More disruption looms for Scotland's colleges if employers fail to give support staff a fair deal. UNISON, the trade union for college support staff, has today (Tuesday) written to Colleges Scotland Employers’ Association and Scottish Ministers to urge a fair negotiated settlement to this long running dispute.
Gail Ward, a Housing Policy officer with The Highland Council has been named Employee of the Year for the care and compassion she has shown in welcoming Syrian refugees to the Highlands and her work to ease the impact Welfare Reform has had on individuals. In nominating Gail, Head of Housing David Goldie said:: "Although Gail has always been a strong member of the team and displayed a genuine commitment and enthusiasm for the work she does, my reason for nominating her for this award relates to her willingness to take on and embrace the challenges associated with two of our most significant areas of work over the last year." The first area relates to Welfare Reform.
A multi-agency enforcement operation took place in the Lochaber area of the Highlands of Scotland on Wednesday 16 November 2016. The operation, led by Highland Council's Environmental Health Service, included participation by a number of partner agencies, including HMRC, Gangmasters Licensing Authority, Police Scotland, Borders Agency and Marine Scotland Compliance.
Finance Secretary calls for growth in wake of Brexit. The Chancellor must end austerity in light of the weak economic outlook and take steps to boost growth, support business and help the most vulnerable, Finance Secretary Derek Mackay said today.
Scottish Government ‘will not end up running schools'. The Scottish Government will not end up running schools as a result of the education governance review, the Deputy First Minister has said.
Health Secretary comments on SWA decision to appeal Commenting on the decision from the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) to appeal the minimum unit pricing ruling, Health Secretary Shona Robison said: "The Scotch Whisky Association's decision to appeal against last month’s emphatic ruling from the Court of Session is deeply disappointing. “Their seeking leave to appeal to the Supreme Court is now the only stumbling block to minimum unit pricing being introduced.
Week Commencing 5 November 2016 Energy & business services: · The vessel Olympic Ares arrived in the Inner Sound of the Pentland Firth this week to install the first of the turbines for the MeyGen tidal energy project. As previously highlighted here the turbine support structures and ballast blocks were successfully installed during October, bringing welcome work to the area through Scrabster harbour and local companies.
Ahead of the winter, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has invested £44m in strengthening the electricity network in the north of Scotland and launched an awareness campaign to help its customers also become ‘winter-ready'. The ongoing investment programme in the electricity distribution network and related systems includes flood prevention measures, refurbishment and replacement of poles and extensive tree cutting to prevent falling branches making contact with power lines.
UNISON, the union representing police staff in Scotland, has notified Scottish Police Authority and Police Service of Scotland that they will not participate in today's Joint Negotiation & Consultative Committee (JNCC). The employers are refusing to discuss pay claims, department restructuring, police station closures and a £20m black hole in the police finances.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (November, 9th) sold 363 weaned calves, store & breeding cattle including 94 Highland and Highland crosses in their special sale of Highland Cattle. Bullocks (131) averaged 208.5p and sold to 266.7p per kilo for a 195kg Limousin cross from Craigton, Bonar Bridge, and £970 gross for a 510kg Limousin cross from Conon Mains Farm, Conon Bridge.
The Commission on Highland Democracy has published its Call for Evidence, and wants the public's views on local democracy in the Highlands. The Call for Evidence states: "The Highland Council, like every other Council in Scotland, makes daily decisions about everything from home care to bin collections and from building schools to cutting grass.
Between 2015 and 2016, 17 out of 18 areas of Scotland saw increases in average rent levels for 2 bedroom private rental properties, ranging from 4.6% in West Dunbartonshire to 0.1% in Dumfries and Galloway. Aberdeen and Shire saw a decrease of 13.7%, the largest annual drop in average 2 bedroom rents since the data series began in 2010, and which is likely to reflect decreased demand for rental properties following the downturn in the oil industry.
A proposed dualled section of the A9 between Pitlochry and Killiecrankie will have no impact on the local "Enchanted Forest" event held every autumn. The preferred route for the over 4 mile stretch of the road goes on public display today and tomorrow in Pitlochry Town Hall.
In the past three years the area has seen the largest percentage shift in fibre broadband coverage of any Scottish local authority area. The first fibre broadband was launched by BT in Elgin in November 2013.
Small and medium-sized businesses across Scotland are being given the chance to enlist the services of an industry expert to assist them with a cyber security strategy. The Cyber Resilience Voucher Scheme has been launched by Digital Scotland Business Excellence Partnership (formed of Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Business Gateway and COSLA).
The UK government has set out details for the next Contracts For Difference (CFD) auction. Companies will compete for the first £290mln worth of contracts for renewable electricity projects.
A package of six research reports have been published today to inform the Scottish Government's position on whether or not to allow any Unconventional Oil and Gas (UOG) development in Scotland. The Scottish Government put in place a moratorium on UOG in January 2015 and, while it is in force, this prevents the development of any project involving hydraulic fracturing, also known as ‘fracking’, or any coal bed methane extraction technologies.
Scotland's Chief Statistician today announced the publication of the latest Index of Manufactured Exports for the second quarter of 2016. This quarterly publication measures changes, in constant-price and seasonally-adjusted terms, in export sales to the rest of the world from manufacturing businesses located in Scotland.
Tax-Free Childcare is a new government scheme to help working parents with the cost of childcare. Parents will be able to open an online account, which they can use to pay for childcare from a registered provider.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced £250,000 to support modernisation of trade unions and help mitigate the negative impacts of UK legislation. The new Trade Union Modernisation Fund will assist unions to mitigate the negative impacts of the Trade Union Act, so that the obligations placed on them through this legislation do not divert trade union reps away from supporting their members and helping employers embrace fairer working practices.
