A third of schools across Highland in Primary, Secondary and ELC settings are affected by positive COVID-19 cases or localised outbreaks. Secondary schools in Grantown, Kingussie, Culloden and Lochaber currently have a significant number of year groups self- isolating.
As confirmed cases of COVID rise across the NHS Highland area, local schools, which saw pupils returning last week after the summer holidays, have begun to feel the impact. From 16 - 22 August, NHS Highland saw over 1000 cases which represents almost 10% of our total case count for the whole pandemic in a single week.
Members of the Corporate Resources Committee have praised the exemplary work of the Council's Welfare Support Team after they were presented with a comprehensive report today (25 August) highlighting the strong performance from the team in assisting Highland residents. Members' attention was specifically drawn to the following key points: More than 20,600 residents were supported by the Council’s Welfare Support Team and Citizens Advice during 2020/21 with welfare, debt and housing advice services, resulting in excess of 61,600 contacts (on average, 3 contacts per client);.
Rapid COVID-19 community testing will be available in Golspie from Wednesday 25 August to Friday 27 August. The Highland Council and NHS Highland are delivering community testing in the Highlands to help people become confident in using the Lateral Flow Device (LFD) test kits.
There is still time for eligible residents to benefit from up to 100%* Scottish Government grant funding available for First Time Central Heating. This would be delivered through the installation of an air source heat pump, new radiators and new controls.
Schools across Highland welcome pupils and staff back to classrooms today Tuesday, 17 August 2021. Staff have worked to make sure COVID-19 safety measures are in place and in line with national guidance.
Caithness councillors agree allocation of Place-Based Investment Fund to address local Covid-harms within Ward 2 and Ward 3 As part of the Health and Prosperity Strategy agreed by the Highland Council in March 2021, a £100,000 Place-Based Investment Fund was allocated to each of the 21 Wards throughout the Highland region for the 2021/22 financial year. This fund was designed to enable a flexible local response to address the four harms of Covid which are identified as: direct health harms; health impacts not directly related to Covid; societal impacts; and economic impacts.
Members updated on the positive outcomes being delivered by the Placement Services Change Programme within Highland Members of Wednesday's Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Committee received an update on the progress on the Placement Services Change Programme from the Executive Chief Officer of the Health and Social Care directorate, Fiona Duncan. The programme was initially set-up to return Looked After Children from Out of Area Placements to ensure that children and young people were living in their local community receiving the help and support they need, whilst maintaining contact with families and friends.
The new cohort of probationer teachers were welcomed to the Highlands (on Friday 13 August 2021) at an online Induction Event. The probationer teachers' Induction Event is the first of a wide range of professional learning events which run across the year, to support the needs of beginning teachers and their ongoing professional learning.
The results of The Highland Council by-elections to elect a councillor to represent the Wick and East Caithness ward and a councillor for the Inverness West Ward have been declared. Jill Tilt has been elected to represent Ward 3 - Wick and East Caithness.
The Highland Council Trading Standards is warning Highland residents that text messages stating they are due a tax refund from their local council is a scam. Recipients are warned not to click on any links and to not share their bank details.
Preparations are well underway for the Ward 3 Wick and East Caithness and Ward 13 Inverness West by-elections next Thursday. The candidates for Ward 3 - Wick and East Caithness are: CAMERON, Michael James - Scottish National Party (SNP) CHRISTIAN, Harry - Scottish Libertarian Party FERNIE, Bill - Independent ROSS, Daniel - Scottish Conservative and Unionist TILT, Jill - Scottish Liberal Democrats .
The Environmental Health Team is advising users of private water supplies to take preventative steps to preserve their drinking water. There have been dry ground water and lower river levels reported in some areas of the Highlands, which may have an impact on some surface derived private water supplies.
Indoor soft play centres across Highland have received top-up grants in recognition of the enhanced Covid-19 restrictions they have faced for much of the pandemic. Grants of between £3,500 and £5,000, totalling £29,500 have been paid out to eight indoor soft play centres, depending on the rateable value of their premises.
The Highland Council's Garden Waste service for 2021/22 starts on Wednesday 1 September 2021 and customers have until Monday 2 August to order their permits to ensure delivery in time for the first collections of the new service year. The service will run to 31 August 2022, with a winter break in the months of December, January and February.
Polling will take place on Thursday 12 August to elect one of five candidates standing in The Highland Council's Wick and East Caithness ward and one of seven candidates standing in the Inverness West ward so voters are being reminded to make sure they are ready to make their vote count. The Local Government by-election has arisen in Wards 3 and 13 due to the resignations of Councillor Nicola Sinclair, one of 4 Councillors representing the Wick and East Caithness Ward, and Councillor Graham Ross, one of 3 members of the Inverness West Ward.
No bills for families. Fees for children learning a musical instrument at school will be removed thanks to more than £7 million funding from the Scottish Government.
The Highland Council and the contractor for the Inverness West Link Stage 2 Project RJ McLeod have confirmed that the new Torvean Swing Bridge will open to traffic during the afternoon of Thursday 1 July following the comprehensive testing and commissioning phase. The bridge has been opened as part of the commissioning process over the last few weeks to allow for systems to be fine tuned and painting work under and on the bridge to be carried out as well as training of the Scottish Canals staff on the use of the new bridge, which is now complete.
The Highland Council is looking to recruit some talented engineering staff to help deliver key infrastructure projects across the Highlands. Senior Engineer, Golspie Senior Engineer Alness Principal Engineer, Inverness Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Trish Robertson said: "The Highland Council is very much focused on being ambitious, sustainable and connected.
Nomination packs for prospective candidates wishing to stand in both the Wick and East Caithness and the Inverness West ward by-elections are now available on The Highland Council's website The two vacancies have arisen as Councillor Nicola Sinclair, one of 4 Councillors representing the Wick and East Caithness ward and Councillor Graham Ross, one of 3 members for the Inverness West ward are both stepping down. The Returning Officer, Chief Executive of The Highland Council Donna Manson is encouraging people to put themselves forward as candidates.