Housing and Property Committee Members met today (Wednesday 31 August) and agreed to fund two specialist advisors to help offer advice and support to tenants that are adversely affected by rising energy prices. Housing and Property Committee chair, Cllr Glynis Sinclair said: "Fuel poverty continues to rise across Highland due to the combined cost of living and energy crisis.
Shoppers are in revolt over the expansion of cashier-free checkouts. Tesco's customers have launched a petition against its expansion of self-service tills, while Amazon has axed plans for dozens more checkout-free stores, as shoppers vote with their feet.
Following the rise in the consumer energy price cap, business leaders from across the brewing and pub industry have signed an open letter to the Government and leadership candidates warning small businesses will close and jobs will be lost if immediate action isn't taken on energy bills for businesses. The letter, signed by six business leaders warns that pub and brewing businesses across the UK are at risk of closure due to out of control energy bills, with upwards of 300% price hikes reported.
Everyone who shops can see it for themselves as figures for August 2002 show shop price inflation increased and for the price of food at its fastest rate since 2008. The British Retail Consortium shows shop price annual inflation surged to 5.1 per cent, up from 4.4 per cent in July.
The Chief Statistician has released statistics showing that the economy stayed flat at 0.0% during the second quarter of 2022, covering the period April to June. Monthly statistics also released today show that GDP is estimated to have contracted by 0.8% in June, with decreases across the services and production sectors.
A new online platform and youth network has been launched to help young people from all the Scottish islands share their voices, views and experiences. The Young Islanders Network will enable children and young people to help shape the delivery of the National Islands Plan, ensuring that their interests and priorities are properly considered.
Alister Jack says we must focus on supporting families in challenging times as the latest figures are released. The latest Scottish GDP figures have been published this morning for June 2022 and Q2 2022.
We have some exciting news! We are now on the journey to becoming a Unicef 'Rights Respecting School'. This is something we began work on over the last school year and over the summer we were awarded the bronze award.
This article is from The Conversation web site and describes the situation in England for water. Scottish water is still in public ownership and hopefully may that long continue.
Since it was introduced 23 years ago, the national minimum wage has raised the incomes of millions of Britons and reduced inequality. Everyone loves it.
Following talks between the Deputy First Minister and unions this afternoon (Tuesday 30 August) over the pay offer for Scottish local government, GMB Scotland Senior Organiser for Public Service Keir Greenaway said: "The message delivered on behalf of our members was clear: Do more for the lowest paid workers by delivering a flat rate offer for their consultation. "The Deputy First Minister also reiterated his position that there is no more money to offer, but we were also clear the existing offer is not in the words of COSLA bosses, “as good as it gets".
From The Scottish Fiscal Commission a report that may give both sides of the independence argument food for thought. In preparation for our 2023 Fiscal Sustainability Report, a report sets out demographic projections for Scotland for the next fifty years, and provides illustrative projections of the Scottish economy.
The Scottish Fiscal Commission has today published a report looking back at the accuracy of its forecasts and two reports looking forward to its work on fiscal sustainability. Forecast evaluation Scottish income tax revenues for 2020-21 were £417 million lower than forecast when the Scottish Budget was set in February 2020, before COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, an error of 3.4 per cent.
Thurso area to benefit from RES wind farm scheme Cairnmore Hill, which went into planning this week, is understood to be the first wind farm in Caithness to include Thurso Community Council area as a direct beneficiary of its community benefit package. RES has submitted a planning application to The Highland Council for its re-designed Cairnmore Hill Wind Farm.
Adult Disability Payment opens for new applications across Scotland. The national rollout follows successful pilots in 13 local authority areas, which began in March.
Richard Murphy's blog always has something interesting to say about the economic in the UK. Today he looks at how we could reduce the price of energy.
Today's (24 August 2022) Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) publication suggests that Scotland's underlying fiscal position recovered more strongly in 2021-22 than that of the UK as a whole. Scotland's estimated budget deficit (‘net fiscal balance') fell from 22.7% of GDP in 2020-21 to 12.3% of GDP in 2021-22: a reduction in the deficit relative to GDP of just over 10 percentage points.
This report to the Scottish Government on Childcare issues in rural and island areas. It makes some recommendations but it seems like they will take long time to implement.
Shetland Islands' leaders need to increase their pace and focus to deliver urgent change. The Accounts Commission is not confident the council is able to show it is financially sustainable.
The Averon Centre in Alness has become the location of the first stitch to be sewn into the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands. The project, spanning communities from across the Highlands and Islands, has over 500 stitchers of various ages ranging from aged 16 to 89.
