Local Authority News

9/5/2018 : Local Authority

 
Don't Let The Grass Grow Under Your Feet - 2018/19 Garden Waste Permits

Don't let the grass grow under your feet - order your 2018/19 garden waste permit by 3rd June.   Highland Council Garden Waste Permits are now available to order for the 2018/19 Permit Season.  

1/5/2018 : Local Authority

Economy Secretary visits Highlands for progress update on Investment

The £315 million Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal is already benefiting the Highlands and supporting the area's drive for economic prosperity.   Economy Secretary Keith Brown was given an update on the current investment during a visit to Inverness to meet council officials and see some of the projects benefiting under the deal.  

30/4/2018 : Local Authority

Brexit - Our Commitment to the Highland Council Workforce

The Leader Councillor Margaret Davidson and Chief Executive, Steve Barron of The Highland Council have written to employees with a reassurance of commitment to EU national members of the workforce.   Chief Executive Steve Barron said: "In the context of ongoing Brexit negotiations between the UK Government and the EU, we recognise that this could be an uncertain and unsettling time for many staff who could be affected by the outcome.  

17/4/2018 : Local Authority

Motorists Advised Of Traffic Restrictions For Etape Loch Ness Cycling Event

The Highland Council and partners are advising motorists of temporary road closures and speed restrictions which will be in place from 28th - 30th April 2018 during the Etape Loch Ness cycling event.   The restrictions and prohibitions which are being put in place are for participants' safety and to allow the Etape to take place on public roads.  

16/4/2018 : Local Authority

 
Treas Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ainmichte Na Gàidhealtachd Air A Fosgladh - Highland's 3rd Dedicated Gaelic School Is Opened

Chomharraich sgoilearan, pàrantan agus luchd-obrach toiseach teirm an t-samhraidh an-diugh (Diluain 16 Giblean 2018) aig Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Phort Rìgh a chaidh fhosgladh às ùr.   Bha an cùmhnant togail mar phàirt de phrògram tasgadh calpa iomlan ann an co-bhann ri Riaghaltas na h-Alba, a' gabhail a-steach rathad inntrigidh ùr chun na sgoile, agus ath-leasachadh air seann togalach Ostail Eilginn gus àite-còmhnaidh ùr a chruthachadh do sgoilearan Àrd-Sgoil Phort Rìgh.  

16/4/2018 : Local Authority

1 in 4 Inverness Retailers Fail Underage Cigarette Test Purchases

Highland Council's Trading Standards team is reporting poor findings from the cigarette test purchase programme it recently carried out in the Inverness area.   During the recent exercise, while a total of 10 retailers correctly refused to sell cigarettes to a young test purchase volunteer who is under the minimum age of 18, three businesses sold cigarettes to the volunteer.  

12/4/2018 : Local Authority

 
Iconic Scottish route joins call for drivers to take their litter home

The North Coast 500, Scotland's iconic touring route along Scotland’s northern coastline is now part of a national campaign to clean up the country’s roads.  This initiative, led by environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful and supported by North Coast 500 Ltd, the company behind the NC500, urges road users to ‘give your litter a lift, take it home’.  

6/4/2018 : Local Authority

 
Lib Dems Take Seat From SNP - Caol & Mallaig By-election Results

The by-election for a councillor to represent the Caol and Mallaig Ward on The Highland Council has been won by Denis Rixson - Scottish Liberal Democrats - who was one of six candidates who contested the vacancy.   He joins Councillors Allan Henderson (Independent) and Ben Thompson (Independent) in representing Ward 11 on The Highland Council.  

5/4/2018 : Local Authority

 
Local Government in Scotland - Performance and Challenges 2018

Finding savings is now "increasingly critical" for councils dealing with ongoing reductions in funding, says the Accounts Commission.   Councils are balancing a real terms funding cut of 9.6 per cent over the last eight years with increasing demand, particularly from a growing older population.  

