News Archive

Heating Oil Security Reminder

Residents in rural areas are reminded to review the security of their heating oil tanks following several thefts in the Huntly area.   Heating oil tanks have the potential to store thousands of pounds worth of fuel and are often located in remote areas - this can make them an attractive target for thieves.  

We Can't Have Any More Budgets Where Speculation Is Running Wild

On 28th October 2024 Paul Johnson wrote an article published in The Times and on The IFS web site covering his thoughts on the speculation around coming budget.   Only a couple of days now until the most eagerly awaited budget for just about as long as I can remember.  

Budget 2024 Predictions - Which Taxes Could Rachel Reeves Hike?

With the Autumn Budget set to be delivered in just a few days, speculation about which taxes Chancellor Rachel Reeves will opt to raise has reached fever pitch.   On entering No 11 Downing Street, Reeves commissioned the Treasury to conduct a thorough spending audit, which she claimed unearthed a "fiscal black hole" of £22bn, paving the way for a slew of tax rises that hadn't been in her party's manifesto.  

Big Increase In Highland Council Tax May Be On The Way As Budget Gap Now Highest In Scotland

A paper to be discussed on Thursday 31st October 20014 by the Highland council alludes to the possibility of a 7 percent increase in council tax for 2025/26.   This report commences the review and refresh of the Council's Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP), agreed February 2024, the purpose of which is to ensure the Council takes an ongoing and rolling three-year financial planning approach to support budgeting and financial sustainability.  

Housing Options Prevent1 Statistics In Scotland, 2023-24

An annual update on Housing Options (PREVENT1) Statistics covering 2023-24 has been released today.   Findings for that period show: There were 44,952 Housing Options approaches (from 42,161 unique households).  

Homicide In Scotland, 2023-24

Scotland's Chief Statistician today published Homicide in Scotland, 2023-24.  The publication provides information on crimes of homicide recorded by the police in Scotland in 2023-24.  

Could 'Modern Monetary Theory' Save The World? | Ash Sarkar Meets Stephanie Kelton

For those of you who look at this web site regularly you will have seen videos from Richard Murphy explaining Modern Monetary Theory and today we are grateful for him pointing to the video interview with Stephanie Kelton.   It may seem like a video for economy students but it gives good easy to understand explanations.  

In Her First Budget, The Chancellor Faces A Minefield Of Risks

Ahead of the new government's first budget on October 30, chancellor Rachel Reeves has revealed her determination to change borrowing rules that will allow her to boost investment spending.   The overriding goal of the government is to promote economic growth, after more than a decade of stagnation in living standards.  

Decentralise Asylum Accommodation To Tackle Soaring Costs And Substandard Quality, Says Ippr

The escalating costs and poor standards of accommodation provided to people seeking asylum in the UK can be halted and reversed by ending national outsourcing contracts with private companies and instead decentralising budgets and powers to regional bodies, according to a new report from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) Reliance on hotels has led to asylum accommodation and support costs soaring from £17,000 per person in 2019/20 to £41,000 in 2023/24.   Muhammad said: "Asylum accommodation traps people in unhealthy, unsafe conditions".  

Government's First Budget Will Invest In Britain's Future The Prime Minister Says In Speech Today

Prime Minister Keir Starmer will pledge that his government's first Budget will put Britain on a new path, one that chooses long-term growth to put more money in working people's pockets and rebuild public services instead of a return to austerity.   Prime Minister will say government’s first Budget will fix the foundations to deliver on the promise of change.