Weather is still hitting school transport services around the county. Wick Unfortunately we have made the decision to close the school tomorrow, Friday 19th January, due to the ongoing snowfall and hazardous road conditions.
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.
The Highland Council has posted today that the following schools are closed on 17 January 2024. Make sure to check the schools closed listing on the Highland council web site each day.
The Highland Council's Employability Service and the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) are delighted to announce an exciting collaboration to offer a pre-employability programme which seeks to support out-of-work young people on a pathway to the trades. Supported through the Scottish Government's No One left Behind Employability Funding, the Access To Trades initiative will provide a pathway for young people up to the age of 29 years to progress on to the CITB's Scottish Academy for Construction Opportunities (SACO) Programme.
The Highland Council can confirm that in a final attempt to reform the 30 Community Councils that failed to form in 2023, a Notice of Election will go live on Monday 15 January. Community Councils are voluntary organisations that express the views and concerns of local people within their area across a wide range of issues from new buildings and roads to local services and facilities.
The Council is reminding the public and community groups that there is still time to submit feedback on the Highland-wide 20mph roll-out project. 125 Highland settlements are part of the project which equates to around 610km of roads across the Highlands, 590km of which are on Local Authority Roads.
With the eagerly awaited next series of Traitors due to be aired on BBC 1 on the 3 January, The Highland Council is taking the opportunity to highlight the economic boost filming across the Highlands has and the role its film office staff play in attracting productions. The Highland Film Commission, run by Highland Council, assists productions filming in the region by offering free and confidential guidance and support from the pre-production stage right through until filming is complete.
Minister urges those eligible to apply for support. Scottish households have saved more than £3.5 billion in council tax since the Council Tax Reduction (CTR) scheme was introduced a decade ago.
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.