Highland Councillors a their meeting held on 10 December 2021 have approved a new way of working aiming to improve how the Council works with individual communities to address their needs. A framework has been written up for the new "place-based" approach as a way of bringing ideas about services, investments, resources, and assets together.
At today's meeting of The Highland Council (Friday 10 December 2021) members agreed the resources required to run the Highland Council Local Government Elections which will take place on Thursday 5 May 2022 and were advised that preparations were already underway to ensure its successful delivery. The total cost of running the 2022 Council election is estimated to be £550,000.
Highland Councillors have agreed an ambitious approach to developing a net zero strategy and action plan for the region that will maximise external funding to deliver its climate change targets. Councillors welcomed feedback on staff and Members' attendance at COP26 which helped to secure a variety of benefits and new opportunities to support and strengthen the Council’s approach to climate action.
Leader of The Highland Council, Margaret Davidson has welcomed the announcement today by the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon in relation to the much anticipated Nigg Offshore Wind ("NOW") tower rolling factory. The £110m project proposed by Nigg Offshore Wind Asset Company Limited (NOW) - a joint venture by Global Energy Group and leading European tower manufacturer, Haizea Wind Group, Bilbao - was announced today (Friday 3 December).
A new report, "Charges for temporary homeless accommodation in Scotland - law and reality" has been published by the Legal Services Agency which examines the practice of charging for temporary homeless accommodation in Scotland, and whether local authorities are acting lawfully in this area. Background Individuals in Scotland who make a homelessness application to their local authority are supposed to be provided with temporary accommodation.
Members of Scotland's largest local government union have voted to accept a pay deal after the union secured an additional £48m funding on the paybill for an improved offer from COSLA. UNISON announced the result of its ballot today (Monday 29 November 2021) with more than 75% voting in favour of the offer.
The Leader of The Highland Council, Cllr Margaret Davidson, recently met with Council Roads Staff in Wick on a visit to Caithness. Cllr Davidson said: "We have had a good discussion with the Area Roads Manager and some of her Team and I am very impressed with the road works that they have achieved this season.
RJ McLeod (Contractors) Ltd are starting works at Uig Harbour this week where the ferry terminal will be upgraded with new infrastructure. This forms a key part of the Skye Triangle upgrade where The Highland Council have been working closely with Transport Scotland, Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL), CalMac Ferries Ltd and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to deliver the Uig works with the ongoing upgrade works at Tarbert and Lochmaddy.
The Highland Council is working in partnership with the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership to proactively bring privately-owned empty homes across the Highlands back into use. With funding support from the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, the Council has been able to employ a full-time Empty Homes Officer for a two-year period.
On behalf of The Highland Council, High Life Highland this week announced Airborne Lens as the successful partner for the photography input to Spirit:Journeys, part of the Spirit of the Highlands project. Spirit:Journeys will be delivered in partnership with VisitScotland and aims to deliver benefits for local communities, helping to unlock economic potential and improve visitor experiences across the region by engaging people with the our rich natural and cultural heritage.
For many people, literacy is taken for granted - but for some across Highland, reading can be a struggle. High Life Highland is highlighting that help is available, during this year's Book Week Scotland, for those who want to improve their literacy skills.
Carron McDiarmid, Executive Chief Officer Communities and Place is retiring from The Highland Council after 35 years of public service and 20 years as a senior officer in the Council. Carron was previously the Council's Head of Policy for many years and led the first phase of Council Redesign.
The Highland Council is inviting communities to apply for a share of a new fund to support nature restoration projects. The Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) is a new capital fund, established by the Scottish Government, designed to help support projects that will deliver nature restoration, safeguard wildlife, and tackle the causes of biodiversity loss due to climate change.
An update on waste management projects was presented to Members of The Highland Council's Communities and Place Committee on 10 November 2021. The Council is undertaking a number of projects aimed at meeting its responsibilities for disposal of waste collected from around 110,000 households and 5,800 businesses.
The work of The Highland Council's Environmental Health Team has been commended by Members of the Council's Communities and Place Committee. A report to Councillors this week has highlighted that the Environmental Health Team responded during COVID-19 in 2020/21 by investigating almost 1000 clusters and outbreaks.
Members of The Highland Council's Communities and Place Committee have agreed that a strategy for play parks across the region will be developed from local plans and local investment priorities within the overall aims of play parks. The main aims are being safe, inclusive in design and in use and for play areas to be environmentally and financially sustainable.
The Highland Council is reminding communities that its winter gritting programme has started and will continue until 14 April 2022. As in previous years, the Council is offering assistance to communities who wish to take action in their own area to help clear snow and ice from footpaths.
The Highland Council took delivery of two huge Archimedes Screws today on the site where the local authority is building a new hydroelectric generator and interactive visitor experience on the River Ness. The generator will use the Archimedes Screws to harness the energy of the water flowing down the River Ness.
The Highland Council has approved a number of key recommendations as part of its medium term financial planning approach. Councillors considered revenue budget projections for the coming financial year, medium term planning for future budgets over the next 5 years and forecasted budget gaps, as well as a number of capital developments and future capital strategy.
Local government unions have today issued notices of industrial action to local authorities across Scotland in a dispute over pay for council workers. The Joint Trade Unions have between them mandates to take action in half of Scotland's local authority areas.