Members of the Highland Council Resources Committee have noted research showing the benefits of being online and the work being done by the Council to promote digital inclusion. Research shows that across the UK 89% of adults have access to the internet at home, however 17.9% of people in the Highlands never use the internet.
Two projects have been approved for capital discretionary funding by the Councils Resources Committee. Members approved a contribution of £100,000 over 2 years towards the Falls of Shin Community Project, subject to full a funding package being in place.
The Highland Council has approved funding of over £250,000 for projects across the region that will improve transport links, reduce carbon emissions and save the Council money. The funding comes from Highland Councils Carbon CLEVER capital budget, which has supported a wide range of projects over the past 18 months, including the upgrading of streetlights in Highland to LEDs, improved cycling facilities, the installation of biomass boilers, and a grant fund which has allocated funding to more than ten community projects which reduce carbon emissions.
The UK Governments ongoing changes to welfare, which began in 2010, will substantially reduce the amount of benefits paid to households and families. The Council continues to voice concerns about the impact that Universal Credit, and in particular the payment of housing costs, is having on Highland tenants and landlords alike.
The Highland Council will issue invitations to tender for the construction of West Link Stage 1, (Dores Road to the A82) and Canal Parks Enhancement Project, to eight contractors tomorrow, Friday 20 November 2015. A number of contractors expressed an interest and the eight contractors have been selected to submit tenders following a pre-qualification process.
The Highland Council is inviting the public to submit written representations to the Council about proposed changes to public entertainment licensing activities. All representations should be made to the Council by Friday 18 December 2015.
Leader of The Highland Council, Councillor Margaret Davidson has welcomed the level of public engagement that is helping the local authority plan to deliver its services through more localised decision making. The Highland Council approved a localism action plan at its meeting of the full Council on 29 October 2015 that will start to map out how to deliver decentralised decision making powers to local communities.
With the approach of winter householders are reminded that Garden Waste Collections will cease for a period of 3 months from the end of November. There will be no brown bin collections in December, January or February.
Highland Council has highlighted its successful joint working with BEAR Scotland and Transport Scotland. The Council's Head of Roads and Transport Richard Evans, BEAR Scotland's Operating Company Representative for the North West Eddie Ross and Transport Scotland’s Acting National Network Manager Jonny Moran delivered a joint presentation at last week’s Community Services Committee meeting.
Over 1,200 people took part in the second of a series of Highland Council Budget Facebook Chats on Tuesday 3rd November. Chair of the Councils Community Services Committee Councillor Allan Henderson and Director of Community Services William Gilfillan took part in the event which focused on Community Services and ways in which savings could be made.
Approval for significant programme of capital investment. The Highland Councils Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee has today (Wed 4 Nov 2015 approved nearly £8 million of capital investment in Town and Countryside regeneration projects throughout Highland over the next nine years.
The Highland Council has welcomed British Airways announcement this morning of a new Heathrow link with Inverness from May next year. Leader of the Council, Cllr Margaret Davidson welcomed the news saying This is excellent news for the economy of the Highlands.
The Highland Council has appointed 6 new Head Teachers at schools in the Highlands. The appointments include: Nigel Engstrand as Head Teacher at Inverness Royal Academy.
Hosting two concurrent international orienteering events in the Highlands proved to be a run-away success bringing in £9.4 million to the Scottish economy, VisitScotland can reveal. The 2015 World Orienteering Championships (WOC) and Highland 2015, the 20th Scottish 6 Days Orienteering event, were held between 31 July and 8 August this year.
The Highland Council is appealing to private landlords or people who own vacant houses who may be able to offer a house for rent to a Syrian Refugee family. The Council is expecting to take around 25 to 30 families from Syrian Refugee camps early in the new year as part of the UK Refugee Resettlement Programme.
For the eighth successive year, the Council has frozen the Council Tax. Like other Local Authorities, The Highland Council is facing a forecast budget deficit over the next 3 years.
Highland Council is to hold a series of Facebook chats on budget issues, starting with a discussion on the council tax. For the eighth successive year, the Council has frozen the Council Tax.
The Highland Council Leader, Cllr Margaret Davidson welcomed the call for reinstatement of ETVs by Highland MPs. She said: "The provision of Emergency Towing Vessels (ETVs) has been a vital issue for the Highland Council ever since the ETV in the Minch was withdrawn some years ago.
Two city centre car parks are to offer reduced-price parking for shoppers and visitors to Inverness City centre in the run up to Christmas. Highland Council and Eastgate Centre Management have been working with Inverness BID and partners to provide a much needed boost for city centre businesses.
Views sought on Highland Planning Policies through new consultation portal. The Highland Council has today launched three online consultations on planning and housing issues across the area, including a review of its main planning policy document the Highland-wide Local Development Plan.