The team behind the Inverness City Active Travel Network project met up with stakeholders and community representatives in Inverness today (Wednesday 20 September) to celebrate being awarded £6.5M of Community Links PLUS funding following the announcement made by the Minister for Transport and the Islands in Glasgow on Monday. Highland Council and partners have been able to identify matching investment of over £7M, which includes the West Link active travel infrastructure, Inverness Railway Station cycle parking infrastructure, Safer Routes to School interventions, and smarter travel promotion.
Chair of Resources Councillor Alister Mackinnon and Scrutiny Lead for Police and Fire Services, Councillor Matthew Reiss visited the Dundee Police Control Room on Monday 18 September 2017, following an invitation from Police Scotland. Cllr Reiss said: "We welcomed the opportunity to see for ourselves how the new contact, command and control approach is intended to work.
Retailers who sell Nicotine Vapour Products (NVPs) - more commonly known as e-cigarettes and e-liquids - have until 30 September 2017 to update the Register of Tobacco and Nicotine Vapour Product Retailers to show that they sell NVPs. Retailers who fail to update the Register by this date will be committing an offence.
Leader of the Highland Council, Margaret Davidson has responded to a presentation at City of Inverness Area Committee by Police Scotland on their plans for the Inverness Control Room and establishing two National Database Enquiry Units (NDEUs). She said: "Presentations to local committees on revised plans to establish two National Database Enquiry Units cannot be seen as consultation.
Members of Sutherland County Committee received an update on the City-Region Deal at their meeting on Wednesday 13 September 2017. Chair of the Sutherland County Committee Councillor Linda Munro said: "The City-Region Deal is to be welcomed and it is a good thing for the Highlands.
Joint Operation to identify unlicensed HMOs. Following concerns that several flats within Cruickshank Court, Dingwall, were being occupied as unlicensed Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO), the Highland Council's Environmental Health team led a joint investigation at the property on the evening of 7 September 2017.
The Highland Council has agreed a five-year Programme which sets out a number of strategic goals across 5 themes: a place to live, a place to learn, a place to thrive, a welcoming place and a redesigned council. Council Leader, Margaret Davidson said: "Our Programme builds on the foundations of localism that we have been establishing over recent months.
Chair of the Highland Council's People Committee, Councillor Alasdair Christie, today questioned proposals for changes to the governance of schools, set out in the Scottish Government programme announced this week. Speaking at today's Council meeting, Councillor Christie said: "The biggest risk to our goals for improving children's attainment in education is in the Scottish Government’s plans to dilute the role of Local Authorities.
New guidance for local authorities. Guidance on regulating landlords in the private rented sector has issued to all local authorities.
The Highland Council has agreed to proposals for a restructure of services which will release further savings and streamline management in the Council. The changes would reduce the Senior Management costs of the Council by £235,000 per annum (including on costs).
The Highland Council has agreed its approach to potential £160m budget gap. The Highland Council has considered and agreed its strategic approach to an uncertain and challenging financial outlook over the next five years, at its meeting on 7 September.
At the start of today's Highland Council meeting Convenor Cllr Bill Lobban paid tribute to Deputy Chief Executive Michelle Morris and wished her well in her new role as Managing Director of Blaenau Gwent Council in Wales. He said: "We will really miss her.
Good progress has been made in the delivery of the Council's Programme, Highland First, for the period 01 April 2016 to end 31 March 2017. Of the 72 commitments, 64 (89%) are either complete, progressing well or performance is being maintained.
The Highland Council has opted to take the lead in a proposed Strategic Transport Appraisal of the wider Fort William area as a priority, due to congestion and delays on the A82. A motion put to the Council today, 7 September, signed by Councillor N McLean, Councillor A Baxter and Councillor M Smith states: "Highland Council acknowledges that congestion on the A82, as it passes through Fort William, has reached a point where it is causing unacceptable delays for all road users.
The integrated health and social care partnership between NHS Highland and The Highland Council performed significantly better or matched national averages in Scotland in eight out of 12 benchmark performance areas, according to a report. The first-ever annual performance report on the North Highland Health and Social Care Partnership (NHHSCP) was stipulated by the Scottish Government this year in order to help gauge and compare the progress of integration of all the health board and council services across Scotland.
The Highland Council has agreed to write to the First Minister regarding Police Scotland's plans for the Inverness Control Room. The motion which was signed by The Leader of the Highland Council, Margaret Davidson and the Vice Chair of Corporate Resources Cllr Andrew Baxter states: ‘Highland Council is appalled at the circumstances surrounding the future proposed closure of the Inverness Control Room, a facility that has stood the test of time and countless emergencies with distinction.
‘Don't leave it too late to apply for a licence’ Highland Council’s warns all organisers of community fireworks events. Public entertainment licence applications must be submitted soon to Highland Council if organisers wish to have a licence in place for Bonfire Night.
The resignation from the Scottish National Party and Highland SNP group of Councillors will come as great shock to many party members but seems to be symptomatic of the malaise since the election in May. Councillor Gowans who represents the Inverness South ward has issued a statement - "It is with great regret and a heavy heart that I have arrived at the conclusion that whilst I remain committed to the cause of independence for Scotland, I feel that my personal views and ethos are no longer compatible with those of the leadership of the SNP Highland Group.
Chair of Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee questions Police Control Room decisions Chair of the Council's Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee, Cllr Bill Lobban (Independent), has questioned Police Scotland's proposals for closing the Inverness Control Room and establishing two National Database Enquiry Units (NDEUs). His comments follow a presentation by Police Scotland to members at the local Committee today, Tuesday 5 September.