The Highland Council is planning for greatly increased staff absence levels over the coming days and weeks. National modelling estimates that councils will see absences of at least 50% over the months ahead.
The Highland Council has taken the decision to postpone all committee meetings and Member workshops due to take place in March and April. Convener of The Highland Council Bill Lobban said: "The decision has been taken in response to the Prime Minister and First Minister's announcements on Monday afternoon, and the guidelines that have been issued thereafter.
Dear Parent / Carer As you know, we are in a complex situation with regard to schools and the Coronavirus. I fully understand your anxiety and concerns.
The Chief Executive of The Highland Council, Donna Manson has today given assurance that the local authority is working to national advice, and guidance in the response to coronavirus - COVID19. At a media briefing held in Council headquarters with Dr Boyd Peters, Medical Director for NHS Highland, Mrs Manson said: "On a daily basis it is no longer business as usual in Highland Council.
The Highland Council is working closely with partners in Resilience and following national guidance in relation to the Coronavirus COVID-19 situation. Chief Executive Donna Manson said: "The situation is rapidly changing and we are planning and preparing for the weeks ahead.
A decision was agreed at the full Council meeting of The Highland Council on 12th March 2020 to make a minor amendment to the newly introduced Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) vehicle restrictions policy. The vehicle restrictions which were introduced at the beginning of February 2020 will be amended with immediate effect to allow householders with oversize trailers access to HWRC to dispose of their household garden waste, electrical appliances and furniture only.
Highland Council has listened to concerns raised by members and bidders over the process of the Trades Services Framework and tender exercise. After a stand-still period which ended on 9 March 2020 and further discussion, Highland Council has announced the termination of the original framework and tender process.
Despite a large budget gap and many reductions that were agreed today the council says they are on course to balance the budget for next year ad following years while building up reserves. The budget for the current year is on course to ring in an underspend.
Highland Council today announced its biggest ever single investment in roads with an extra £20million capital announced in its budget proposals for the year 2020/21. The budget proposals were announced by Budget Leader Alister MacKinnon at a press conference at Highland Council headquarters.
Following the close of nominations at 12 noon on Wednesday 26 February 2020, the outcome is as follows. 2 Community Councils received more nominations than their maximum membership, which means that postal ballots will now be held for Rogart Community Council and Strathnairn Community Council.
An interim update on the development of a new model to assess needs and allocate resource for Additional Support Needs will be reported to the Council's Education Committee on Thursday. The work being carried out is to ensure the Council has a delivery model in place which is agile and flexible to meeting the needs of young people and provides stability for staff.
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities has warned that the Scottish Government's Budget will hit vulnerable communities the hardest. COSLA has warned the Government that it has not considered successive years of cuts, or rising inflation and demand and have therefore put council services at risk.
A study is underway into the feasibility of replacing Scotland's second busiest ferry service with a fixed link bridge or tunnel. The Highland Council, HITRANS and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) are joint funding the study at the Corran Narrows in Lochaber.
The standstill period under the Council's Trades Services Framework agreement was due to close with effect from Monday 17th February 2020, with the intention of a proposed go live date with the new arrangements and contracts of 24th February. The standstill period is a defined period of time between the notice of the contract award decision and the award of the contract.
Following a review taxi fares in Highland have been held at the same level by the Highland Council Licensing Committee held on 18 February 2019. The papers and the debate on this issue can be seen at items six on the webcast - https://highland.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/469655 There is a 14 Day period for appeal.
On 14th February 2020 the Highland council place an advert in the Northern times newspaper regarding the Spaceport planning application as follows. - THE HIGHLAND COUNCIL TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (SCOTLAND) ACT 1997 TOWN and COUNTRY PLANNING (ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT) (SCOTLAND) REGULATIONS 2017.
Members today approved a modest 3% rent increase for residential rents and service charges following detailed consultation with tenants. The increase will result in a rise in the average weekly council house rent from £75.38 to £77.74 (£2.26), which means that Highland rents are still 8th lowest of the 26 councils which retain housing.
Highland Council Trading Standards are again warning unsuspecting residents of the emergence of a new Council Tax scam. Today a call was received by the Council from a Council Tax payer alerting to a Council Tax scam whereby scammers are now texting people and informing them that they are due a Council Tax rebate.
Highland Council's new Chief Social Work Officer's first annual report highlights successes and challenges.` Highland Council's new Chief Social Work Officer for Highland Council, Karen Ralston, has enjoyed a successful first year in her role. Members today noted the 2018/19 annual report at the meeting of the Health, Wellbeing and Social Care committee.
The Highland Council has published the Highland Common Good Asset Register following the completion of a consultation process required by the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. The Register has been published on the Council's website and can be accessed from the download link on the page titled "Common Good Asset Register" or at the following link: https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/20010/community_planning/840/common_good_asset_register For ease of reference, the Register has been divided in the separate former Burghs having recorded Common Good Funds - Cromarty, Dingwall, Dornoch, Fortrose and Rosemarkie, Invergordon, Inverness, Nairn and Tain.