5/4/2018 : Local Authority

 
Annual inspection of Stromeferry rock face

The annual inspection of the The annual inspection of the rock face adjacent to the Stromeferry Bypass which is part of the A890 route along the south shore of Loch Carron, will begin on Monday 16 April.   Geotechnical Engineers from AECOM will undertake the inspection with the assistance of rope access contractor Geo-Rope Ltd.  

5/4/2018 : Local Authority

 
Highland Council Local Scrutiny Plan From Audit Scotland

Highland Council Local Scrutiny Plan - April 2018 to March 2019 Introduction 1.  This local scrutiny plan sets out any scrutiny risks identified by the local area network (LAN), proposed scrutiny responses and expected scrutiny activity for Highland Council during the financial year 2018/19.  

5/4/2018 : Local Authority

B851 part-day road closures - new dates

Motorists are being advised by The Highland Council that there will be part-day road closures of the B851 on Monday 9th and Tuesday 10th April from 9am to 3pm at Farr Primary School (south of Inverness).   The two rescheduled part-day road closures (which were previously postponed due to bad weather) are required at Farr Primary School to carry out essential carriageway surfacing works.  

4/4/2018 : Local Authority

School lets - price changes introduced in Highland

Highland Council has reviewed prices for letting school facilities and has introduced some changes from 1 April 2018.  These changes reflect increasing costs and harmonising prices with High Life Highland in line with Council policy.  

27/3/2018 : Local Authority

Street Traders licence condition 8 to be removed

The Highland Licensing Committee has considered a report in relation to street traders licence condition 8 and agreed to remove this condition from its standard licence conditions.   The continued use of the condition was reviewed following a recent court decision which made clear that licensing conditions must serve a licensing purpose namely preserving public order or public safety.  

23/3/2018 : Local Authority

Corporate Parenting Board for Highland's children and young people

A Corporate Parenting Board is to be established which will have a duty of care for currently around 500 ‘Looked After' children and young people in Highland.   Members of the Highland Community Planning Partnership’s, Community Planning Board have this week (21 March 2018) agreed to establish a Corporate Parenting Board the purpose of which will be to: • promote the corporate parenting role of statutory agencies and awareness of the duties towards care experienced young people in Highland.  

22/3/2018 : Local Authority

New Highland Child Protection Toolkit Launched

The Highland Child Protection Committee has launched a Toolkit to assist individuals, volunteers and community groups working with children and young people understand their roles and responsibilities in relation to child protection.   Over 60 people providing activities for children, young people and families in a paid and voluntary capacity came along to the launch event in Inverness yesterday.  

20/3/2018 : Local Authority

 
Beware Of Calls From Scammers Pretending To Be The Telephone Preference Service

Beware of calls from scammers pretending to be the Telephone Preference Service warns Highland Council Trading Standards.   Highland Council Trading Standards wish to warn consumers not to fall for a new telephone call scam in which fraudsters pretend to be calling from the Telephone Preference Service (or TPS).  

20/3/2018 : Local Authority

 
Director of Care and Learning Highland Council to retire

Bill Alexander, Director of Care and Learning, has announced his intention to retire from The Highland Council.   Bill commenced with the Council in 2000, in a joint post with NHS Highland as Head of Children's Services.  

9/3/2018 : Local Authority

Redesign continues to deliver improvements

Recent outcomes of Redesign work were noted by Members at yesterday's Highland Council meeting.   In the first year of the programme, 8 redesign projects were undertaken using a "Lean" approach and 36 staff have been trained as facilitators.  

8/3/2018 : Local Authority

Resurfacing road works on B862 and B851

Motorists are being advised that The Highland Council is currently preparing to carry out resurfacing works at the following locations: • B862 Fort Augustus - Whitebridge - Torness - Dores – Inverness Road; specifically at Errogie Village (North Gateway), Errogie Village (South Gateway), and Compass Farm; and • B851 Errogie – Strathnairn – Daviot Bridge – Culloden Moor Road; specifically at Aberarder House.   Advanced works notification signage will be provided at various locations from Thursday 15 March 2018.