Work on the new Caithness and Sutherland Local Development Plan will begin later this month. As part of this the communities of Wick and Thurso will each have a unique opportunity to shape the future of their community and influence future development decisions in the area.
The Highland Council’s snow clearing / gritting route policies and area maps are online for 2012/13 at www.highland.gov.uk/gritting. Road condition and gritting treatment reports by The Highland Council’s, Transport, Environmental and Community Services for the morning of Monday 21 January 2013 are as follows: South Sutherland and East Ross Priority routes being treated.
The resurfacing works for the Kessock Bridge will start on 11 February and continue until 7 June. Everyone using the bridge whether once or regularly will need to plan for delays that are being stated will happen.
This audio Powerpoint presentation was developed by Malina MacDonald in the Chief Executive's Office following requests to present on the success of The Highland Council's business travel CO2 and cost reductions. Malina was happy to present but was unwilling to travel to the central belt therefore developed this solution..
Offices of The Highland Council at Market Place, Wick, will close their doors for the last time at 3 pm today (Friday) ahead of an £8 million redevelopment of the site as modern Council office accommodation. Eighty staff, including those at the Service Point, are relocating to Government Buildings, Girnigoe Street while the new offices are built at Market Place.
The Leader of The Highland Council Councillor Drew Hendry met with First Minister Alex Salmond today (Friday 18 Jan 2013) to discuss the key issues that are facing the Highlands. Meeting at Inverness, Council Leader Drew Hendry highlighted the Council’s priorities, giving an update on progress of projects and initiatives throughout the vast area covered by the Council.
Members of The Highland Council’s Transport, Environmental and Community Services Committee have agreed that the Council will continue to provide advice and support to privately owned facilities which have been affected by the storm surge. Members were informed today (Thursday) that the extent of damage to 24 Council harbour facilities and coastal defences during the 14/15 December 2012 storm is likely to exceed the current estimate of £2.555 million.
The Highland Council has produced a proposed strategy for growth for the public and private sectors over the next five years to ensure Highland climbs out of recession with a stronger and more sustainable economic base and having the potential for growth. Following approval of the draft Plan at todays (Wednesday 16 January) Planning, Environment and Development Committee, it will now go out to key public and private sector partners for wider consultation before being adopted.
Members of The Highland Council’s Transport, Environmental and Community Services Committee will hear next week that the extent of damage to Council harbour facilities and coastal defences during the 14/15 December 2012 storm is currently estimated at £2.555 million. In a report to the TEC Services Committee, members are advised of the extent of the damage to facilities at 24 locations including: Scrabster – East Gills; John O’Groats Harbour; Freswick Harbour; Ackergill Harbour; Keiss Harbour; Staxigoe Harbour; Victoria Street, Wick; Scalesburn, Wick; Service Bridge, Wick; Latheron Harbour; Dunbeath Harbour; Helmsdale Harbour; Brora Harbour; Golspie; Embo Harbour; Portmahomack and its harbour; Hilton; Balintore and its harbour; Shandwick; Rockfield; Rosemarkie; and Nairn.
Highland Councillors are being invited to adopt revised guidance to help assess planning applications for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) across the Highlands. Comments have been taken on board from a public consultation in late 2012, which included a debate on the options for Inverness City Centre at the Council’s City of Inverness and Area Committee.
The Wick Offices of Highland council at Market Square will close on Friday 18th January and reopen on Monday 21st January 2013 at Girnigoe Street, Wick. A new telephone system has been installed and new telephone numbers allocated - see the listing attached.
The Highland Council is ready to move from its base in Market Place in Wick to temporary accommodation in nearby Girnigoe Street in preparation for the £8 million redevelopment of the Market Place site as modern Council office accommodation. Offices in Market Place, including the Service Point, will close on Friday 18 January at 3pm and relocate to Government Buildings, Girnigoe Street.
The Highland Council has decided to raise no objection to a consultation on proposals by MeyGen Limited to construct and operate a 86MW tidal array scheme in the inner sound of the Pentland Firth. The Council’s response to Marine Scotland reaffirms its support of renewable energy development in the Highlands and highlights the economic benefits that this can bring to the area.
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.
Highland fishing communities are encouraged to apply for assistance from the European Fisheries Fund, the fund aims to help develop communities where fishing is in decline by supporting measures to build skills and knowledge and increase the capacity of local fishing communities and business networks through innovation, collaboration and diversification. The Highland Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) administers the £549,392 available to the Highland area.
In a move aimed at encouraging community empowerment, The Highland Council today (Thursday 3rd January2013) launched its new Community Challenge Fund, which will provide £1 million each year of recurring spending for community projects exploring new ways of delivering services at a local level. Community councils, community groups and establish social enterprises are invited to express their interest via a one-page form which is available from the home page of the Council’s web site: www.highland.gov.uk The Council is open to ideas on how groups could:- 1.
The Highland Council’s Leader Councillor Drew Hendry has written to the Scottish Government seeking emergency financial assistance towards the cost of repairing damage caused to piers and harbours and coastal defences by recent exceptional storms. In a letter to Richard Lochhead, MSP, Cabinet Secretary, Rural Affairs and the Environment, Councillor Hendry says: “In Highland, the storm surge caused extensive damage along the eastern coastline between Wick and Nairn and our officials are currently carrying out detailed inspections to assess the nature and extent of the damage.
Commuters urged to think ahead. A programme of essential repairs to the Kessock Bridge took a step forward today when Transport Scotland announced that Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering had been appointed to undertake the works.
Many people become the victims of fraudsters intent on conning them out of their cash. If you receive an unsolicited or unexpected telephone call, be on your guard as it may be a scam.