The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
Partner agencies have been meeting to discuss the impacts of Storm Gerrit. There are multiple trees and power lines down blocking numerous routes across the Lochaber area including the A82 trunk road.
MSPs on a Holyrood committee have backed calls for the introduction of a visitor levy in local authorities, and have said that it would be 'unlikely' to deter tourists. Also known as the tourist tax, the legislation would allow councils to introduce an overnight accommodation levy - which Highland Council has been in support of.
he Scottish Government has delivered a major blow to communities and has put councils at financial risk with a cash cut to Local Government in its draft Budget (published on 19th December) and no provision for inflation or pay increases, COSLA said. COSLA Leaders described the draft Budget as not only leaving councils at real and significant financial risk for the coming year, but as it stands, it will mean cuts in every community in Scotland and job losses across Scottish Local Government.
The Service Centre will close at 4pm on 22 December, re-opening on 27, 28 and 29 December (opening times 10am to 4pm). It will be closed on 1 and 2 January and open 8am to 5pm from 3 January 2024.
The Highland Council is supportive of the Scottish Government's Education Reform Bill, however the local authority stresses the need for adequate funding, resources and a focus on place-based solutions in the area to meet its vision. Cllr John Finlayson, Education Chair said: "It is important that we look to the future of Scottish Education from a Highland perspective.
Changes to a number of Polling Districts and Polling Places in the Highlands were agreed today (Thursday 14 December 2023) at the meeting of The Highland Council. Following the formal review of the Highland Polling Districts and Places, Members approved a new Scheme of Polling Districts and Polling Places that will be in place for the next elections.
Members of Highland Council, who met today, Thursday, 14 December 2023, have agreed to amalgamate two local area committees. The former Black Isle and Easter Ross Area Committees will be merged to form a single area committee.
Hundreds of people have responded to the Highland Council's programme of engagement, completing a survey or taking part in the budget simulator challenge. The Council is facing an estimated budget gap of around £62m in 2024-25 and is expected to need over £100m over the next 3 years to balance the books with current expenditure.
Following a week of very icy and cold wintry weather, the Leader of The Highland Council has acknowledged the difficult conditions that recent adverse weather has created for road and footway users and is encouraging everyone to take extra care and allow additional time for journeys. Councillor Raymond Bremner said: "Ice, thaw and freezing rain sustained over a pro-longed period of time in many areas of the Highlands have meant that our gritting crews have had to take longer getting round all the routes agreed in the Council's Winter Maintenance Policy.
The Highland Council has released for consultation new Biodiversity Planning Guidance that will support the implementation of cross-cutting biodiversity policies as set out in National Planning Framework 4. The Guidance aims to provide clarity and certainty for developers on what information is required to demonstrate the conservation, restoration, and enhancement of biodiversity and will enable the Planning Authority to take a consistent, proportionate, and balanced approach to decision making.
Highland Council members will next week consider a report which looks at ways in which the local authority can leverage funding to deliver renewable energy projects to deliver net zero, generate income and maximise opportunities for the Highlands to benefit as a whole. Alongside this, Councillors will also be asked to look at measures relating to the development of complimentary approaches relating to community benefit and community wealth building.
haidh tachartas dreuchdan Gàidhlig Siuthad! a chumail air a' mhìos a chaidh seachad (9 Samhain 2023) aig Cùirt an Easbaig ann an Inbhir Nis agus bha sgoilearan an làthair bho ochd àrd-sgoiltean air feadh na Gàidhealtachd. Chuir buill Comataidh Gàidhlig Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd fàilte air an naidheachd gun deach Siuthad! a chumail aghaidh-ri-aghaidh a-rithist airson a’ chiad uair bho 2019.
Members of Highland Council will next week consider innovative approaches to generate additional income to maintain public services. The Council is facing a £62m budget deficit and officers presented income generation options to Redesign Board last week which agreed to recommend these to members at next week's meeting of Highland Council.
Members of the Highland Council's Corporate Resources Committee, who met yesterday, Thursday, 7 December 2023, agreed a Non-Domestic Rates Empty Property Relief Scheme, which will initially commence from 1 April 2024. Within 3 years the reductions will be gone.
Highland Council's catering team are celebrating after the council renewed its Food for Life Served Here Bronze award for an incredible 14th time. The council, which first received the award for its primary school meals back in 2009, is now serving over 11,611 nutritious, sustainable and locally-sourced Food for Life meals in its 161 primary schools and 166 nurseries every day.
A strategy which proposes a two-stage approach towards the development of vibrant community hubs in partnership with High Life Highland and sportscotland was agreed at the Council's Education Committee. The report set out the principles for investment over the long-term and the next steps to develop individual plans for each of the Council's 29 associated school group (ASG) areas.
The Highland Council are inviting all tenants to have their say on the rent levels for the year ahead. We encourage everyone that lives in a council house to take this chance to have their say, the results of this will have a direct impact on the services we are able to deliver next year and in the future.
The Highland Council is inviting applications from groups and organisations to the ‘Communities and Place' strand of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). £1 million of funding is available for capital and revenue projects, that will empower communities to build on their own strengths, support local needs, and deliver on the fund's main objective of ‘building pride in place and increasing life chances'.