The Leader of The Highland Council, Councillor Margaret Davidson, has written to Kevin Stewart MSP, Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning to raise concerns following the publication of proposals by the Local Government Boundary Commission and to call for a meeting to fully discuss the issue. The Council established a Cross Council Working Group of members to consider these proposals.
Today (6 November 2020) the National Audit Office (NAO) reports that although government departments have made progress in recent months implementing the changes required to systems, infrastructure and resources to manage the border at the end of the post-EU Exit transition period, it is still likely that widespread disruption will occur from 1 January 2021. In its fourth report1 assessing government's preparations at the border, the NAO highlights that planning for 1 January 20212 has built on work done for previous EU Exit deadlines, but COVID-19 has exacerbated delays in government's preparations and significant risks remain, particularly in relation to implementing the Northern Ireland Protocol3 and trader readiness more generally.
Quarantine for travellers arriving from Germany and Sweden Travellers arriving in Scotland from Germany and Sweden must quarantine on arrival for 14 days. The requirement takes effect from 4am Saturday (7 November 2020).
The C&AG has reported on the 2019-20 accounts of HM Revenue & Customs. Gareth Davies, the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) of the National Audit Office, has reported on the 2019-20 accounts of HM Revenue & Customs.
Today's announcements Today the Chancellor has announced that CJRS will be extended until the end of March 2021 for all parts of the UK. For claim periods running to 31 January 2021, the UK Government will pay 80% of employees' usual wages for hours not worked, up to a cap of £2,500 per month.
The National Audit Office (NAO) reports that the government quickly developed schemes to protect jobs and support businesses financially during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the pace at which they were designed and implemented means there is a risk of considerable levels of fraud and error, particularly for the furlough scheme. On 20 March 2020, the government announced the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) to provide grant payments to employers to cover part of the wages of furloughed employees.
The wait for the volunteer crew in Invergordon finally came to an end on Sunday when they welcomed their new Shannon class lifeboat to the station for the first time. After the delay as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, the state-of-the-art Shannon class vessel arrived at her new permanent home of Invergordon on Sunday (1 November).
The Lifeboat station at Kessock extended congratulations to one of their RNLI family last month as Johnny Grant joined Wick Lifeboat as Mechanic Coxswain, following in the proud footsteps of his father, grandfather and late great-grandfather before him. Johnny's father is Kessock Helm Doug Grant who has served in the RNLI for 35 years.
Molly Nolan the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Scottish parliament is against the boundary changes suggested by the boundary commission as it once again reduces the number of councillors and specifically hits the far north. "These boundary changes are not fit for purpose.
In a review meeting of the national Strategic Framework yesterday evening (4 November), Leader of the Highland Council, Margaret Davidson (Independent) and Chief Executive Donna Manson met with Aileen Campbell, Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government to discuss the impact of Tier one on the Highlands. Cllr Margaret Davidson said: "The low Covid numbers in Highland are due to very good levels of compliance and also the excellent partnership work across Council, NHS Highland and Police which has succeeded in successfully dealing with local outbreaks.
Important step in further reducing the spread of COVID-19. People who have downloaded the Protect Scotland app will now be able to continue using it if they travel to England and Wales, as well as Gibraltar.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (November, 5th) sold 2,691 store sheep. Lambs (1,667) averaged £56.84 and sold to £120 gross for a pen of Suffolks from Ardvannie Croft, Edderton.
Lette from Bank of England to the Chancellor - 5 November 2020 Dear Rishi At its meeting ending on 4 November 2020, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) agreed to additional monetary policy stimulus measures in order to meet its statutory objectives. In light of this, I am writing to request a number of changes to the authorisation of the Asset Purchase Facility (APF) and confirm some existing arrangements about how the Facility is used.
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) sets monetary policy to meet the 2% inflation target, and in a way that helps to sustain growth and employment. In that context, its challenge at present is to respond to the economic and financial impact of the Covid pandemic.
An article from the Fraser of Allender Institute. The Covid pandemic has had a huge impact on our working lives.
Farmers and crofters across the country will benefit from the simplification of schemes, which form part of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). This follows the laying of new regulations which will come into force on 1 January 2021.
Statement, as delivered by Chancellor Rishi Sunak, on 5 November 2020. Mr Speaker, On Monday, the Prime Minister set out the action we need to take between now and the start of December to control the spread of coronavirus.
The Highland Council has invested in 10 new winter gritting vehicles to replace some of the ageing fleet, which are ready to be deployed as soon as they are needed. The new vehicles, which have been dispatched across the Highlands, complement the Council's existing winter fleet that includes 99 gritters, 42 footpath tractors, 2 snowblowers with over 200 staff ready to provide winter maintenance services.
The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee have welcomed the extra funding made available from The Scottish Government to boost town centres and confirmed that the decision on how this will be spent will be taken at a local level by area committee members. The Council has been allocated an additional £1,066,000 ring-fenced to stimulate local construction activity and support employment across Highland.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (November, 4th) sold 433 adult head of breeding cattle. Heifer with heifer calf (10) sold to £3,000 gross for a British Blue cross with a September born Limousin cross calf from the major reduction of the commercial herd from Muirton Mains, Urray.