DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (November, 20th) sold 12 prime cattle. Prime Bullocks (1) sold to 210.0p per kg and £1,386.00 gross.
Scottish Police Authority Annual Report and Accounts 2017-18 Published. Report shows improvements in financial management, governance and transparency The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) has published its annual report and accounts for the 2017-18 financial year.
The Highland Council is to invest over £4.2 million into carrying out improvements to its housing stock in Caithness. At today's meeting of the Caithness Committee (Tuesday 20 November 2018) Councillors agreed a two year Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme that will see £4,204,420 spent on making improvements to Caithness council homes over the next 2 years.
While some improvements have been made to the delivery of health and social care services, Integration Authorities, councils and NHS boards need to show a stronger commitment to collaborative working to achieve the real long term benefits of an integrated system. A report for the Auditor General and the Accounts Commission notes some progress, but says the remaining challenges are significant.
The Highland council wants to hear the views of the public in what is another very difficult period of difficulties in deciding how to spend a reducing amount of money. Events are taking place in Caithness and Sutherland at - Wed 21 Nov Caithness - 2.00pm - Market Square - Wick Precinct Wed 21 Nov Caithness - Wick 6pm to 7pm Caithness House Thur 22 Nov Caithness - 10am to 11pm Thurso Precinct Thursday 22 Sutherland - 2pm to 3pm The Kyle Centre Tongue Thursday 22 Sutherland - 7pm to 8pm Lochinver Village Hall See full details at - https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/670/consultations_complaints_and_compliments/668/our_budget.
Highland Council has welcomed the news that Alness High Street has won Scottish Champion in the Great British High Street (GBHS) Awards announced in London (Thursday, 15 November 2018). Highland Council Convener Cllr Bill Lobban welcomed the news, he said: "Congratulations to all those involved in the Alness entry for the Great British High Street Awards.
Businesses and organisations are being encouraged to apply for funding through the Highland & Moray Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) as part of the European Maritime & Fisheries Fund. Funding can be used to support a wide range of projects that will boost the local economy and create jobs within the fishing, aquaculture and maritime industries including tourism and seafood sectors.
UNISON, Unite and the GMB have urged Derek Mackay, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, the Economy & Fair Work to attend talks to avert strike action across local government, in a letter sent today. The three trade unions representing local government workers have called for a tripartite meeting, involving Derek Mackay, COSLA and trade union representatives, to discuss local government finance and the urgent need to allocate additional funds to COSLA to fund a proper pay rise for local government workers and avert strike action across the local government workforce.
Scottish Government Launches ‘people, Not Profit' Campaign To Support The Scottish Credit Unions Sector. The ‘People, Not Profit' credit unions campaign has been launched by Aileen Campbell, Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government today (Wednesday 14 November 2018), as results of a new survey reveal that one in five (20%) people in Scotland have not heard of a credit union.
At his last official function The Highland Council's retiring CEX Steve Barron has paid tribute to two members of staff for their outstanding work. During The Highland Council's Quality Awards event, held last Thursday in Inverness Town House, he took the opportunity to present a special commendation award to the Council's Project Co-ordinator for War Memorials Alf Leslie.
Energy & Business Services: I met up this week with Stephen Sutherland, Chair of Caithness Chamber of Commerce and director at JGC Engineering & Technical Services, at a tourism-related session hosted by the Chamber Board (see below for more). Stephen told me about the fantastic news that JGC has been awarded a contract by Siemens Transmission and Distribution relating to the Triton Knoll offshore windfarm project of the east coast of England.
Plans to establish the UK's first spaceport in north-west Sutherland have taken a major step forward. Melness Crofters Estate (MCE), who own the prospective launch site for small satellites, on the Moine near Tongue, have confirmed their intention to work with development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) towards agreeing heads of terms.
A Cook at Broadford Primary School on the Isle of Skye has scooped the Highland Council's Employee of the Year 2018 Award for her commitment to promote healthy eating and for inspiring pupils to get involved from "plot to plate" Annette Burfooot, who has been at the school for 11 years, is described as a skilled and dedicated member of staff who is passionate about promoting healthy eating and regularly goes into classrooms to chat to the children about nutrition and developing healthy eating habits. She also encourages them to proactively get involved in the planning of menus for school meals making the most of fresh herbs and vegetables grown in the school garden.
Highlands & Islands Regional MSP and Parliamentary Diabetes Champion, David Stewart, is to nominate forgotten Scottish hero as the scientist who should feature on the new Bank of England £50 note after The Bank of England announced that the new £50 note will feature a prominent British scientist, with the public being asked for nominations. In addition to the Queen, the note will include the portrait of an eminent late scientist from fields such as biology, astronomy and medical research.
UNISON will start to take steps towards strike action. The local government joint trade unions - who have also run consultative ballots of their members - will be meet with CoSLA to inform them of the results of their ballots, tomorrow Friday 9th November.
Dounreay's industry leading safety performance has taken one of the top prizes at Babcock International Group's Health and Safety Excellence Awards. The team responsible for decommissioning the former fast reactor research site in Caithness lifted the trophy for best safety programme at an event in London last week.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (November, 8th) sold 2,868 store sheep. Lambs (1,592) averaged £46.06 and sold to £310 gross for a Cheviot tup lamb from Middleton of Brims, Thurso.
Student nursing and midwifery places will increase for the seventh consecutive year, reaching record levels, with the intake rising by 7.6% to more than 4,000. As announced by the First Minister in October, all eligible nursing and midwifery students across Scotland will benefit from an increased bursary in 2019/20, rising to £10,000 a year in 2020/21.
Much of Scotland's land will remain outside the proposed Register of Controlled Interests in Land, whose purpose is to make land ownership more transparent, according to a report by the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee. Much of Scotland's land will remain outside the proposed Register of Controlled Interests in Land, whose purpose is to make land ownership more transparent, according to a report by the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee.
Scotland's world renowned seed potato industry risks losing its 13.5% EU market share in a no deal Brexit scenario, Rural Affairs Minister Mairi Gougeon has warned. In a letter to Secretary of State Michael Gove, she highlights that in this scenario Scotland would become a third country and would therefore be unable to export seed potatoes to the EU.
