As part of ongoing administrative changes to Highland Council services in Wick, as of this week beginning Monday 6 January 2014, Education Service staff are no longer based within Rhind House, Wick. Any enquiries relating to Education Service matters should be directed to the Council Offices, Shared Business Support Team at Girnigoe Street, Wick phone 01349 886606.
A report for Highland Councillors has highlighted the early results from the 2011 Census which shows that the population of the Highlands has grown over the last decade by 11.1%, with the strongest population growth taking place in the Inverness South and Aird and Loch Ness Wards. The report also highlights that across the Highlands there is a large number of people in the 55 to 65 age group which means the area should see a steady increase in the number of retired people over the coming years.
2013 has seen the Council receive its largest number of major pre-application enquiries in connection with renewable energy projects. In total 38 potential applications have been presented to the Planning and Development Service - an increase of 10 from those processed in 2012.
The Highland Council is to step up security at its Inverness headquarters as the result of a recent break-in. The Council has commissioned a security firm to patrol the building during the day and through the night to deter intruders.
The by-election for a councillor to represent the Black Isle Ward on The Highland Council has been won by Mrs Jennifer Barclay, who will join the Independent Group on the Council. Mrs Barclay was one of eight candidates who contested the vacancy, following the death of her husband, Councillor Billy Barclay.
The Highland Council is continuing discussions with Police Scotland to ensure continuity of parking management and enforcement in the Highlands following the full withdrawal of the Highland traffic warden service from 3 February next year. Council Leader, Drew Hendry, assured members of the Council at its meeting in Inverness on Thursday that responsibility for enforcement of parking offences post 3 February would lie with Police Scotland, who have given the Council assurances that police officers will respond to parking incidents and take the appropriate action.
The Highland Council has been successful in bidding for £15,000 of Scottish Government funding towards the cost of organising town centre planning consultation events (known as mini-charrettes) early in the new year to plan the future of the town centres in Fort William, Nairn and Tain. Councillor Thomas Prag, Chair, Planning Environment and Development Committee, revealed the good news at the full council meeting in Inverness today (Thursday).
Survey seeks tenants’ views on council homes Tenants of council houses in the Highlands are being asked for their views on the services provided by The Highland Council, as their landlord. The Council is offering ten £50 vouchers in a free prize draw for those tenants who respond by the deadline of 13 January 2014.
Tributes were paid at the full meeting of The Highland Council on Thursday 19th December 2013 to Neil Gillies, Director of Transport Environmental and Community Services, who is retiring on 31 January next year after 35 years service. Convener Councillor Jimmy Gray and Councillor Graham Phillips, Chair, TEC Services, praised Mr Gillies for his leadership and dedication as director of a crucial frontline service.
The Highland Council has agreed to freeze the Council Tax for a seventh successive year and confirmed a budget of £563.697 million for 2014-15. The Council Tax bands are: Band A: £775.33; Band B: £904.56; Band C: £1,033.78; Band D: £1,163.00; Band E: £1,421.44; Band F: £1,679.89; Band G: £1,938.33; Band H: £2,326.00.
The Highland Council is to write to the UK Government seeking a change to licensing law to prevent over-provision of betting shops in a local community. Members unanimously supported a motion proposed by Councillor Richard Laird, Inverness Central, that the Council should make representations to the UK Government requesting that it amend the 2005 Gambling Act to re-introduce over-provision as grounds to refuse an application and to permit limits on the number and type of gaming machines permitted in a premises or area.
Detailed proposals to realign The Highland Council’s Service management teams into 5 directorates – from the existing 7 – achieving savings of £350,000 per year and delivering more customer-focused services were unanimously accepted at today’s Council meeting. The 5 Directorates will be: · Care and Learning · Finance · Corporate Development · Development and Infrastructure · Community Services The changes will be implemented in two phases.
Opportunities for local contractors to renew existing applications or apply for construction works with Highland Council. The Highland Council is currently in the process of renewing and reviewing its Contractors Framework agreement, which may be used by Services within the Council for selecting contractors to carry out construction works covering reactive day to day repairs, general maintenance works and minor projects up to the value of £50,000.
Detailed proposals to realign The Highland Council’s Service management teams into 5 directorates will be presented for approval to the full council meeting on Thursday (19 December). At its last meeting on 24 October, the Council agreed to reduce the number of Services from seven to five, delivering savings of £350,000 per year.
The Highland Council is being asked next week to freeze the Council Tax for a seventh successive year and confirm a budget of £563.697 million for 2014-15. The Council Tax bands would remain: Band A: £775.33; Band B: £904.56; Band C: £1,033.78; Band D: £1,163.00; Band E: £1,421.44; Band F: £1,679.89; Band G: £1,938.33; Band H: £2,326.00.
The Highland Council is fully backing plans by the Scottish Government to increase fixed penalties for littering and fly-tipping but wants to see more robust action taken against contractors who try to avoid landfill costs by dumping materials indiscriminately. It agrees that the penalty for littering should rise to £80 and the penalty for fly-tipping should increase to £200, penalties which are due to take effect from 1 April, next year.
The highland Council has received a copy of the Follow Up statutory report on Caithness Heat and Power prepared by Audit Scotland. This Follow Up statutory report is being considered by the Accounts Commission at its meeting on 12th December 2013.
Trading Standards Officers at The Highland Council are reminding businesses to be wary of making donations to telephone cold-callers looking for contributions to seemingly good causes. Reports have come in of Highland businesses being targeted by publishing firms seeking payments for educational publications in return for the business being named as a contributor.
Today (5 December 2013) 56 schools, 7 Service Points and council offices were closed due to lack of power, bad weather or loss of water. There were issues with the Council’s website and school closures online which are being investigated.
The Highland Council and Police Scotland are to work together to ensure parking management is maintained in the Highlands when the traffic warden service – currently provided by the police - ends. Police Scotland have given notice of the completion of their phased withdrawal from the service from 3 February, next year.