Cllr Margaret Davidson, Leader of the Highland Council will be meeting with Scottish Government Ministers in Parliament today, 29 November 2018 to discuss a number of issues of importance to the Highlands. In the morning she will be meeting with Paul Wheelhouse MSP, Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands to discuss community benefit, and digital connectivity in the Highlands.
Highlands & Islands Regional MSP, David Stewart took the opportunity at the Scottish Parliament yesterday (28th November) to ask at Questions on Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, what assessment the Government had made of the impact of the North Coast 500 on tourism and infrastructure, and how best the route can be used to develop these. Responding for the Government, Ben MacPherson, MSP, advised that HIE were Chairing a working group who were looking at all surrounding issues of the NC500.
A proposed objection to a massive Moray Firth wind project by Highland Council did not take place as planned. Highland council planning officers had intimated that the council would lay an objection to the north planning applications committee and it was stated in the papers the week before but the objection was not put.
Highlands and Islands MSP David Stewart told a Members' Business Debate in Parliament this evening that he felt there was "an underlying toxic culture of bullying" at NHS Highland. His comments follow his attendance at a GMB, doctors' and whistle-blowers' meeting at Eden Court Theatre on Friday last week where the experiences of staff past and present were highlighted.
Details on the poster to book your place. There have been several legal changes in recent years and the picture is changing with communities acquiring rights to become land owners.
Port of Cromarty Firth board (26th November 2018), announced a new quayside expansion, costing a record £30 million. This follows the recent announcement of a £10 million contract from Moray East Offshore Windfarm to become the intermediate port for their 95-turbine development.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (November, 27th) sold 64 prime cattle at its Christmas Show & Sale sponsored by The Royal Bank of Scotland, John M. Munro Butchers, Highland Tractors, Parks of Hamilton, Scot JCB and Farmers Guardian and judged by W Cameron Esq, Burnside of Edingight.
Twelve projects across Scotland will be offered a share of £2.5 million in the third round of the Scottish Government's Decommissioning Challenge Fund (DCF) awards. The DCF supports infrastructure improvements and innovation to deliver decommissioning of North Sea oil and gas infrastructure.
Scotland's only accredited academy for software and web development is expanding to the Highlands to give more people a career pathway to a digital economy. Fifteen students will get the opportunity to learn to code software in an intensive 12-week course when CodeClan Highland Academy commences in spring 2019.
A shift towards rapid rehousing will see homeless people housed in long-term and settled accommodation solutions that meets their needs as quickly as possible. This is one of the key aims in the Ending Homelessness Together Action Plan.
Consumers will be able to see whether they are paying over the odds for parcel delivery, and avoid traders profiting through unfair means, following a new action plan. While the power to regulate parcel delivery surcharging is reserved to the UK Government, 'Fairer Deliveries For All' contains measures designed to make the market more transparent.
From 2017 to 2018, all areas of Scotland, with the exception of Aberdeen and Shire, Greater Glasgow and Renfrewshire/Inverclyde, have seen increases in average rents for 2 bedroom properties. These have ranged from 0.3% in Perth and Kinross, up to 6.5% in Lothian.
Online shopping has now become part of everyday life in the UK. In 2016, £154 billion was spent online in the UK and the vast majority of consumers (84%) are considered online shoppers.
Highland Council's outstanding revenue and customer services team has won both the Scottish and UK IRRV awards for its excellent approach to reforming services. Teamwork and new online applications mean that the council consistently meets the challenging one-day national target for getting crisis payments into the hands of vulnerable customers which is crucial for many of the applicants and no mean feat when you consider that the council covers a geographical area which is a third of the land mass of Scotland and 20% larger than Wales.
"Alasdair Macdonald Driving is the best and surest way to learn to drive in the Highlands - and to get your test with one of the most experienced, knowledgeable and successful instructors in the country. Twenty years of experience.
NorthLink Ferries has published timetables confirming arrangement for the regular planned maintenance of its passenger vessels, with one vessel at a time due to be out of service between 13 January and 25 March 2019. MV Hamnavoe, which operates between Scrabster and Stromness, will be removed from service for five days from 13 - 19 January and MV Hjaltland and MV Hrossey on the Aberdeen to Kirkwall and Lerwick route from 2 - 18 February and 19 - 25 March.
School support staff regularly go home worried about pupils' welfare, safety and emotional state after discussing issues such as grooming, gangs, domestic violence, bullying, loneliness, and sexual abuse with them, according to a survey released by UNISON on Friday 23rd November 2018. The research suggests that across Scotland a third (33%) of school support staff involved in children's welfare go home worried every day having spoken to pupils about the issues that trouble them both inside and outside of school.
Weeks Commencing 12th and 19th November 2018 Energy & Business Services: My colleague Keith Muir and I met up last week with the directors of JGC Engineering Services Ltd to catch up on current and future plans, which have been boosted by the news I shared recently that JGC has been awarded a contract by Siemens Transmission and Distribution relating to the Triton Knoll offshore windfarm project of the east coast of England. Siemens is also the turbine provider for the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm off the Caithness coast.
FORT WILLIAM, Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd., (November, 23rd) sold 75 store cattle, 20 OTM cattle and 757 sheep. Bullocks (32) sold to 244.7p per kilo for a pair of 235kg Limousin crosses from Tigh Airigh, Blarmacfoldach, and £760 gross a 510kg Luing from Scallastle Farm, Isle of Mull.
An independent review into allegations of a bullying culture at NHS Highland will be conducted by John Sturrock QC. Health Secretary Jeane Freeman had previously announced plans for an independent review to look into the allegations that were raised in September.