Over three thousand people visited Inverness Town House last weekend to see for themselves the completion of interior works on the public historic Grade A listed building following recent renovations. Around 2,000 visitors passed through the Town House doors on Saturday 10th and another 1,200 people on Sunday 11th February.
Housing Flows-2. In 2016/17 there were a total of 52,924 social rented housing lets, a drop of 1,108 lets, or 2%, on the 54,032 lets in 2015/16.
Characteristics of Social Tenants-2 30% of social rented households in 2016 were single working age adults, an increase from 18% in 1999. 19% of households were single pensioners, a decrease from 25% in 1999.
Increases to fuel roll-out of funded childcare. A record number of early years apprenticeships are expected to start this year as part of the expansion of free nursery and childcare, Deputy First Minister John Swinney has said.
NHS Scotland has launched a campaign to increase the number of consultant grade radiologists in post by 10%. Nine Health Boards are teaming up to fill 32 vacancies through targeted advertising across the globe.
Housing Costs and Income-2. The average weekly rent for a social sector property in Scotland in 2016/17 was £74.44, an increase of 2.1% on the previous year.
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.