Scotland's Chief Statistician today released Social Tenants in Scotland 2016, the second annual statistical compendium publication on social tenants and social rented housing in Scotland, covering topic areas such as stock, household characteristics, housing flows, and rents and income levels. The publication is based on an analysis of a range of existing data sources, and includes trend data for earlier years and comparisons with other housing tenures and with other parts of the UK where possible.
The Highland Council Budget team have agreed their final budget proposals which will go to Council for agreement on 15 February 2018. Budget Leader Councillor Alister Mackinnon said: "We have done everything we can to protect frontline services and jobs in a good budget.
Hill farmers and crofters will be offered a nationally-funded loan for Less Favoured Area Support Scheme 2017. The loan scheme will inject up to £55 million into some of our most remote and rural communities, safeguarding jobs and local agricultural businesses.
Energy & business services: Staff from AGM Batteries were represented at a business breakfast event this week (see communications below), and it is great to see their recent success recognised in today's John o' Groat Journal. The company, which is based on Thurso's Business Park, has been awarded a £1.48 million grant through the UK Government's Faraday Battery Challenge.
FORT WILLIAM, Dingwall & Highland Marts, (February, 8th) sold 566 sheep of all classes. Lambs (326) sold to £60 gross for a Blackface from 19 Blarmafoldach, Fort William.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (February, 6h) sold 26 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (8) averaged 203p (-14.5p) and sold to 214p and £1,415.50 gross.
The Highland Council is reminding householders who have purchased a Garden Waste Permit that the collections restart the week beginning Monday 26th February 2018. Permit holders are also being urged to check carefully for any contamination that may have got into their bins while they have been sitting unused.
The timetable for the election for the return of a councillor for the Caol and Mallaig ward of The Highland Council has been announced today (Monday 5 February) The by-election is being held following the sad death of Councillor Billy MacLachlan who was one of three Councillors representing Ward 11. The other Ward members are Councillors Allan Henderson (Independent) and Ben Thompson (Independent) The Notice of Election and Nomination Form will be published on the Council's website www.highland.gov.uk (external link) on Tuesday 13 February.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (February, 5th) sold 208 adult head of breeding cattle and 5 store cattle. In calf heifers (73) sold to £1,750 gross for a Saler cross from Westfield Farm, Thurso.
Councillor Allan Henderson, Chair of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee, has expressed his disappointment in the lack of promised support for local authorities struggling to fund the extra pressures caused by the winter weather. He said: "The Highland Council has the largest roadwork of any local authority in the UK, with nearly 7,000km of regional roads and over 1,700km of footways.
Over two million people in the UK rely almost entirely on cash but a change to interchange fees could see mass closures of up to 30,000 free-to-use ATMs. Many rural communities are still reeling from bank branch closures.
The Environmental Research Institute is deploying 2 sea bed mounted frames, each with 2 surface marker buoys. Frames will be located approximately 700m NE of Dunnet Head lighthouse and approx.
Week Commencing 29th January 2018. Energy & business services.
Steve Wilson, Beatrice Project Manager, looks ahead to a year of mile stones as work continues to build Beatrice. It's safe to say that the Beatrice project has come a long way since reaching the final investment decision in May 2016.
For the latest updates on energy matters in the north Energy North Issue 63 February 2018.
Posted by: Fiona Bruce, Blog on the NDA site. Posted on: 30 January 2018 - Categories: Skills The third Women in Nuclear UK conference takes place this week, where the theme will be ‘power together to create change'.
Scottish EDGE is the main competition category, and all companies that apply and meet the eligibility criteria will be entered in to and assessed for the main Scottish EDGE competition. This category also includes two special awards: Higgs EDGE, for Science, Technology and Engineering focused businesses; and Creative EDGE, for businesses from within Scotland's Creative Sector.
The former Wick High School has now been put up for sale by auction with a guide price of £50,000. Full details can be found here.
In response to Police Scotland's statement on the closure of the Inverness Area Control Room and Service Centre, Highland Council Scrutiny Lead Matthew Reiss said: "We appreciate the statement from Police Scotland regarding the intended closure of the Inverness Control Room next week. It is important that everyone is aware of the change in local arrangements.
The Highland Council Budget Leader, Cllr Alister Mackinnon has welcomed the announcement of additional funding in the Scottish Government's block grant which takes £7.516 million off the substantial budget gap. Cllr Mackinnon said: "This additional money, agreed at the 11th hour is indeed welcome news and means that we will not be forced to cut as deeply as we had first feared.
