The Highland Council is seeking offers for the sale of surplus Council buildings. This includes a village hall, a former care home, a former school, an office building, a workshop garage and a house.
Transport Scotland has announced a £1.8 million transport package to help ease congestion around the Kessock Bridge resurfacing works next year. A range of roads and public transport measures will be put in place between now and February, including extra seating capacity on trains and buses, additional car parking at Dingwall and Beauly stations, a dedicated bus lane and the re-opening of Conon Bridge Station.
Three licensed premises to be reported to Procurator Fiscal in Orkney during test purchasing operation police are to report three licensed premises in Orkney to the Procurator Fiscal for selling alcohol to underage teens. The three businesses, two in Kirkwall and one on the west mainland, failed a Test Purchasing operation held by Police on the island yesterday.
The Highland Council can announce that access to the e-Planning service is now available for use. Problems occurred last week which caused the system to be closed down so repairs could be carried out.
The Highland Council is advising anyone accessing its e-Planning service that they are working to fix problems with the system and the time to respond to current consultations will be extended to take into account the difficulties experienced by users. A Council spokesperson said: "We are aware that people are currently experiencing difficulty accessing planning application documents on line through our ePlanning system.
The first stage of the £23 million River Ness Flood Alleviation Scheme, Inverness, which will protect approximately 800 homes and 200 businesses in the city centre, is due to start on 22 October. Work will involve the diversion of gas, water, electricity and telecommunication services required to accommodate the first phase of the construction of piled foundations, a seepage collection system and flood walls/ embankments on both sides of the river between the Ness Bridge and Friar's Bridge.
Use The Highland Council offer From Carillion. Trading Standards officers with The Highland Council are warning all residents to be on their guard when answering 'cold-callers' at their home offering 'free home insulation'.
John Erskine - the 6th Highland Youth Convener who took up his post at the beginning of September 2012 - is to step down early from his role to take up a position with the Scottish Parliament, working locally from Inverness. The Youth Convener post is unique in Scotland and is part of the area's commitment to better understanding and engaging with issues important to Highland's young people The search for a new Youth Convener will begin after the Highland Youth Voice Conference which takes place in November.
Thurso High School will have a new acting head teacher when pupils return from their October holidays. John McGilp, Head Teacher at Kinlochleven High School, is moving to Thurso High School as Acting Head Teacher until the end of the school session in June, next year.
Council budget blog focuses on how the Council can generate income. The latest topic for discussion on The Highland Council's budget consultation blog asks the public for ideas on how the Council can generate income and also for views on whether the Council should charge more for certain Council services.
Double boost for River Ness Flood and Streetscape Scheme The Highland Council's City of Inverness Area Committee has given a double boost to the River Ness Flood Alleviation and Streetscape Scheme. The Committee has approved £1 million towards the cost of the streetscape element of the major works and £250,000 towards the cost of a public art programme to complement the streetscape works.
More consumers in Highland will have a new way to find out how well local food caterers and retailers are performing thanks to more food businesses being covered by the Food Hygiene Information scheme. The Highland Council is one of the 32 Scottish local authorities taking part in the Scheme.
Council Leader encourages communities to apply for Climate Challenge Fund. Five communities in the Highlands have between them received over £420,000 from the 11th round of the Climate Challenge Fund and the Leader of The Highland Council hopes more community groups will be encouraged to come forward with projects that tackle climate change.
Highland Councillors have agreed to consult with current garage tenants and residents living close to Council garages and garage sites on the number currently vacant and on how to make better use of these areas. The council owns and manages 1,820 individual garages and 904 individual garage sites.
The Highland Licensing Committee is recommending one change to existing taxi fares following an annual review. The proposed change, which would take effect from Monday 21 January next year, is to permit Tariff 2 to be charged from 9.00pm until 7.00am instead of from 10.00pm to 7.00am as at present.
The lowest paid employees of The Highland Council will benefit from the introduction of a £7.20 an hour wage from April next year. The national UK minimum wage from 1st October is £6.16 per hour (see below for details of age rules and amounts) Members of the Council's Finance, Housing and Resources Committee today agreed to introduce the Scottish Living Wage by applying a living wage supplement to all employees currently paid less than £7.20 per hour to bring them up to £7.20 per hour from 1 April 2013.
The Highlands have been awarded Fairtrade Zone Status by the Fairtrade Foundation. The good news was announced at The Highland Council's Finance Housing and Resources Committee by Council Vice-Convener Councillor Hamish Wood, who has led the Fairtrade campaign over the past two years.
The Highland Licensing Board has agreed to hold a special meeting on Tuesday 6 November at 2:30pm to consider consultation responses received on its door entry policy for premises with late night opening hours, which requires admission by midnight. A report presented to the Licensing Board today (2 October) said the special meeting will allow more time for members to read and consider all responses and invite a number of parties from each of the "for/against" sides of the argument to make a presentation to the Board on their position.
Community groups to benefit from Landfill Community Fund. Highland community groups are being invited to make a bid for a new tranche of £100,000 of funding, to develop or enhance children's play areas.