Local Authority News

9/11/2012 : Local Authority

Cold Calling Dangers Highlighted

National Consumer Week focuses on dangers of cold calling.   “Cold calling – Don’t buy it” is the theme of this year’s Trading Standards National Consumer Week, which begins on Monday (12 November).  

7/11/2012 : Local Authority

Highland Licensing Board abolishes midnight door entry policy

Members of The Highland Licensing Board have voted to abolish the door entry policy for premises with late night opening hours, which requires admission by midnight, with the change set to take effect after the board’s next scheduled meeting on 18 December, this year.   Convener Councillor Maxine Smith used her casting vote in favour of change after a 5-5 vote following a hearing involving a number of presentations from invited parties from each of the “for/against” sides of the argument to retain or remove the door entry policy.  

7/11/2012 : Local Authority

Warm Homes Fund launched

A £50 million fund that will invest in green energy projects to help heat homes across Scotland has been officially launched today.   Housing Minister Margaret Burgess announced that two pilot schemes in Glasgow and the Highlands will be the first to be benefit from the Warm Homes Fund.  

7/11/2012 : Local Authority

STOP PRESS - Highland Licencing Board Abolishes Late Night Entry Curfew

The Licencing Board of Highland council today 6 November 2012 voted 5 - 5 and with the chairman's Maxine Smith's casting vote abolished the late night curfew - late night door entry policy to licensed premises in Highland..  

6/11/2012 : Local Authority

Expert to present to Council Adult and Children's Services Committee

Leading expert to present to Council Adult and Children's Services Committee.   Highland Council's Adult and Children's Services Committee, will hear from a leading expert at its meeting on Wednesday 7 November, about the most critical years in any child or adult's development.  

6/11/2012 : Local Authority

Wick Schools Maintaining Progress

A report to The Adult and Children's Services Committee of Highland Council on Wednesday 7th Novermber will show progress is being maintained to deliver the new schools.   5.0 SUSTAINABLE SCHOOL ESTATE REVIEW (SSER) 5.1 Wick - the Stage 1 submission from Hub North Scotland Limited (Hubco) is currently being considered by officials.  

26/10/2012 : Local Authority

Wind turbines on school sites to restart soon following review

The Highland Council has completed a comprehensive risk assessment of wind turbines located in school grounds which confirms safe operation and gives the go ahead for the turbines, which have proved effective, to restart soon.   It believes it has broken new ground in assessing and managing the risks associated with wind turbines in schools following a detailed review of school locations by independent consultants Building Research Establishment (BRE).  

23/10/2012 : Local Authority

Budget Blog Focuses On Recycling And Disposal Of Waste

The latest topic for discussion on The Highland Council's budget consultation blog asks the public for ideas on the recycling and disposal of waste.   The questions are posed by Councillor Dave Fallows, Chairman of the Council's Finance Resources and Housing Committee, who is encouraging comment on his budget blog on proposals to deliver Council services more efficiently and effectively.  

23/10/2012 : Local Authority

Facebook chat with public to help people get Ready for Winter

Issued by the Highlands and Islands Strategic Co-ordinating Group.   Members of the Highlands and Islands Strategic Co-ordinating Group (HISCG) are directly involving the public for the first time in their preparations for winter.  

18/10/2012 : Local Authority

New Preventative Services For Highland's Elderly

The Highland Council has published proposals, which will be considered on Thursday (25 October), to fulfil one of the key commitments in its programme - to invest an additional £1million in new preventative services for Highland's elderly.   Preventative services involve early intervention, to promote the long-term physical, social, and emotional well-being of people and communities.  

17/10/2012 : Local Authority

 
Council Properties For Sale

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.  

15/10/2012 : Local Authority

Almost £2 million to keep Inverness moving during Kessock Bridge works

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.  

15/10/2012 : Local Authority

Orkney Licence Premises Caught In Under Age Sales

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.  

14/10/2012 : Local Authority

Council's E-planning system up and running

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.  

11/10/2012 : Local Authority

Problems with Council's e-Planning System

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.  

10/10/2012 : Local Authority

 
River Ness Flood Alleviation Scheme Gets Under Way

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.  

10/10/2012 : Local Authority

Highland Trading Standards Service warn of 'free insulation' offers

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'.  

10/10/2012 : Local Authority

Highland Youth Convener Resigns - Chance For Another Young Person

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.  

8/10/2012 : Educational Institutions

Thurso High School's new Acting Head Teacher

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.  

7/10/2012 : Local Authority

Should The Council Make Even Higher Charges For School Lets To Balance The Budget

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.