Highland Council has invited tenders for a contract for a summer ferry service between Cromarty and Nigg. The previous operator terminated the service contract just before the start of the 2015 season due to difficulties with sandbanks building up off the slipways and berthing arrangements.
The Councils Community Services Committee has approved an additional programme of £2.7 million for the coming year 2016/17. £2.3 million will be allocated this coming year to re-surfacing, surface dressing and road markings across the Highland network and £0.4 million to bridges in Sutherland (Kylesku) and Lochaber (A884 Achnagavin).
New standards have been set out for grass-cutting across the Council area to meet statutory requirements and achieve savings. There is no statutory requirement that amenity grass must be cut, however, the Council has various duties to maintain public safety, deliver education in accordance to national standards, deliver a burial service, maintain roads and paths in a safe condition and support national play initiatives.
Council house rents will be limited to a 1.9% rise in order to maintain current service levels. This will mean an increase in the average weekly council rent of £1.35 for all Housing Revenue Account (HRA) rents.
Managing Rushes Without Chemicals, Thursday 3rd March, Caithness (second meeting) kindly supported by Caithness Wetlands and Wildlife Initiative. A practical one day workshop on controlling rushes without chemicals.
Highland Council Leader, Councillor Margaret Davidson said: The option to raise council tax in Highland has been taken away from us. We have been informed, if we raise Council Tax, we will be fined not just the 3% we expected but also other sanctions will be applied around teacher numbers and funding for social care.
Week Commencing 25 January 2016 Energy and; Business Services: Good to see Derek Campbell of Denchi Power heading out to take part in a programme sponsored by CNSRP partner HIE with the world-renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The MIT Entrepreneurship Development Programme is week long, high level, intensive executive education course teaching skills for high impact entrepreneurship.
Regional airport operator HIAL has become the latest high profile organisation to sign the Armed Forces Covenant, and the first airport group in Scotland to do so. The Armed Forces Covenant, which covers all branches of the armed forces, was introduced in 2011.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is launching a six week public consultation on the organisations draft Gaelic Plan. The renewed Gaelic Plan 2016-21 sets out HIEs aims and ambitions for Gaelic over the next five years and details how these will be achieved through specific actions.
Action to accelerate pace of implementing new CAP. Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead has given an update on progress making payments under the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
A storm officially named Gertrude by the Met Office has been forecast to bring winds of up to 90mph as well as heavy rain, high tides, and snow to Scotland tomorrow. The severe winds and high tides are expected to hit the north and west of Scotland in particular.
DINGWALL, Dingwall and Highland Marts, (January, 27th) sold 1,218 sheep of all classes. Lambs (725) averaged £48.35 and sold to £74.00 gross, (twice) for a pair of BFL and Charolais crosses from Dalmore, Alness.
Highland Councils Trading Standards team and Caithness Citizens Advice Bureau are warning local consumers to be on their guard against telephone spoofing scams. These involve scammers using what to a consumer would appear to be a local phone number specifically to gain the consumers trust when in fact they are based far away and are only interested in getting hold of consumers cash.
Highlands & Islands MSP and Scottish (Labour) Spokesperson for Transport, David Stewart, has highlighted that through his Kessock Bridge Lights campaign, it has become apparent that so many are asking why the 50mph speed restriction is applied for such a long distance North of the bridge. "This is a very good question said David Stewart, When Transport Scotland sought approval for the speed restriction on the bridge to be reduced from 70mph to 50mph is was to quote ‘ to improve the operational safety of the bridge, which I can live with.
HM Revenue and Customs has called time on 13 of its home-workers in and around Wick. Highlands and Islands Labour MSP David Stewart said today the move was a devastating blow not only for those concerned but for a fragile community which relies on such jobs to bolster the local economy.
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The Highland Council highlights the free cost of Blue Badge applications for customers. The Council has been made aware that there are a number of websites that charge a premium for helping customers complete a Blue Badge request form for free disabled parking.
An independent survey by market research company Progressive Partnerships is being carried out on behalf of The Highland Councils Housing Service. The postal survey has been sent to all 13,799 Council tenants inviting them to share their views on the quality of services provided to them by the Councils Housing Service.
Do you want to be a voice for your community? If so The Highland Council is inviting nominations for people to join 28 community councils which have remained unformed following the election held on 18 November last year. Community Councils are voluntary organisations that act as a voice for their local area.
A marketing project which aims to promote, showcase and highlight Caithness and Sutherland using a series of short films has been given a £10,000 boost from the VisitScotland Growth Fund. The grant from the national tourism organisation has been awarded to Venture North for its ‘Venture North Discovery Series' year-long marketing initiative to emphasise the many draws of the north Highlands.
