News Archive

26/1/2018 : Advisory / Counseling Services

Caithness And North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update

Energy & business services: The Scottish Government's Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme is now open for applications.  Financial support through the programme has been designed to encourage innovation of both design and business models.  

26/1/2018 : Libraries, Museums & Galleries

 
Top Accolade For Nuclear Record-keeping

The meticulous approach to managing historical records at the Nucleus archive has secured the highest accolade from the government's records regulator.   ‘Place of Deposit' (PoD) status was granted by The National Archives at Kew (TNA) and National Records of Scotland in December 2017, on schedule, after a comprehensive assessment of all operational aspects at the £20 million facility near Wick.  

26/1/2018

Labour Market Economic Commentary: January 2018

The Office for National Statistics has released its latest commentary on the Labour market in the UK.   The number of people in work reached a new record, with 32.21 million people in work in the three months to November 2017.  

26/1/2018

Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme Low Carbon Innovation Funding Invitation

Funding Applications can now be made from January 2018.   Deadline 30th April 2018.  

25/1/2018 : Local Authority

Below inflation increase of 3% for garage and garage sites rents

Highland Council has listened to its customers and agreed a below-inflation rise in garage and garage sites rents.   The results of a Highland Council consultation on housing, garage and garage sites rents has directed the decision making of Highland Councillors today (Thursday 25 January 2018) at the Council's People Committee.  

25/1/2018 : Local Authority

Highland Council approves ‘modest' increase in housing rents

Highland housing tenants are to receive a small 0.5% increase in council house rents for the coming financial year 2018/19 which equates to an average weekly rise of 36p.   Members of Highland Council's People Committee have approved the 0.5% rent increase which would result in an increase in the average weekly council house rent from £72.88 to £73.24 (£0.36p).  

25/1/2018 : Local Authority

Council agrees to transfer Music Tuition Services to High Life Highland

As part of The Highland Council's Redesign Programme, Members of the Council's People Committee today considered a report on the "Review of Music Tuition Services".  They have agreed that High Life Highland will deliver Music Tuition services from April 2018.  

25/1/2018 : Local Authority

Proposal to establish a Gaelic Medium catchment area for Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar

The Highland Council is to seek the views of local communities on a proposal to establish a Gaelic Medium catchment area for Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar.   The change is being proposed in line with Statutory Guidance on Gaelic Medium Education.  

25/1/2018

£1.5M further resurfacing investment to address trunk road surface deterioration in North West Scotland

BEAR Scotland to undertake repairs and resurfacing with additional funds from Transport Scotland.   BEAR Scotland is undertaking an essential programme of works across trunk roads in the North West of Scotland to address the accelerated road surface deterioration caused by recent winter weather conditions, where the freeze and thaw cycle has weakened the carriageway.  

25/1/2018

Is Trump ready to embark on a trade war?

In response to the decision by the US to impose tariffs on washing machines and solar panels Dr Fragkiskos Filippaios, Reader in International Business at Kent Business School at the University of Kent, has provided the following comment.   'Recently, the US administration decided in favour of the introduction of trade barriers on the imports of washing machines and solar products.  

25/1/2018

 
Council Budgets Face Hard Decisions - See what Audit Scotland Said

Tighter squeeze on councils.   Councils are showing increasing signs of financial stress and face even tougher challenges ahead, says the Accounts Commission.  

25/1/2018

 
"Serious concerns" over Clackmannanshire Council

Clackmannanshire Council must take urgent and decisive action to sort out its financial problems, says the Accounts Commission.   In a new report published today, the local authority watchdog highlights serious concerns about the council's financial position as it faces making savings of £29 million over the next three years out of an annual budget of £118 million.  

24/1/2018 : Visitor Attractions

 
Caithness Horizons Cuts Manager Post And Reduces Curator Hours

Uncertainty over funding from Highland council.   Caithness Horizons, which tells the story of the county of Caithness from 416 million years ago to the present day, has deleted its manager post and cut its curator's hours from 40 to 20 hours a week in anticipation of funding cuts.  

24/1/2018

Highland Council Announce No Cuts To ASN And PSA Posts

Highland council have announced ahead of the budget on 15th February 2018 that there will not be cuts to additional support needs (ASN).   Several protests erupted after budget papers were leaked showing cuts.  

24/1/2018 : Advisory / Counseling Services

Jobs Created In Orkney As Software Development Company Expands

A global software development business with its technology hub based in Orkney is moving to larger premises.   Kyloe is set to double its staff in the next few years and has secured £191,250 investment from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to help it move to a more suitable premises.  

24/1/2018 : Advisory / Counseling Services

HIE Invests In Ambitious Shetland Engineering Firm

A Shetland boat building and engineering company has increased its workforce and is set to expand internationally as orders for workboats grow.   Six new jobs have already been created at Malakoff Ltd after opening a new site earlier this year at Greenhead Base in Lerwick.  

24/1/2018 : Advisory / Counseling Services

£60 Million Fund Open For Low Carbon Projects

A £60m fund to keep Scotland at the forefront of low carbon innovation is now open for applications.   The Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP) will fund large scale projects which support the ambitions of the Scottish Government's new Scotland's Energy Strategy, which was published in December 2017.  

24/1/2018 : Local Authority

School roll capping in Inverness for 2018-19

Due to current pressures on school rolls and following an analysis of school roll forecasts, The Highland Council is ‘capping' or limiting school rolls and reserving places in some Primary Schools in Inverness for the 2018/19 academic session (beginning August 2018).   The schools affected are Kinmylies Primary, Duncan Forbes Primary, Smithton Primary, Hilton Primary, Holm Primary, Lochardil Primary and Milton of Leys Primary.  

24/1/2018 : Auctioneers

 
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 23 January 2018

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (January, 23rd) sold 21 prime cattle.   Prime bullocks (1) averaged 209.0p (+0.9p) and sold to 209.0p and £1,295.80 gross.  

24/1/2018

End game in sight for Royal Bank of Scotland

Watching RBS executives appear before the Scottish Affairs Committee and defend their decision to close a third of all branches in Scotland, it was hard to know whether to laugh or cry.  How many times have officials from this state owned bank sat before Parliamentary Committees and, with straight faces, defended the indefensible? This is just one more instance, relatively small in the scheme of things, of the fundamental and the ever-widening disconnect between the citizen and our system of free market capitalism.