Local Authority News

1/8/2017 : Local Authority

Leader to raise concerns about the police control room with Chief Constable

Leader of The Highland Council, Margaret Davidson will be meeting with Chief Constable Phil Gormley tomorrow.   Councillor Davidson will be raising the issue of the future of the Police Control Room and Police Scotland's plans for the National Database Enquiry Unit (NDEU).  

21/7/2017 : Swimming Pools

 
Wick Swimming Pool - Great Deal On High Life Card

The new community facility at Wick High still has great offer on the High Life Card.   Usually £20 per month but for this offer pay £200 and get a whole 12 months of access.  

21/7/2017 : Advisory / Counseling Services

Watch out for fake job offers online

As part of Scam Awareness Month, Caithness Citizens Advice Bureau and Highland Council Trading Standards want to alert young job seekers about the potential pitfalls when applying for jobs or signing up to recruitment agencies online.   Glenys Brown, Trading Standards Officer, based in Inverness explains, "Unfortunately, nationally, there has been a sharp rise in the number of online job hunting scams and the age group most likely to be targeted with fake job offers are young adults aged between 18 to 24 years".  

20/7/2017 : Local Authority

 
Your Views Wanted On Draft Local Housing Strategy

The Highland Council is looking for your views on our draft Local Housing Strategy.   The strategy sets out our aims for housing over the next 5 years and what we will do to.  

20/7/2017 : Local Authority

 
Council confirms Corran Ferry is back up and running

Council confirms Corran Ferry is back up and running.   The Highland Council is pleased to report that at 12.30pm today (Thursday 20 July 2017) the Corran Ferry fully resumed its foot passenger and car service.  

14/7/2017 : Local Authority

More Centralisation As Council Leader Calls For Transparency On HMRC Move To Edinburgh

Leader of The Highland Council, Cllr Margaret Davidson is calling for transparency on the UK Government's announcement this week that Council Leader calls for transparency on HMRC move to Edinburgh Leader of The Highland Council, Cllr Margaret Davidson is calling for transparency on the UK Government's announcement this week that 2,900 HMRC civil servants will be relocated to a new hub in Edinburgh city centre by 2020.   Councillor Davidson said: "I am very concerned that Inverness is cited in news coverage of the UK Government's intention to move HMRC staff in regional offices to Edinburgh.  

13/7/2017 : Local Authority

 
Highland Council Step Challenge Winners

Teams from The Highland Council have been walking back to happiness and feeling the benefits of more active lifestyles following completion of the summer Step Count Challenge, run by Paths for All.  The 8 week challenge, which attracted 968 teams of 5 from across Scotland started in May and finished on 25 June 2017.  

13/7/2017 : Local Authority

 
Free City Centre Wifi Is A Big Hit For Inverness And The Highland Council

Inverness, the largest city in the Scottish Highlands, has seen over 17,000 people access its free city centre WiFi in just 6 months following a collaboration between The Highland Council, Purple and Rapier Systems.   The Highland Council sought a WiFi solution that would allow them to identify who visits the city and gain a way of effectively communicating with people.  

10/7/2017 : Local Authority

Don't let Scammers identify you through your mobile number warn Highland Trading Standards

Trading Standards officers at The Highland Council have discovered a new scam threat to local consumers.   A local man was cheated out of a substantial sum by a conman posing as a reputable property landlord who used the man's mobile number to find out personal information from his Facebook account.  

10/7/2017 : Local Authority

National concerns prompt Highland checks on UV tanning equipment in Highland

The Highland Council, one of several local authorities in Scotland which license UV tanning salons, will be conducting an audit on all licensed premises in Highland to verify compliance with EU safety standards regarding the output of ultra violet (UV) radiation.   Environmental Health Officers have become increasingly aware of concerns nationally whereby the UV bulb strength in many cases have been found to exceed the standard for such equipment.  

6/7/2017 : Local Authority

 
No change? Just ‘RingGo' with Highland Council parking

Motorists using Highland Council car parking machines will no longer have to search for change with the introduction of ‘RingGo' phone parking payments across the region.   RingGo is a quick, easy to use mobile phone service, which lets motorists pay for their parking with a credit or debit card, rather than using cash at a machine.  

5/7/2017 : Local Authority

Stronger Penalties For People Sharing Intimate Images

Prosecuting people who share or threaten to share intimate images without consent will be easier under a new law which comes into force this month.   From 3 July 2017, those convicted the offence could face up to five years in prison under the Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Act 2016.  

5/7/2017 : Local Authority

Council to form Cross-Party Working group for Inverness Schools

Members of The Highland Council have agreed to form a short life Cross-Party Working group for Inverness Schools.  The decision to create the working group was made at Highland Council's meeting on 29 June.  

3/7/2017 : Local Authority

Council reinstatement call of 24/7 NHS Emergency Cover, Portree and North Skye

Members of The Highland Council have agreed that an approach should be made to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport, Shona Robison, to come to meet with the Leader of Highland Council, Cllr Margaret Davidson and the four Skye councillors on behalf of the Skye and Raasay Committee to request that the 24/7 NHS Emergency Cover be reinstated for Portree and North Skye.   The meeting with the four Skye councillors will also include Members from Ward 5 (Wester Ross,Strathpeffer and Lochalsh).  

3/7/2017 : Local Authority

New Joint Committee for Roads Collaboration receives cross-party Council support

Members of The Highland Council have unanimously agreed to the establishment of a joint Committee with Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Angus Council, Argyll and Bute Council, Comharlie nan Eilean Siar and Moray Council to be known as ‘The Northern Roads Collaboration Joint Committee'.   Cllr Allan Henderson, Chair of the Council's Places Committee commended the formation of the new Joint Committee, he said: "I commend this initiative which will help Highland Council and our partner Northern Authorities address the ‘big ticket' roads’ issues that affect us all.  

29/6/2017 : Local Authority

"Less smoke and mirrors from Scottish Government" demands Highland Leader

During a debate about the future of Highland Council finances, Leader of the Council, Margaret Davidson, has challenged the Scottish Government to be more open about the funding they provide for local councils across Scotland.   "In recent years' we’ve seen too much smoke and mirrors when it comes to the Scottish Government handing out their annual grant to local councils.  

29/6/2017 : Local Authority

Roll-out of free WIFI For Inverness

FREE Wifi will be extended across the city centre in Inverness this summer.   The free service, "Ness Wifi", will be rolled out in the second phase of the Inverness City WiFi project.  

29/6/2017 : Local Authority

Council support for young LGBTI receives national recognition

Highland Council is delighted and honoured to have been announced as the ‘Most Improved Local Education Authority' and top performing Council in Scotland in Stonewall's seventh annual Education Equality Index.   This extremely welcome announcement was made at Stonewall's Education for All conference held yesterday (28 June) at the University of Birmingham.  

29/6/2017 : Local Authority

Commercial Board to lead economic approach

The Highland Council has agreed to set up a Commercial Board amongst a range of other recommendations to redesign the Council, including strengthening local democracy.   The establishment of Commercial Board aims to create a step change in income generation with a social purpose in mind.  

29/6/2017 : Local Authority

 
Strategic Council Lead for Police and Fire renews call for clarity over Inverness Control Room

Cllr Mathew Reiss, former Chief Inspector with Northern Constabulary, was appointed as the Highland Council's Strategic Lead for Police and Fire at the Highland Council meeting today, 29 June 2017.   Cllr Reiss said: "The Council has long had an excellent working relationship with local police officers in the Highlands.