"The forward look of the Council is one of ambition, improving outcomes and working across Communities". This is the view of the external audit report on The Highland Council.
The Council has a legal duty to provide certain advice and information services on debt, welfare and housing for local residents. Employment rights advice is also provided but there is no statutory duty on the Council to provide this.
Highland Council is fully supportive of the aim to close the poverty-related educational attainment gap between children and young people from the least and most disadvantaged communities. In Highland, 1537 Primary and 1006 Secondary School children live in the most deprived data zones.
Last week, The Highland Council issued rent suspension orders (RSO) in relation to a number of properties being operated as unlicensed houses in multiple occupation (HMO). The orders, which have been served on the owners and tenants, mean that the tenants are no longer under any obligation to pay rent to their landlord.
The Highland Council is ready for winter and prepared to grit council roads as the council's winter maintenance programme starts on 14 October. Trunk roads in Highland are the responsibility of Transport Scotland and their operators Bear Scotland.
The Leader of The Highland Council Councillor Margaret Davidson welcomed the First Minister's announcement of a Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund to deliver much needed improvements to tourist infrastructure to support the rising numbers of visitors to the Highlands. This comes the week after figures were published for August which showed Highland visitor attractions were performing 17% higher compared to August last year, a result that is backed by accounts from residents and businesses that the area has been hugely popular with visitors this season.
Trading Standards are looking for young people to take part in test purchasing exercises. We want to find out which shops are breaking the law by selling age restricted products to young people under 18.
Caithness Civic leader Cllr Willie Mackay (centre) cuts the tape at the opening of the newly refurbished half mile Killimster Moss stretch of the B876 Wick to Thurso road. Looking on are some of the Highland council workers praised for the project which was done on time and within budget.
Caithness Civic Leader Cllr Willie Mackay has welcomed the reopening of the B876 Killimster Moss Road. A stretch of the Caithness Wick to Thurso road at Killimster Moss was refurbished over a four week programme of improvement and reopened on Friday 29 September.
A chance to have your say. Voters are being invited to have their say on a review of polling places throughout the Highland Council area The Council has today (Monday 2 October 2017) launched a consultation over its review of election polling districts and polling places.
The Scottish Government is allocating £1 million to improve school libraries over the next three years. Launched today by the Deputy First Minister, the School Library Improvement Fund will be open for education authorities to apply for funding on behalf of school libraries in their area.
The by-election for a councillor to represent the Tain and Easter Ross Ward on The Highland Council has been won by Alasdair Rhind (Independent) who was one of six candidates who contested the vacancy. The bi-election was brought about by the resignation of Jamie Stone following his success in the Westminster elections He joins Councillors Fiona Robertson (Independent) and Derek Louden (SNP) in representing Ward 7 on The Highland Council.
Highland Council is supporting the Scottish Government's campaign to raise awareness of how people can find out if they are eligible for benefits and to apply for them. A week-long series of radio and press adverts are running to highlight the range of support available from social security, such as the Sure Start Maternity Grant, Carers Allowance and the Funeral Expenses Payment.
The Scrutiny Lead for The Highland Council, Cllr Matthew Reiss responded to the decisions made today by the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) at their meeting in Inverness. He said: "We are naturally deeply disappointed by the decisions today to close the Inverness Control Room and to spread the National Database Enquiry Unit between Inverness and Govan.
Drivers are being advised that on Thursday (28 September 2017) temporary traffic lights will be in position at the A82 approach to Tomnahurich roundabout. The temporary traffic controls are required to allow for work associated with the new West Link crossing to be carried out and will be operating from 9am until 4pm.
The Highland Council Countryside Rangers have yet again had a busy summer getting people out into the countryside, exploring and enjoying wonderful wildlife and scenery. Over the summer months the team have put on over 250 events involving over 4000 people.
The Highland Council has signed up to join Recycle Week's army of ambassadors in a bid to get Scotland recycling more. Recycle Week, which takes place from 25 September to 1 October 2017, is the annual UK-wide campaign to raise awareness of the vital importance of recycling.
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.