Two meetings in a series of 12 public consultation events on The Highland Council's budget for 2012 - 2017 are being held in: the Norseman Hotel, Wick on Tuesday 11 September; and Durness Village Hall on Thursday 13 September, both starting at 6:30pm. The meetings are joint arrangements of the Council's Ward Forums for Thurso, Wick and Landward Caithness Wards and the North, West and Central Sutherland Wards.
Ten new Council homes in Conon Bridge are the latest to be completed by The Highland Council as part of a 202-house Highland-wide project supported by the Scottish Government. The new tenants at Marjorie Mackenzie Place were welcomed on Friday by Councillor Dave Fallows, Chairman of the Finance Housing and Resources Committee, and Ward Members for Dingwall and Seaforth Alister Mackinnon, Angela Maclean, Graham Mackenzie and Margaret Paterson.
First Minister Alex Salmond officially opened two new energy education hubs at The North Highland College UHI on Thursday 30th August 2012. The First Minister met with staff, students and trainees at the official opening of North Highland College UHI's new Engineering, Technology and Energy Centre (ETEC) and Centre for Energy and Environment (CfEE).
For many years there has been a trust in Caithness that makes awards to local people for educational purposes. Applications are straighforward and can be made to The area Education Culture and Sport manager.
Public agencies in the Highlands are leading the way in reducing carbon emissions from travel by using electric cars and vans for business use. In addition, the electric vehicles are expected to generate significant savings in both running costs when compared to hiring a regular car.
The Highland Council is to support an option being considered by the Scottish Government to end the right that Council house tenants have to buy their homes. The Council believes that ending the right to buy will help it meet the growing demand for affordable rented accommodation as housing waiting lists grow.
The Highland Council has today (Monday) launched a budget blog on the home page of its web site: www.highland.gov.uk by asking the public if they think it is a good idea to save £3.2 million per year by shortening the school day of Primary 4 - 7 pupils by 30 minutes, bringing their day in line with Primary 1-3 pupils. Class hours for pupils in P 4-7 are currently 25 hours per week.
The Highland Council has prepared planning guidance for Small-Scale Wind Turbine Proposals and is asking for people's views on it. From tomorrow (23rd August) the draft guidance is available to view on the website www.highland.gov.uk and in local Highland Council Libraries, Service Points and at Council Headquarters in Inverness.
Councillor Deirdre Mackay who represents the East Sutherland and Edderton Ward has unanimously been elected as Chairman of the Caithness and Sutherland Area Committee. The committee met yesterday (Monday 20 August) for the first time at The Highland Council's Drummuie Offices in Golspie.
The Highland Council has today (Monday 20th august 2012) launched a three-month long public consultation to help bridge a projected budget gap of almost £30 million over the next two financial years. A series of Ward Forums as well as briefing events with business, voluntary and specialist groups are planned before 19 October to complement the views expressed by staff, trade unions and the Council's Citizen Panel of 2,300 residents.
The Highland Council has made a breakthrough in its campaign to win a better deal for local consumers over delivery surcharges levied by internet companies. Since starting their investigations, Trading Standards officers have persuaded more than 20 internet trading companies to alter their trading practices to comply with the law.
The Highland Council wants members of the public to let them know where the most flowery road verges are in their local area with a view of looking to change cutting regimes to maximise the variety of flowers growing there. Chairman of TEC Services Committee, Councillor Graham Phillips said: "Safety is of course of paramount importance on roads, so cutting regimes will only be altered when it is safe to do so.
Businesses in the Highlands are being advised to consider whether a forthcoming change to the licensing of late hours catering establishments will mean that they may now require a late hours catering licence. A licence is currently required if businesses provide `meals or refreshments' to the public between 11pm and 5am, the most common types of premises being fast food takeaways and 24 hour opening supermarkets.
Over 100 probationer teachers were welcomed to the Highlands today at an induction meeting held at Milton of Leys Primary School, Inverness by Councillor Alasdair Christie, Chairman of The Highland Council's Adult and Children's Services Committee. Hugh Fraser, Highland Council's Director of Education, Culture and Sport also welcomed the 103 probationers starting in the 2012/13 academic year.
Back to school: Primary pupils: Autumn term begins on 14th August Secondary pupils: Autumn term begins on 15th August Autumn Autumn term starts - 14 August 2012 (primary pupils) - 15 August 2012 (secondary pupils) Autumn term ends - 5 October 2012 Winter Winter term starts - 23 October 2012 (primary pupils) - 24 October 2012 (secondary pupils) Winter term ends - 20 December 2012 Spring Spring term starts - 7 January 2012 Mid term break - 11 to 15 February 2013 Spring term ends - 28 March 2013 Summer Summer term begins - 15 April 2013 Summer term ends - 28 June 2013 Public holidays Good Friday - 29 March 2013 Easter Monday - 1 April 2013 May Day - 6 May 2013 In-service days The first day back after summer - Monday 13 August 2012 (Primary and Secondary) The second day back after summer - Tuesday 14 August 2012 (Secondary only) The first day back after October break - Monday 22 October 2012 (Primary and Secondary) The second day back after October break - Tuesday 23 October 2012 (Secondary only) Three days following the February mid-term break - Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 13, 14 and 15 February 2013 (Primary and Secondary).
North Highland communities, landowners and businesses are being invited to make suggestions in a Highland Council 'Call for Sites' exercise which takes place from 8 August to 3 October 2012. The Council hopes the exercise will identify sites which may be suitable to support the marine renewables sector.
Delight at top grades. Highland pupils are celebrating a sharp increase in the number of candidates gaining top grades in this year's Higher exams.
The Highland Licensing Board is consulting widely over a review of its policy governing door entry to night clubs (commonly called a curfew), which requires admission by midnight. The Board invites representations on whether the policy should continue and, if so, whether it should be extended throughout the Highlands.
The Highland Council is inviting applications from voluntary groups to operate community transport projects for the 2013 - 2014 financial year. 19 voluntary groups are coming to the end of their current funding agreements and they will now be able to apply for new revenue funding.
With more graduates than ever finding it tough to get into the workplace a new scheme to help them get a foothold into business, whilst at the same time helping Highland companies get the right kind of help to grow, launches this month. The Highland Council Graduate Placement Programme is a work placement scheme being delivered by Business Gateway Highlands' Recruitment Service.