The consultation on the first stage of preparing the Local Development Plan for the Inner Moray Firth area is drawing to a close, with the deadline for submissions at 5 pm on Friday (6 July). The consultation document, known as the Main Issues Report, asks for people's thoughts on where future development should and should not be located across the Inner Moray Firth area which stretches from Tain in the North to Fort Augustus in the South and Auldearn in the East to Garve in the West.
The Caithness District Partnership, which will identify key issues and priorities governing the care of children and adults in the county, met for the first time earlier this week when it agreed that, as a first priority, it would support a review and re-design of services for adults in Caithness, with a particular focus on older adult care and support. The meeting took place at the Pulteneytown People's Project Community Centre, Wick, when Colin Punler, an NHS Board Member from Thurso, was elected chairman.
The Highland Council has agreed to embark on a four-month public consultation over budget savings needed in 2013/14 and 2014/15. The Council estimates the savings targets will be £11.5 million in 2013/14 and £18.2 million in 2014/15.
The Highland Council has shown its commitment to the economy of the North Highlands in approving £10,000 towards the design of an improved road alignment for the Berriedale Braes. This stretch of the A9 is maintained by Transport Scotland.
Following a third round of Community Council elections in the Highlands, three new councils are guaranteed to be formed. Caithness West and Uig, Skye, can operate from 3 July as they received more nominations than half their maximum membership.
A report going to next week's meeting of The Highland Council will ask members to approve £10,000 to go towards the design of an improved road alignment for a notorious stretch of the A9 trunk road known as the Berridale Braes. The proposal is to remove the north hairpin by realigning the existing road within the corridor between the cemetery and the coastal cliff.
The Highland Council's Leadership today launched a "bold and ambitious" programme of priorities for action over the next five years. "Working together for the Highlands" is being presented to the next meeting of the Council on Thursday 28 June for confirmation as the Programme for The Highland Council.
Caithness District Partnership will meet for the first time on Tuesday 26 June, as part of new arrangements under the Integrating Care in the Highlands partnership between NHS Highland and The Highland Council. The new District Partnership, which will meet in public, will identify key local issues and priorities for children and adults in Caithness that can be better delivered through joint working between partners at local level, including NHS Highland, Highland Council, Voluntary and Independent providers and local communities.
4 pm on Wednesday (27 June) is the deadline for candidates to return their election nomination forms for round 3 of the forthcoming Community Council elections, which involve those which are currently unformed. Nominations are invited from persons seeking election as members of Community Councils in Wards 2/4: Caithness West (10 members); Ward 11: Uig (8 members); Ward 12: Caol (9 members); Ward 15: Inverness Central (8 members); Ward 21: Aviemore and Vicinity (9 members); Laggan (8 members).
The north Planning committee of Highland council agreed on Tuesday 19th June 2012 to grant planning permission for construction of a Community Wind Farm at Rumster Forest with Three 900 kW Wind Turbines, with a Height to Hub of 50m and a Rotor Diameter of 50 m, Formation of Access Track and Erection of a Switchgear Building and Associated Cabling. The applicants were Latheron, Lybster and Clyth Community Development Company formed a few years ago following the set up of an Initiative at the Edge project.
Council targeting holiday homes that are avoiding payment for their waste collection services. Back in February this year, The Highland Council wrote to the owners of around 1,650 non-domestic rated (NDR) holiday home properties advising them of their legal obligations under the Environmental Protection Act and associated Duty of Care Regulations to have in place a waste collection contract for dealing with the waste generated from their businesses.
The Highland Council continues to run its 'zero tolerance' campaign on litter and Officers will again be making a targeted effort over the next fortnight. During the two week campaign people caught dropping litter will be issued with Fixed Penalty Notices throughout the Highland Area.
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Michael Russell MSP was guest speaker at a "16+ Learning Choices Seminar" held, in the Highland Council's headquarters, Inverness today at which around 100 delegates attended. Delegates represented charities and the third sector, tourism, business and commerce, construction industries, energy and renewables and the public and education sectors.
The Highland Council has confirmed proposals for the eradication of North American signal crayfish in Ballachulish Quarry this summer. The site is currently owned by the Council and managed by the Planning and Development Service for public recreation.
The Highland Council is looking for accommodation providers to come forward with rooms that can be used to provide temporary accommodation for homeless people. Approximately 1300 households approached The Highland Council last year as homeless.
Last summer the Caithness Biodiversity Group supported by Highland Council TEC Services piloted a project to enhance the wildflower interest of a small selection of our roadside verges. The aim was to protect and encourage wildflower diversity and to increase the amount of pollen and nectar available to our insect life in particular to bees.
Schools and local communities in the Highlands are celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in a variety of ways over this weekend and the rest of June. From the Castle of Mey in Caithness to Arisaig and Portree to Nairn, at tea parties, beach parties, and barbeques bunting will be flying throughout the Highlands.
The Highland Council has appointed Councillor Linda Munro from North West and Central Sutherland, to the new role of Champions' Co-ordinator and Children's Champion. The Council's Administration intends to appoint other champions - such as for carers and for older people - and Councillor Munro will have a co-ordinating role in promoting support for these important areas of work.
Multi-agency push to educate parents/carers and youngsters about using new technology safely. Multi-agency partners have joined forces to encourage young people to use new technology safely and responsibly.
The Highland Council has agreed a new committee structure and elected office-bearers. There will be four strategic committees, namely: Finance, Housing and Resources; Planning Environment and Development; Transport Environmental and Community Services and Adult and Children's Services.