Go ahead for health, education and social care integration project Members of The Highland Council and directors of NHS Highland have unanimously confirmed their intention to progress far-reaching plans to integrate health, education and social care services in the Highlands. The target date for implementation is April 2012, using a lead agency model that would see NHS Highland provide services for adult community care and the Council providing services for children.
Highland householders warned to be on guard against doorstep rogue itinerant traders. Trading Standard officers from The Highland Council are calling on residents to be on their guard against rogue itinerant traders calling door at their door.
Council remains vigilant in campaign to retain full coastguard and tug services. The Highland Council has assured rescue staff in the Western Isles of its total support for the retention of a 24 x 7 coastguard service in Stornoway and the emergency towing vessel that patrols the Minches from its Stornoway base.
A record number of Highland electors have applied to vote by post at the Scottish Parliamentary elections and the national referendum on the UK voting system on Thursday 5 May. A total of 25,137 electors across the three Highland constituencies of Caithness, Sutherland and Ross; Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch and Inverness and Nairn will be receiving their postal votes from tomorrow (Tuesday).
The Highland Council has submitted its latest Development Plan Scheme to Scottish Ministers. This document sets out the key pieces of work being undertaken by the Development Plans Team over the coming year, and sets out how people can get involved with these projects.
The Highland Council has prepared new planning guidance for wind energy developments and now wants to hear what the people of the Highlands, developers and interest groups think about it. The new guidance will be used in the consideration of planning applications for wind energy developments.
Sash and Case Window Repair Lime Pointing and Harling Stonemasonry Chimney Repairs Portland Cement Repairs The 1 day courses cost £125 each and funding is available towards course fees and travel costs from the Pulteneytown Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS), supported by Historic Scotland and the Highland Council. For further information contact the CARS project officer on 01955 602 199 or by e-mail bryony.robinson[AT]highland.gov.uk and leave a message giving your name and contact details.
Local lass Gail Ross won her council seat for Wick easily. Today at the count she came out way ahead after the various counts.
Highland Councillors have been assured that a £66 million ICT contract with Fujitsu is being robustly monitored to ensure that upgrades of computer and telephony equipment in Council offices and schools are delivered. Councillor Carolyn Wilson, Chairman of the Resources Committee, said she was satisfied that clear signs of improvement in performance were evident following recent high level meetings with Fujitsu representatives as well as through reports on local delivery.
With both the Scottish Parliament election and the national referendum on the UK Parliament's voting system taking place on Thursday 5 May, electors in the three Highland constituencies are being urged to ensure they are registered to vote before the deadline for receipt of applications of Friday 15 April. Voters are also reminded that the deadline for seeking a postal vote is 5 pm on Thursday 14 April.
Council asks Highland businesses and voluntary sector if they are prepared? 17,000 businesses and voluntary sector organisations are being urged this week to ensure that they have plans in place should their activities face a major crisis. Along with the annual billing of non-domestic rates, the Council is including a short information leaflet that asks people if they are prepared.
Highland householders are reminded by The HighlandCouncil of new and extended ways of paying their Council Tax, rent and other Council bills, which took effect from Friday 1 April - the start of the new financial year. The public will be able to pay by cash at any Post Office and more than 300 PayPoints and Payzones throughout the Highlands.
Town and Country Planning (Development management Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2008 Planning Application Pre-Application Consultation The Highland Council's Housing and Property Service are conducting pre-application consultation on the following development proposal; Redevelopment of the existing Council office buildings at High Street/Market Place, Wick, KW1 4AB Further information can be obtained from The Highland Council's Housing and Property Service, Town House, Inverness, between 9:00am and 5:00pm Mondays to Fridays. Public consultation briefings will be held at the Assembly Rooms, Sinclair Terrace, Wick , on Friday 1st April 2011 between 1:00pm and 5:00pm and on Saturday 2nd April 2011 between 9:00am and 1:00pm.
Through working closely with the trade unions and following effective vacancy monitoring and redeployment policies, The Highland Council has been able to avoid making any grounds maintenance staff redundant following the outsourcing of routine grass cutting work to a private contractor. When the Council decided to invite the private sector to compete for grass cutting contracts last year, it was estimated that 22 staff would transfer to the successful bidder under the TUPE Regulations, and that a further 33 posts would be at risk of redundancy.
A total of 15 candidates across the three Highland constituencies are seeking election to the Scottish Parliament on Thursday 5 May. In Caithness Sutherland and Ross, four candidates are seeking election.
New refuse and recycling service begins in Caithness and Lochaber next Monday The new refuse and recycling collections in Caithness and Lochaber begin next Monday, 4th April. From this date householders will receive a fortnightly refuse collection, alternating with a fortnightly recycling collection from blue or blue-lidded recycling bins.
The Highland Youth Voice Apprentice Day is running for the 6th time on Wednesday, 30th March with 14 young people aged 15-17 from Lochaber, Nairn, Wick, Fortrose, Dingwall, Kingussie and the Inverness area taking part. Highland Youth Voice, the elected Youth Parliament for the Highlands, holds an annual 'Apprentice Day' on which members of the Highland Youth Voice shadow Senior Managers.
•Public Notice - Revised Taxi Fares The public is being asked for its views on proposals by The Highland Council to revise the scale of maximum taxi fares in the Highlands. The public have until Friday 22 April to respond.
Climate Challenge projects share £8m Caithness projects were among the successful applicants for funds from the Climate Change challenge funding programme. Latheron Lybster and Clyth Community Development Company - £44,345 Dunnet Forestry Trust - £26,613 130 projects have been announced as the latest community initiatives to receive awards totalling over £8 million from the Climate Challenge Fund (CCF).
A programme of over 350 guided walks and events has been published by The Highland Council's Countryside Rangers in conjunction with New Century Publications Group. Councillor Ian Ross, Chairman of The Highland Council's Planning, Environment and Development Committee said: "The 2011 programme runs from April through to the end of the summer with events taking place throughout the Highlands.