Council updates members on development of a business case for arms length organisation Members of The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport Committee have welcomed the confirmation of a portfolio of services, facilities, staff and budgets to be included within the development of the business case that will explore establishing an arms length organisation (ALO) to manage and deliver the Council's Community Learning and Leisure Services (CLL). Included within the portfolio being considered for the business case are: some 300 buildings and property; around 460 staff; and services covering adult and youth work, culture, facilities, libraries, sport, and health and well being partnership working.
The Highland Council's Education Culture and Sport Committee has agreed that the initial phase of the strategic review of the entire Council school estate will examine the Associated School Groupings for Wick High School and Thurso High School. A pilot review has already been carried out in the Lochaber area.
The first council houses to be built in the Highlands since1996 are now completed and tenants have moved in to start the New Year in their new homes. As part of a £12.8m project supported by grant funding from the Scottish Government, the 9 houses in Tain and the 13 in Invergordon are the first of 107 mainstream homes that will be built by The Highland Council across the Highlands over the coming year.
A report being presented to The Highland Council's Education Culture and Sport Committee on Thursday 13 January proposes that the initial phase of the strategic review of the entire Council school estate should feature the Associated School Groupings for Wick High School and Thurso High School. Highland Councillors are being recommended to begin the review by focusing on the 11 primary schools which feed into Wick High School and the 7 primary schools associated to Thurso High School.
The Highland Council has reassured the public that it has sufficient salt supplies to cope with a return of wintry conditions over the next week. Repeated treatments are required by the Council's gritting fleet as the Highlands experience a mixture of rain, sleet and snow, with ice forming and melting again on a regular basis in freezing conditions.
Noel Donaldson reports - THE Wick registrars office where births, deaths and marriages have been recorded, for several decades, is on the move...back to its original home in the Market Square. The transfer was revealed at this month's meeting of the Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council, by area manager, David Sutherland after councillors had heard a letter from registrar, Margaret Woods, and her assistant, Jennifer Gunn.
The Highland Council is taking a range of necessary measures to safeguard services and essential supplies, should the severe weather continue over the holiday period. These measures take account of the advice provided by the Scottish Government, and the unprecedented early severe weather that has been experienced in recent weeks, which may continue.
Ignis Energy Ltd has been invited by The Highland Council to be its Preferred Bidder to take over the district heating scheme - Caithness Heat and Power Ltd. The Board of Caithness Heat and Power Ltd (CHAP) has written to 260 householders who receive their heat and hot water through CHAP informing them of plans to work with the Council and Ignis aiming to agree a contract by 31 March 2011.
Due to the continuing severe winter conditions, there have been disruptions to waste and recycling collections in some Highland Council areas. This is especially so in remote areas or where roads have considerable inclines and also cul-de-sacs with restricted access.
The Highland Council to develop serviced commercial plots in Inverness The Council has awarded contracts worth £1.6m to develop 13 commercial plots at the Carsegate Industrial Estate and a further 8 on the Longman. Work will commence this month and will be complete in the spring of 2011.
The Highland Council has agreed savings to close a £17.8 million gap in its budget for 2011/12 and 2012/13, leaving a further £17 million to be found over the next two financial years. Budget Leader David Alston told councillors that as a result of recent budget announcements by the UK and Scottish Governments, the Council faced a reduction in funding of 2.5% in the new financial year, which equated to about 6% in real terms.
The Highland Council and the NHS Highland Board have unanimously agreed to progress far-reaching plans to integrate health and social care services in the Highlands. Meeting jointly at Inverness on Thursday 17 December 2010, they agreed to develop a new model for integrated service delivery, which will further improve front line services, and help achieve better outcomes for the users of services.
The Highland Council has agreed to introduce greater sharing of front counter services to avoid a duplication of running and maintenance costs. The review of customer services recognises the results of public consultation, which highlighted that people want to do more business on-line and by telephone and want to see a wider sharing of services.
The Highland Council has rejected a move to impose a complete ban on election posters on Council property, roadside verges and street furniture in the direct ownership of the Council. The ban was recommended by the Council's Transport Environmental and Community Services in response to complaints by shopkeepers that posters detract from the appearance of main shopping areas.
The Highland Council has agreed savings proposals for grounds maintenance following a detailed discussion at a full council meeting today (Thursday). Earlier in the year, the Council agreed that a tender for routine grass cutting be issued to establish the potential level of savings to be gained from contracting out this area of service.
A strategic review of Highland Council's education provision and its school estate is to be brought before members of the Council's Education, Culture and Sport Committee early in the New Year. Members of the Councils ECS Committee have agreed that a review of education provision will be undertaken and detailed proposals will be presented to them on 13 January 2010 for their consideration.
Young people from the Highlands are being asked by the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) to stand up for what they believe in and make a difference in their communities by standing as a candidate in the March 2011 Youth Parliament elections. The Scottish Youth Parliament is a national organisation which provides young people aged 14-25 with a platform to represent young people across Scotland and an opportunity to influence politicians and formal decision makers.
The Highland Council and the NHS Highland Board have unanimously agreed to progress far-reaching plans to integrate health and social care services in the Highlands. Meeting jointly at Inverness today (Thursday), they agreed to develop a new model for integrated service delivery, which will further improve front line services, and help achieve better outcomes for the users of services.
In January 2011 The Highland Council is to start testing properties in the Highlands at highest risk from radon gas. A programme has been developed following the publication last year of new radon maps for Scotland produced by the Health Protection Agency (HPA).
