During performance and commissioning testing on gas cookers in a first floor Home Economics classroom at Inverness Royal Academy last evening (23 August) two fire suppression sprinkler heads were inadvertently activated, resulting in water spreading into a number of first and ground floor classroom/corridor areas including the school kitchen. The school is closed today (24th) and tomorrow (25th August 2017).
Highland Council is reassuring all pupils, parents and carers this morning (23 August) that all school transport routes have been covered in Caithness and East Ross following the loss of the contractor Andrew's (Shetland) Ltd. who ceased trading last night (22 August).
Many Mother of the Bride/Groom/Guest Outfits less than half price. 2 rails of Wedding Dresses greatly reduced.
Members of The Highland Council's People Committee have agreed to transfer funding from its third sector grants budget to High Life Highland to manage the North Coast Leisure Centre at Bettyhill in Sutherland. Members have agreed that the budget of £39,309 for Tongue and Farr Sports Association (North Coast Leisure Centre, Bettyhill) from the Council's third sector grants budget will be moved to the budget for services commissioned from High Life Highland, and that the service delivery contract with High Life Highland be amended accordingly.
Following on from the introduction of decriminalised parking in Highland, The Highland Council has invested £50k to help protect pedestrians in Inverness city centre. Cllr Allan Henderson, Chair of the Council's Places Committee said: "I am very pleased that the new parking enforcement service has delivered these improvement works funded from the Council’s Traffic Management and Control budget.
In a submission made to the Scottish Parliament, The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accounting (CIPFA) Scotland predicts that Brexit will likely have a negative impact on public spending power and therefore it is of critical importance that the Scottish Government start preparing plans for public services post-Brexit. In its submission, CIPFA Scotland has summarised factors which will impact upon the Scottish budget.
The report of GERs was published today and its not simple with everyone giving their interpretation of good or bad. So here is link to the BBC article on the subject that explains the situation in depth with more links.
Science festivals will receive £250,000 of Scottish Government funding to support them in bringing science alive in a fun and accessible way, Science Minister Shirley-Anne Somerville has announced. Up to 15 festivals, which reach more than 200,000 people across Scotland annually, will benefit from the funding.
Parents and carers of pupils using Andrew's (Shetland) Ltd coaches for Thurso, Wick, Dornoch, Golspie and Invergordon High Schools and some of their associated Primaries are warned for possible disruption to transport arrangements from tomorrow morning Wednesday 23 August 2017. Highland Council has been notified that its school transport contractor Andrew's (Shetland) Ltd has ceased trading as of this evening (Tuesday 22 August 2017).
As recently reported, the B876 between Castletown and Reiss will be closed for three weeks from 28 August 2017 to enable urgent repair works to be carried out. This will result in changes to the X99 and 81 services, along with the 276 / 277 / 281 services to Dounreay) Details of the timetable and route changes are attached.
Welcoming the publication of the Barclay Review of Non-Domestic Rates, Finance Secretary Derek Mackay said:"This report offers recommendations for reform of the system to make it work better for ratepayers across Scotland while ensuring that the contribution they make to important local services is maintained. "Ken and his team were tasked with finding ways to improve the current system, updating it so that it better supports business growth, encourages long term investment and enables businesses to better navigate fast-changing marketplaces.
Week Commencing 14th August 2017 Energy & business services: Caithness Chamber of Commerce this week ran an event sponsored by CNSRP partner Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The main speaker was Bill Cattanach of the Oil & Gas Authority (OGA), with introductory presentations by myself and Sandy Mackie of Scrabster Harbour Trust.
The Highland Council's Planning Performance Framework has been agreed for submission to the Scottish Government. All Planning Authorities in Scotland are required to submit an annual Planning Performance Framework to the Scottish Government, setting out how they have performed over the previous financial year.
With the countdown underway for the Queensferry Crossing opening, a new website for the Forth Bridges was launched today by the Minister for Transport Humza Yousaf. The site gives details of the traffic management and road layouts that will be in place when the bridge first opens.
Graduates from as far afield as Portugal and London arrived in Caithness last week to kick start their career at Dounreay. Ten new recruits have started on the two-year graduate scheme with educational backgrounds as diverse as engineering, law and digital forensics and ethical hacking.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (August, 17th) sold 15,573 store lambs at their annual district sale to average £52.54 (-£1.52 on the year). Cheviot wedder lambs (6,589) averaged £49.36 (-£1.71) and sold to £66.00 gross from Knockglass, Dornoch.
Leader of the Highland Council Margaret Davidson commented following her meeting with Police Scotland on 16 August 2017, saying: "I am very grateful to ACC Hawkins and other officers for a very candid and useful meeting and for providing the information which we requested. "I remain, however, extremely disappointed in the recommendation going to the SPA and the poor governance in that decision making process.
Food and drink businesses looking to grow through innovation are encouraged to register for a free workshop which takes place in Inverness on 31 August. The event will focus on the new ‘Make Innovation Happen' service which provides a single access point for all innovation support to the Scottish food and drink industry.
Motorists are advised of a temporary road closure in Caithness to allow repairs to be carried out to approximately 1km of the B876 at Killimster Moss. The road will be closed from 8am on Monday 28 August 2017 until 6pm on Saturday 30 September 2017.
Members have today approved proposals to expand the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal funded free open public Wi-Fi system to 14 towns across the Highland. Towns recommended for the free Wi-Fi programme are Alness, Aviemore, Dingwall, Dornoch, Drumnadrochit, Fort Augustus, Fort William, Invergordon, Nairn, Portree, Tain, Thurso, Ullapool and Wick.
