Council Issues Reminder On How To Get Support
12th October 2020
The Highland Council is reminding the public that although their offices and buildings remain closed to the public a full range of support and information is still available.
Access into all service point buildings continues to be currently restricted for people to complete birth registrations and other high priority registrations by appointment only, and following all current social distancing and hygiene guidance.
The public can still access help and advice from service point staff by telephone and webchat services.
Contact can be made on the following numbers Monday to Friday 0800 to 1700 unless otherwise stated:
COVID-19 Freephone Helpline - 0300 303 1362
Council house repairs, pest control, housing applications and rent enquiries - 01349 886602
Planning and Building Standards - 9am to 4pm Tuesday to Friday - 01349 886608. Monday - email eplanning@highland.gov.uk
Roads, flooding and street lighting - Emergency reports only - 01349 886601
Domestic and commercial waste issues - 01349 886603
Garden waste - 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday - 01349 886660
Make a payment by debit or credit card - 01349 886605
Elections helpline - 01349 886657
Entitlement (Blue Badge, travel and National Entitlement Cards) - 9am and 3pm Tuesday to Thursday - 01349 886604
Social Work Childrens Services - 01463 644460
Social Work Out of Hours Team - 5pm to 9am Monday to Friday - 08457 697284. Open all day on weekends and public holidays.
Help with claiming benefits, keeping up with bills and council tax - 0800 090 1004
Help available to reduce business rates - 01463 702894
Advice for Business - 01463 713889
Or by email for:
Licensing - licensing@highland.gov.uk
Landlord Registration - landlord.registration@highland.gov.uk
Elections helpline - election@highland.gov.uk
For electoral registration queries - ero@highland.gov.uk
Environmental Health – envhealth@highland.gov.uk
Related Businesses
Related Articles
At today's meeting of The Highland Council members gave their backing to a motion that highlights the need for the UK Government to review the sick pay system and reform it as a matter of urgency. Councillor Alasdair Christie, Chair of the Council's Recovery Board who put forward the motion along with Councillor Alex Graham said: "It has become more obvious than ever during the current Covid 19 crisis that there are clear and substantial long-standing inadequacies in the sick pay system.
REGIONAL Labour MSP Rhoda Grant has welcomed a commitment from Highland Council to return all schools to a hot meal service. In a letter to the MSP this week, the local authority confirmed more than 60 per cent of schools have gone back to serving hot meals already and it said all schools are expected to follow suit "shortly".
The Leader and the Chief Executive of The Highland Council earlier today took part in a meeting of COSLA focussing on the Scottish Government's new five level protection system for Covid. The meeting gave council leaders the opportunity to examine in more detail the mechanism outlined by the Scottish Government along with the framework of how the tier system will be implemented.
Following its launch on Tuesday 20th October 2020, Highland Council has received and paid out the first Business Hardship Fund grants. As part of the Scottish Government's response to the COVID-19 Brake Restrictions which came into effect on 9 October, the Council has been asked to deliver this grant scheme on behalf of the Scottish Government.
Highland Council Trading Standards are keen to raise awareness of the role of The Small Business Financial Ombudsman Service in resolving disputes between small and medium sized businesses (SME's) and financial service providers which include banks, insurance and money lending businesses. David MacKenzie, Highland Council Trading Standards Manager explains: "We realise the financial struggle that some SME's have had recently because of Covid 19 restrictions.
At the Caithness Area Committee on 22 October 2020 members unanimously confirmed their full support to the business case for Wick John O'Groats Airport to receive Public Service Obligation (PSO) status by putting forward a motion and reinforcing their commitment to working with stakeholders and partners to deliver this as a matter of urgency. The motion lodged recognises the fundamental strategic importance of Wick John O’Groats Airport to the economy of the region, and the energy, business and tourism sectors in particular.
Members of the Caithness Committee have identified fuel poverty as their number one concern and are pleased to announce that the member-led capital housing budget has increased to 10% as they welcome £2,253,000 of investment which will be used to carry out improvements to the housing stock across the county. A specific priority of the capital programme is improving heating and make homes more energy efficient, with over £1,300,000 of budget approved to replace the oldest and most inefficient heating systems with a further £150,000 for one-off heating replacements.
Highland Council Trading Standards supports FASathon - the Friends Against Scams marathon day Highland Council Trading Standards is encouraging Highland residents to take part in ‘FASathon', the Friends Against Scams marathon day, on 21st October 2020. The aim of the FASathon campaign is to get as many people as possible to complete the free Friends Against Scams online awareness session to learn about the different types of scams and how to protect yourself and others against scams.
By intervening, Local Government has reduced the worst impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic for the most vulnerable in our communities, COSLA said today (Wednesday). COSLA also said that is why their Blueprint outlines the lead role of Local Government in securing a fair and inclusive recovery with a strong focus on human rights, tackling poverty and addressing inequalities.
In advance of the 2021 tourism season, Members of The Highland Council's Tourism Committee have agreed that the local authority will continue to work and engage with partners, national agencies and local communities to meet the challenges and opportunities that exist in the region for motorhomes and wild camping tourism. Councillor Maxine Smith, Tourism Committee Chair said: "While coronavirus and the increased demand for staycations in the UK have played a large part in the massive increase in demands placed on the Highlands of Scotland from across the UK, the evidence does show that motorhome ownership and hire has been increasing over recent years.
