Scotland's Budget will deliver record levels of investment in tackling the climate emergency - helping to protect and restore the natural environment, and slash emissions from homes, industries and transport. The 2022-23 budget provides more than £2 billion for measures that will accelerate a just transition to a Scotland which leads the way in ending climate change.
Capitalising on opportunities created by the green economy while strengthening Scotland's pandemic recovery is a major focus of the 2022-2023 Scottish Budget. An additional £68.3 million is being allocated for employability and training to help businesses address skills shortages and create high quality, sustainable jobs.
Support available to ensure care workers can get vaccines and boosters. Care home staff and those working in social care are being urged to get the booster vaccine in the fight against the spread of Omicron variant.
Members approved a list of offices for review and potential rationalisation as a key part of the 15 year capital strategy plan. Consultation will be undertaken on the properties identified as part of the review process.
From tomorrow (Saturday 11 December 2021) all household contacts of any confirmed coronavirus (COVID 19) case must isolate for 10 days regardless of vaccination status - even if they initially get a negative PCR test. People are also being urged to defer work Christmas parties to slow the spread of the virus.
Members of the Highland Council have today approved a fifteen year capital plan with a total value of nearly £1bn which will see investment in schools, roads and flood schemes. The 15-year programme is intended to support the delivery of the Council's current programme, to the value of £658.132m which aligns with the Council's long term strategic aims and reflects long term budget planning.
Proposals to provide almost £3m to help households in fuel poverty in Highland this winter have been approved by members at the meeting of full Council on 10 December. A payment of £180 will be made to around 16,440 eligible Highland households where residents are in receipt of means-tested council tax reduction.
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.
Council has agreed a motion to appoint Older People's Champions across Highland, with an amendment to take a report to the February 2022 Health and Social Care Committee. The wording of the motion and amendment is as follows: Older People's Champion Council recognises and values the contributions that older people play in our society.
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.
The event was only a week away from taking place in March 2020 when it was first called off, but will now not take place until at least March 2023. The committee said they had held a meeting with venue staff and volunteers on Thursday, before agreeing it was "still not yet safe enough to go ahead"..
More bad news for the run up to Christmas as the Omicron variant increases rapidly..
The work of the Highland Armed Forces and Veterans' Community Covenant Partnership was commended by Highland Councillors today at a meeting of The Highland Council. Councillors welcomed the considerable progress being made with partners across a range of activities supporting the Armed Forces Community Covenant.
Latest update - 10 December 2021. The latest variant technical briefing suggests that Omicron continues to grow rapidly in all regions of England as measured by confirmed cases and S gene target failure (SGTF).
Children, young people and learners of all ages will benefit from record investment in education in the 2022-23 Budget. Resource and capital spending is up almost £200 million - one of the biggest rises in the history of the Scottish Parliament.
Here are some key steps that everyone can take to protect one another from COVID19 says UK Health Security (Formerly Public Health England). 1️⃣ #GetBoosted and book your COVID-19 vaccine: 2️⃣ Wash your hands.
4,087* new cases of COVID-19 reported. 44,390* new tests for COVID-19 that reported results 9.9% of these were positive.
Statement given to Parliament by Finance Secretary Kate Forbes on Thursday, 9th December 2021. Presiding Officer, today's budget will help tackle the climate emergency, support economic recovery and reduce inequalities.
Scotland's National Clinical Director Jason Leitch is becoming a vaccinator and is encouraging more people to enrol to help accelerate the national booster jab programme. Since 19 November, the equivalent of 300 full-time additional staff (more than 1000 individuals) have joined the national vaccination effort and health boards are actively recruiting to create extra capacity.
Given the number of COVID-19 outbreaks that are being linked to Christmas parties, particularly those caused by Omicron, Public Health Scotland (PHS) is urging people to defer such parties at this time. Dr Nick Phin, Director of Public Health Science and Medical Director, PHS explains:"There is much that we still need to learn about Omicron, but early evidence suggests that this new Covid variant is much more transmissible.
