Successful candidate, Kate Lackie, currently Acting Depute Chief Executive/Executive Chief Officer Performance and Governance with the Council takes up the Interim post on 1 February 2023. Ms Lackie was appointed by a senior members' appointment panel on Thursday 19 January 2023 and will take up the role following the departure of Chief Executive, Donna Manson who will be taking up the position of Chief Executive at Devon County Council.
CDC & FDA Identify Preliminary COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Signal for Persons Aged 65 Years and Older. Watch the video and make your own mind up..
A story in the Guardian this week highlights the issues of decline in banking services in a local town. The story looks at Sandbach in Cheshire.
We all know 2023 is going to be difficult year financially for many people. Even in more difficult times it is always good to save a little.
New government funding will support British industries, including construction, mining and quarrying, to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. support will develop greener alternatives to red diesel such as electrification and green hydrogen, providing a pathway for industry to cut their emissions and energy costs.
Last year, the Inverness District Team successfully attained funding to trial the use of two simple communication devices, Komp and Carephone, in an exciting and innovating project. These devices aimed to support people in their own home and avoid them being unnecessarily admitted to hospital or a care facility.
It is a dull sounding report by the Bank of England but reveals the huge changes happening in the lending markets. Higher interest rates are reducing demand and at the same time the number of people struggling to make payments on mortgages and credit cards are increasing month on month.
Seven young people have been appointed in a range of posts in the Outer Hebrides by HIE. The posts, which have all been filled in recent months, are based in Benbecula and Stornoway and have an important part in helping businesses and communities to develop and grow in the Outer Hebrides and across the region.
A total of 680 rural businesses with projects that protect the environment and mitigate the impacts of climate change will share more than £14 million this year from the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS). During a visit to Stagehall Farm in Selkirkshire to see first-hand how AECS funding will support their conversion to organic farming, Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon also announced the next funding round, which will open from the end of January.
An urgent review of the environmental impacts and management of single-use vapes has been commissioned. The review, which comes in response to emerging concerns around the negative consequences of the disposable devices, will inform potential policy responses, which could include a ban of the products.
The Islands Growth Deal was signed today (Friday 20 January) in Orkney by UK and Scottish Government Ministers and the council leaders of the three island groups. Stuart Black, Chief Executive of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) said, "We very much welcome today's announcement of £100m joint investment in Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides, from the Scottish and UK Governments.
An agreement to invest £100 million in the future economic prosperity of Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides was signed on(20th January 2023 in Orkney by UK and Scottish Government Ministers and the Council Leaders of the three island groups. Up to 1,300 jobs and £393 million of investment is anticipated to result from the signing of the transformative Islands Growth Deal between UK Government, Scottish Government, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Shetland Islands Council, and Orkney Islands Council.
Following an in-depth review, the Competition and Markets authority has found Cerelia's purchase of Jus-Rol could leave UK retailers and shoppers facing higher prices and lower quality products. The CMA has concluded the only way to preserve the degree of competition and choice for consumers is for the Jus-Rol business to be sold to an independent buyer, to be approved by the CMA.
The Scottish Government's resilience committee (SgoRR) has met again to discuss the impact of winter on NHS and social care, chaired by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Pressures on the system remain acute, despite a slight improvement in A&E waiting time statistics published this week.
Some driving tests and vehicle tests might be affected by strike action across the Civil Service on 1 February 2023. Some Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) staff who are members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union are planning to take strike action on 1 February 2023.
There seems to be no end in sight to applications for turbines in Highland. The north planning committee of Highland council will meet on 25 January 2023 to look at New Applications.
Emergency measures to protect tenants will be extended, Tenants Rights' Minister Patrick Harvie has confirmed, with private rents capped and enforcement of evictions prevented in most cases. Subject to the approval of Parliament, changes to the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) Act will mean that from 1 April 2023: If landlords choose to increase private rents they will be capped at 3%.
We all seem to feel the financial pinch in January, but more so this year than previous as the cost of living continues to hike. The team at International Drivers Association have provided motorist with tips that will help slash the cost of their car insurance.
Retail sales volumes are estimated to have fallen by 1.0% in December 2022, following a fall of 0.5% in November (revised from a fall of 0.4%). Sales volumes were 1.7% below their pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) February levels.
Over the past month or two, many northern hemisphere countries including the US and the UK have seen a large wave of respiratory viral infections. These include RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), flu and COVID in all ages, as well as bacterial infections such as strep A in children.
