At today's meeting of the Highland Council, elected members were updated on the Learning Estate Improvement Programme (LEIP), which is the Scottish Government's new funding model for school investment projects. This update follows on from a special meeting of Highland Council on 1 October 2020, during which elected members agreed that Broadford Primary School should be nominated as the Council’s priority for consideration by the Scottish Government for inclusion in Phase 2 of the LEIP.
The figures show that approvals climbed to a huge 91.5k, up from 85.53k on the previous month. Managing Director of Enness Global Mortgages, Hugh Wade-Jones commented: "Prospective home buyers have continued to fuel the furnaces of the UK property market with another huge uplift in mortgage approval figures.
At today's meeting of The Highland Council members gave their backing to a motion that highlights the need for the UK Government to review the sick pay system and reform it as a matter of urgency. Councillor Alasdair Christie, Chair of the Council's Recovery Board who put forward the motion along with Councillor Alex Graham said: "It has become more obvious than ever during the current Covid 19 crisis that there are clear and substantial long-standing inadequacies in the sick pay system.
At today's meeting of the Highland Council councillors were asked to note a revenue budget update report, which indicated the possibility of a slight reduction in the £11.254m budget gap predicted at the beginning of October. However, the report also highlighted the future risks and potential challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Highland Council has today (Thursday) agreed a response to BT's proposal to remove 107 of the 348 public call boxes from across the Highland area. Under Ofcom guidelines, the Local Authority is responsible for co-ordinating a consultation and responding on behalf of the Highland community.
Time is running out for businesses to prepare for new rules from 1 January. Check what your business needs to do now HERE.
In a galvanising speech in Holyrood in Wednesday 29 October, Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant urged Scottish Government to place communities at the heart of its Renewable Energy plans and urgently improve energy networks to capitalise on Scotland's natural resources. During a parliamentary debate on the future of energy in Scotland, Mrs Grant blasted the SNP Government for failing to secure jobs for Scotland's renewable energy sector and failing to encourage energy transmission from the islands.
The special Highland council meeting commences at 9.00am today and will be on webcast HERE.
Strong market in the South West of Scotland. Travel restrictions impacting the North East, though natural capital still a pull for buyers.
This morning (28 October 2020) pupils attending Alness Academy were welcomed into their new school building. Chair of Education Committee, Councillor John Finlayson, said: "Today is an exciting day for the school, it's pupils, its staff, and the wider Alness community.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (October, 28th) sold 340 weaned calves and store cattle. Store bullocks (215) averaged 229.3p and sold to 288.0p per kilo for a 250kg Limousin cross from Little Croy Farm, Croy and £1,160.00 for a 615kg Simmental cross from 27 Portgower, Helmsdale.
A Special Meeting of The Highland Council took place today (Wednesday 28 October 2020) to allow all Members to come together to formally consider and debate Scotland's Strategic Framework for Covid 19. Following debate Members supported Highland being placed in Tier 1 as it stands in the strategic framework document which would allow home visiting.
The money will go to six research centres across the UK whose research addresses challenges around online safety and privacy. £29m for research projects in Bristol, Bath, Newcastle, Nottingham, Surrey and Lancaster.
Innovative research to develop cutting-edge technology and make sure future offshore windfarms do not interfere with crucial military communications is underway following a £2 million Government investment. In a move that could significantly boost the UK's renewable energy growth, contracts have been awarded to Thales, QinetiQ, Saab, TWI and Plextek DTS to fast-track their ideas for technologies that could mitigate the impact of windfarms on the UK’s air defence radar system.
People who have downloaded the Protect Scotland app will now be able to continue using it if they travel to Northern Ireland and Jersey. Scotland has developed its own ‘federated server' which will ultimately allow for all proximity apps within the UK, Crown Dependencies and Gibraltar to work with each other for the first time.
Peterhead Football Club regret to advise that 29 part-time and occasional staff are to be made redundant at the end of this month when the Government Furlough scheme comes to an end. The Covid-19 pandemic has had a catastrophic impact on the club with both the football and hospitality revenue streams having been effectively turned off since March this year.
Saver protections will be bolstered by government plans revealed today to "nudge" people towards taking pensions guidance. The proposals follow successful trials, and will require occupational pension schemes to steer members towards taking Pension Wise guidance when they seek to access their pension.
Scotland's GDP is confirmed to have fallen by an unrevised rate of 19.4% during Quarter 2, according to statistics announced today by the Chief Statistician. This is the second consecutive quarter of falling GDP, following the contraction of 3.2% in Quarter 1.
Additional £37 million to support health and care services. An NHS Winter Preparedness Plan outlining steps to ensure a resilient and safe health care system has been published.
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant has quizzed Rural Economy and Tourism Secretary, Fergus Ewing, on how the Scottish Government is going to tackle residents' concerns about dirty camping and future tourism pressure on Highlands and Islands communities. In answer to a Parliamentary Question, Mr Ewing said a multi-agency group, which met in September, will report back in November to look at solutions and make recommendations to Ministers.
