The results for the 2017 Highland Council elections have been declared. They are as follows: Independent 28 Scottish Conservative and Unionist 10 Scottish Green Party 1 Scottish Labour Party 3 Scottish Liberal Democrats 10 Scottish National Party (SNP) 22 Total elected 74 The first meeting of the new Council will be held on Thursday 18 May when the office-bearers will be confirmed.
The official process to elect Members of Parliament to represent the three UK Highland constituencies has begun. Returning Officer, Steve Barron, Chief Executive of The Highland Council, was yesterday (Thursday 4 May) hand delivered three writs, instructing him to conduct an election for the Highland UK Parliamentary constituencies.
See the article from BQ at - http://www.bqlive.co.uk/scotland/2017/05/03/news/how-we-started-our-business-dunnet-bay-distillers-25777/.
Olivia Bell who currently works for Rhoda Grant MSP has announced she is the Labour candidate in the Caithness Sutherland and East Ross constituency for Westmisnster She said "I am absolutely delighted. It will be a tough challenge but I'm up for it! "Women are under-represented at almost every level of power in Scotland and I am honoured to be one of those selected." "Only Labour can defeat the SNP in seats across Scotland, and by voting Labour in this election we can send Nicola Sturgeon a message that we don't want another independence referendum." PHOTO Olivia Bell with Kezia Dugdale.
People in the Highlands are being invited to drop in to new Digital Café sessions which could save them significant amounts of money. The Highland Council in partnership with other Highland Social Landlords and the social enterprise company Libertie are hosting a series of mobile Digital Café events during May 2017.
Wednesday 24th May 2017..
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (April, 26th) sold 784 store cattle and 64 OTM cattle. Bullocks (429) averaged 245.1p and sold to 319.1p per kg for a pair of 257kg Limousin crosses from Trien Croft, Carbost, and £1,355 gross for a pair of 615kg Limousin crosses from Udale, Poyntzfield.
Voters taking part in the forthcoming Highland Council elections on Thursday 4 May are reminded that in filling in their ballot papers they should use numbers against the name of candidates in order of choice, using 1, 2, 3 and so on - and not a cross. The system being used to count the votes is the Single Transferable Vote.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (April, 25th) sold 33 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (12) averaged 215.9p (N/C) and sold to 220.0p per kg and £1,343.75 gross.
Over £948,000 has been awarded to help crofters in some of Scotland's most rural and remote communities benefit from better housing. 29 crofters will share the funding which enables them to build or improve homes, helping to retain and attract people to rural communities.
A design engineer with The Highland Council has been shortlisted in Scottish Renewables' Young Professionals Green Energy Awards. The awards recognise anyone who is contributing to the renewable energy sector in Scotland and who has worked in the industry for five years or less.
The Scottish Welfare Fund continues to help Scottish households in need. Scotland's Chief Statistician today released statistics on the Scottish Welfare Fund covering the period from 1 April 2013 to 31 December 2016.
Consumer protection will be at the heart of an independent review into how legal services are regulated, Legal Affairs Minister Annabelle Ewing has announced. The review, led by NHS 24 chair Esther Roberton, will make recommendations to modernise laws underpinning the legal profession's current regulatory system including how complaints are handled.
A new way of tracking and reporting on Scotland's ever-changing landscapes has been launched this week by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). Scotland's Landscape Monitoring Programme (LMP) is accessible on SNH’s website allowing anyone to follow how our dynamic landscapes change over the years.
Around 400 pupils and teachers attending Newton Park Primary school and Nursery at Wick Campus in Wick will walk to their new school on Wednesday 26 April setting off at 9am from the Old Pulteneytown Academy building. The procession of pupils in their new school uniforms will be led by Highland Bagpipers Alistair Miller and Chester Henry, a P7 pupil, along the new pedestrian access path and ramp down to the new building.
Extra funding for the Scottish Ambulance Service will help them up-skill paramedics, treat more patients in the community and reduce the numbers requiring hospital admission. A total of £6.3 million Scottish Government funding will support delivery of the Towards 2020: Taking Care to the Patient strategy - focusing on increasing the Service's capacity for care at home or in the community.
Kishorn Dry Dock in Strathcarron, Wester Ross, will come out of a 23 year long hibernation after an agreement to use the site during the construction of the world's largest floating wind farm. HIE has invested £158,932 in the £450,000 costs of upgrading the dry dock in readiness for new contracts.
Mears signs new cost savings deal on PPP Highland schools project. Mears has signed a new deal with the Highland Council which will see millions of pounds saved over the lifetime of the Private Public Partnership (PPP) Highland Schools Project.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts, (April, 20th) sold 429 sheep of all classes. Lambs (331) averaged £42.75 and sold to £73 gross for Blackfaces from Bogburn Farm, Duncanston.
Scotland's Rural College launches its new strategy today (19.04.17), setting out the direction it will take to better serve Scotland's rural communities and economy. The launch begins a month-long period of discussion with staff, students and stakeholders to determine how the goals set out in the discussion document, ‘Towards a new strategy for SRUC', should be delivered effectively at regional, national and international levels.
