Highland Opportunity (Investments) Limited HO(I)L, The Highland Council's business loan company has launched its first social media campaign to make Highland businesses and community organisations aware of its loan funds. HO(I)L has financially supported more than 1,200 local start-up businesses, community organisations and growth projects within the Highland Business community since it was established in 1986.
Members have given their backing to an investment of more than £2.3m towards supporting vulnerable young people and families in the Highlands. The investment was agreed as part of the annual budget process, which took place last week on Thursday, 2 March.
The Storr visitor attraction on Skye has launched its dedicated and branded website, providing information that aims to enhance the visitor experience. The Old Man of Storr project is "for the community, in the community, by the community" working closely with communities and with continual local Member involvement, to celebrate Gaelic and to demonstrate engagement and partnership working.
Funding to improve Highland roads is being increased by over £14m following a decision made at yesterday's Highland Council budget setting meeting (Thursday 2 March) An additional investment of £12.8M to increase the current capital programme will bring the total budget for the coming year up to £20M. On top of this, new investment of £1.26m in revenue funding has been allocated to create a Rapid Repair Road team to tackle potholes across the Highlands.
A balanced council budget for 2023/24 was set at the meeting of The Highland Council on 2 March 2023. As part of a package of investment and savings to address a £49.2M budget gap, a 4% increase in Council Tax has been agreed from 1 April 2023.
Plans to refurbish and reconfigure Caithness General Hospital, in Wick, are expected to take a major step forward next month, with the appointment of a Principal Supply Chain Partner (PSCP) to carry out the design and construction work. The multi-million pound project is just one element of a much wider programme of transformational change to redesign, modernise and improve health and social care services in Caithness.
A site in the Noss area of Wick has been confirmed by NHS Highland the preferred location for a new Community Hub and Care Village. The proposed development, along with a similar facility at the Dunbar Hospital in Thurso, is one of the key parts of wider proposals to redesign, modernise and improve health and social care services in Caithness.
The Highland Council has today (Monday 20 February 2023) launched the Highland Multiply Challenge Fund. Multiply is a new programme to help transform the lives of adults across the UK, by improving their functional numeracy and is part of the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund.
Read ow Highland owns are doing and see several graphs covering a range of topics. It is very clear that on a range of measures Wick has suffered more than most other towns in all categories between 2018 and 2022.
Join us on the 11th of March 2023 for Caithness' biggest and best jobs, careers, training and recruitment event. This event is free to attend and all are welcome! Meet real employers and hear about their industries and any vacancies they currently have.
Check if a school is closed on the Highland council web site. https://www.highland.gov.uk/schoolclosures.
A report setting out Highland's Children’s Services Families First strategy was presented to and approved by members of the Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Committee (Thursday, 9 February 2023). The strategy’s vision is summarised simply as: "To safely ensure that children and young people remain with their families and within their Highland communities." It is also underpinned by a set of core principles of family support, which are outcome focused in preserving, protecting and upholding the rights of children within their families in the Highlands.
To mark Safer Internet Day 2023, the Council is providing individuals with advice and resources to equip them with essential knowledge to navigate the online world safely. Safer Internet Day is a global campaign which calls upon people to join together to make the internet a safer and better place for all, especially for children and young people.
Even if Scottish councils were to increase council tax by 5% a year in each of the next two years they may face real-terms cuts to their funding. New analysis by IFS researchers finds that even if Scottish councils were to increase council tax by 5% a year in each of the next two years (adding around £140 to the average band D tax bill), they may face real-terms cuts to their funding.
After health, funding for Scottish councils is the second largest item in the Scottish Government's Budget. In the original 2022-23 budget as passed by the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Government allocated £10.6 billion to councils as part of the main local government portfolio, with further funding from other portfolios increasing the amount initially provided in the annual local government finance settlement for resource (i.e.
The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee met (Thursday 2 February 2023) and received a progress update on the recommencement of the legislative process for the Local Visitor Levy Bill, including the likely timescales and implications for its introduction in Highland. Members agreed the Council’s proposed next steps, which include an offer to provide verbal and written evidence to the Scottish Government Parliamentary Committee(s).
Members of Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee today (2 February 2023) agreed the local authority’s Delivery Plan for funding received via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Cllr Ken Gowans, said: "We welcome this significant funding, it important that, as a council, we move at pace to maximise the very real benefits this additional funding will bring.
Survey launched to understand international interests and aspirations. A public survey to help develop an International Culture Strategy for Scotland has been launched by the Culture Secretary.
At a meeting of The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee (Thursday 2 February) members were given an update on the next steps to be taken after an intensive period of public consultations for transport improvement projects, funded by the Scottish Government Bus Partnership Fund. The report presented to the committee follows on from the well-attended public joint consultation event held in Inverness last month which pulled together three of the four transport improvement studies currently underway.
Tha Leasachadh Sgilean na h-Alba (SDS) a' tabhann a' chiad oideachadh-lìn aca a-riamh ann an Gàidhlig gus cuideachadh a thoirt do phàrantan is luchd-cùraim sgoilearan a tha a’ beachdachadh air an cànan ionnsachadh no a tha ag ionnsachadh a’ chànain gu làithreach. Bidh an seisean bhiortail (Diciadain 8 Gearran aig 6:30f) a’ co-roinn fiosrachadh mu sheirbheis dhreuchdan na h-Alba a thuilleadh air togail air na buannachdan co-cheangailte ri bhith ag ionnsachadh Gàidhlig airson obraichean san àm ri teachd.