At the Economy and Infrastructure Committee on Thursday 14 November 2024 councillors adopted an ambitious action plan to tackle biodiversity loss and support a nature-positive Highland. The Council's Ecology Strategy and Action Plan Strategy sets out and defines a series of key actions and activities that will assist the Council to deliver positive action to tackle biodiversity loss and start to address the ecological emergency for the benefit of its environment, economy, and communities.
The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee have approved the rural Housing Supplementary Guidance which will now be used to inform all planning advice and decisions. Chair of the Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans said: "Following the decision by members today, I am pleased that we now have a positive, clear and consistent basis for considering and determining rural housing planning applications across the whole of the Highland Council area.
New guidance to support schools and organisations working with children and young people to develop comprehensive anti-bullying policies and improve behaviour and relationships has been published. ‘Respect for all' includes updates for staff on how to deal with specific incidents of bullying, including online bullying.
The Vice Chair of the Caithness Committee, Councillor Struan Mackie has expressed his delight at the number of worthwhile local projects that have benefitted from Ward Discretionary Funding in this financial year. All Council Wards receive a discretionary budget, and it is for Ward Councillors to consider what they wish to commit funds to, in line with Highland Council objectives and outcomes.
The Caithness Committee have agreed to adopt the modified Core Path Plans for Caithness. At their meeting yesterday members had the opportunity to discuss a report that summarised the review of The Highland Council Core Paths Plan in Caithness.
On Thursday 14 November 2024, Members of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee will be presented with a new Sustainable Tourism Strategy 2024-2030 and asked to note and agree recommendations which include adopting the new Sustainable Tourism Strategy. Also an agreement to amend the strategy to accommodate consultation feedback on the Visitor Levy Scheme.
On Thursday (14 November) the Economy & Infrastructure Committee will consider a report on a potential Visitor Levy for Highland. This report sets out a proposed outline of how the scheme would operate and seeks members approval to undertake a public statutory consultation.
The Housing and Property Committee met on Wednesday 6 November 2024 and approved the Tenant Participation & Engagement Strategy 2024-2029. Members heard from both tenant representatives and Officers about the ongoing engagement and collaborative work within communities across Highland.
A report by the police to the Caithness area committee on 11 November will allow councillors to discuss a range of issues. Chief Inspector Calum Smith - Area Commander (North Highland Area Command) sets out the crime related figures up to June 2024.
Highland Council's Trading Standards team is reporting worrying findings from the age restricted product test purchase programme it carried out over the last six months. During the most recent exercise, premises in Skye, Easter Ross, Inverness, Badenoch and Strathspey were test purchased for cigarettes and vapes using volunteers under 18 years of age.
On 11 November 2024 the Caithness Area Committee will discuss several papers. Thurso and Northwest Caithness Ward Discretionary Budget applications approved 1 April 2024 - 30 September 2024 The Committee is asked to note that the following Thurso and Northwest Caithness Ward Discretionary Budget applications have been approved for the period 1 April 2024 to 30 September 2024:.
The Chief Statistician has released statistics on the reliefs and exemptions from non-domestic rates that were in place on 1 June 2024. These figures were produced by independent statistical staff, free from any political influence, in accordance with professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Statistics.
The Highland Council is developing a new Local Transport Strategy (LTS) for the next 10-year period. This Strategy will underpin the future direction and policy focus for transport in Highland.
A revised financial forecast for the Highland Council, taking account of already agreed savings and other measures, suggests a remaining budget gap of £38m-£54m over the coming three years, 2025/26 to 2027/28. As part of the Council's Medium-Term Financial Plan, agreed in February 2024, Council agreed a package of £54.6m of budget savings, and the use of a range of financial flexibilities and use of reserves, to address the projected £113m gap over a 3-year period 2024/25 - 2026/27.
The Highland Council has called a Housing Challenge Summit, designed to bring together all parties from National and Local government. Also private sector interests, both large and small, from across the fields of energy, housing development and commerce, to focus on the Housing Challenge in Highland.
Aarons of Wick Ltd informed The Highland Council at lunchtime on Friday 4 October that with immediate effect they were unable to continue to operate any school or public service journeys which require a full-size bus. The Council has sourced replacement services from Dunnetts Transport for the Reay - Thurso and Bower – Castletown – Thurso services.
New funding for critical infrastructure projects that will help boost employment, empower communities and ensure a sustainable future for Scotland's island communities has been announced by First Minister John Swinney. Ten projects have been awarded a share of the Scottish Government's £3 million 2024/25 Islands Programme Fund.
Council Leaders have (27th September 2024) withdrawn support for the Scottish Government's revised National Care Service Bill. The Bill is currently being considered by the Scottish Parliament.
A new contract has been awarded to Perthshire's Wyllie Recycling Ltd for the provision of mixed plastic and metal container recycling services and haulage in Highland. This includes plastic bottles, pots, tubs, trays, metals tins, drink cans, aerosols and food and drink cartons which are collected in the new green recycling bins.
The Highland Council is asking any businesses, companies or organisations who are planning to hold any type of market, including Christmas or festive type markets, to contact the Licensing Service to check if they require a market operator's licence. If a licence is required, organisers will have to have applied for, and had this granted, prior to the market taking place.