Local Authority News

Council to Lobby Against Decision to Close Wick Tax Office

The Highland Council is to step up its campaign to persuade HM Revenue and Customs and the UK Government to reverse their decision to close the HMRC Office in Wick in 2012.   The Wick office, which employs 23 staff, is scheduled to be closed as part of a national restructure which will see the closure of 20 sites across Scotland.  

New Kerbside Recycling Collections for Rural Areas in Caithness

The Highland Council has invested in a new vehicle and crew to expand the recycling routes in the far north.  Caithness will be the first area in the Highlands to receive the Council's new kerbside recycling collection for rural areas.  

Council Calms Traffic At Four More Schools

Part time 20mph speed limits have been introduced at another four Highland schools.  The new speed limits operate when pupils are arriving and departing from Ullapool High, and Ullapool, Bower and Crossroads Primaries during term times.  

Consumers Warned to be on their Guard from Rogue Doorstep Traders

Trading Standards officers of The Highland Council are advising the public to show the door to itinerant traders, who offer to carry out a range of work on the home.   And residents should not hesitate to report to the police any trader who is menacing and threatening in trying to secure a contract and cash payment.  

New Policy for Bulky Uplift Service

In a move to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill sites, The Highland Council has altered its free Bulky Uplift policy so that from the beginning of July 2008 black bag waste will be removed from the list of approved items for these pre-arranged collections.   Currently the free uplifting service can be booked to remove any article of household waste which cannot fit into a normal domestic bin, any item which weighs over 25kg and up to 10 black bags.  

Highland Youth Voice - The Apprentice!

Young people from across the Highlands recently got the chance for the third year running to play the "Apprentice" by shadowing senior officials within The Highland Council's Glenurquhart offices in Inverness and partner agencies.   The executive of Highland Youth Voice, the youth parliament for the Highlands, have found this event to be the best way of developing their links with policy makers and decision-takers.  

Council Calls for 4th Scottish Parliamentary Boundary for Highland

Highland Councillors are calling on the Boundary Commission for Scotland to reconsider proposals for new Scottish Parliamentary boundaries in the Highlands so that the area is represented by four directly elected constituency MSPs instead of the current three.   The Commission is consulting on a proposal to establish three constituencies, called North Highland, West Highland and East Highland.  

Council Commitment to Keeping Highland Communities Cleaner

The Highland Council is set to spend an additional £1 million in the new financial year in keeping Highland communities cleaner and tidier.  The commitment to community works is a priority of the Council Administration and, subject to confirmation by the full Council on 14 February, communities will see:- - Increased levels of education and enforcement in littering and dog fouling by employing three enforcement officers (£90,000); - Increased standards of litter picking and street cleaning by employing an additional 17 street cleansing staff (£500,000); - Increased standards of grounds maintenance by employing the equivalent of 34 additional seasonal grounds maintenance operatives (£410,000).  

Thurso Cemetery Footbridge to be Replaced

A footbridge, which forms an important pedestrian link to Thurso Cemetery, is to be replaced by The Highland Council at a cost of £400,000.  The bridge was lost in the floods of October 2006 - and with it went one of the town's most popular walks.  

Council on Line to meet Energy Management Targets

Energy management measures are beginning to pay dividends for The Highland Council and further investments are proposed to meet targets set by the Council's Administration to reduce energy use and carbon emissions by 15% and increase renewable energy sources by a minimum of 4,000 kw by 2010.   The Highland Council's Resources Committee was told this week that at the end of the first year of the Council's energy management performance plan, an overall decrease in energy consumption of 16% was achieved and almost £1 million of costs avoided.