A proposal to build a new town to accommodate up tp 10,000 residents in over 4000 new homes to be built over a 30 - 40 year period finally got the go ahead today The proposals relate to the creation of a new community on 259 hectares of land on the A96(T) just to the north east of Tornagrain and south of Inverness Airport. It is envisaged that the town will have a population of around 10,000 when built out over an estimated 30-40 year period.
Questions and Answers for Private Landlords and Applicants What is the Deposit Guarantee Scheme? The Highland Deposit Guarantee Scheme (here after referred to as the scheme) provides the 'Guarantee' of a deposit instead of a tenant providing cash deposit immediately. The Guarantee is to assist people having difficulty raising a cash deposit at the initial stage of the tenancy.
Capital investment by the Highland Council over the last 18 months has delivered £1.6 million of environmental improvement projects across Highland communities. Members of today's PED Committee had the opportunity to see photos of some of the projects which have been implemented by the Planning and Development Service in support of economic development.
The Boundary Commission for Scotland today (Thursday 13 September 2012) begins an eight week final consultation period with its Sixth Review of UK Parliament Constituencies. The final consultation period allows comments to be made to the Commission concerning any of its revised proposals for constituencies.
A Highland Council campaign aimed at reducing smoking related litter on the streets of Inverness has seen a 25% reduction in litter with smokers helping out and 'Binning their butts'. The Highland Council ran a week long campaign which saw Officers out and about in the Inverness City centre speaking to smokers and raising awareness of the problems of tackling cigarette litter.
The Highland Council's ambitious vision to support the sustainable economic growth of the Highland's has been commended at a national awards ceremony. The Highland-wide Local Development Plan received a Commendation at the Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning in the Quality of Service Category.
A total of 20,000 households in the Highlands are being given the chance to take advantage of a free offer to keep their homes warmer this winter and cut their energy costs. Households in The Highland Council wards of Cromarty Firth, Tain and Easter Ross and Aird and Loch Ness received letters from The Highland Council this week outlining how they can apply for free loft and cavity wall insulation.
The Highlands has a new Youth Convener. John Erskine from Dingwall has this week taken up the unique role of Highland Youth Convener.
Highland Council call for increased awareness of risks from private water supplies. The Highland Council has two thousand private water supplies which serve around seven thousand properties throughout the area.
Still time to apply for Highland Council and University of the Highlands and Islands Gaelic Bursary Scheme Students wishing to learn, or study through the medium of Gaelic at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig UHI and Lews Castle College UHI are being invited to apply for a Gaelic Bursary Scheme. The deadlines for applications submitted to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig is Friday 14 September, and to Lews Castle is Friday 21 September 2012.
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.