, 19th) sold 101 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (66) averaged 168.1p (-2.4p) and sold to 186p per kg and £1,248.00 gross.
The Highland Council's Education Culture and Sport Committee has agreed to review its school estate, which includes 183 primary schools; 29 secondary schools and 3 special schools. The review aims to improve education provision for Highland pupils by:- • maximising opportunities for moving pupils from poor to better quality school buildings; • making most efficient use of available funding; and • addressing issues relating to demographic change.
At a meeting of The Highland Council's Transport, Environmental and Community (TEC) Services on Thursday 21 January Highland Councillors will be asked to approve revised management rules for burial grounds that will include arrangements for burial lairs to be sold in perpetuity. The Council approved the current management rules for burial grounds in 1999.
John Considine, former Rector of Inverness Royal Academy has been appointed as Acting Head of Education Services with The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport Service. Mr Considine, who starts his new employment today (18 January), will be based at the Council's headquarters on Glenurquhart Road, Inverness.
The Highland Council is preparing to combat the threat of flooding, which may result from the thaw of heavy snow and ice blocking some drains. Transport Environmental and Community Services (TECs) staff will be targeting known flooding areas in advance to ensure drains and culvert intakes are kept as clear as possible.
