This overview comes from the Fraser Of Allander Institute. This short blog provides a summary of key points from the Scottish budget on Thursday 14th December 2017.
OFFICIAL FIGURES SHOW MORE PEOPLE AND CARS SAILED ACROSS THE PENTLAND FIRTH FROM CAITHNESS TO ORKNEY IN 2016 FROM GILLS BAY THAN ON ANY OTHER ROUTE. Official figures recently published by Scottish Government 'spending watchdog' body Audit Scotland show that the so-called 'short sea-route' from Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope was the busiest seaway to Orkney across the Pentland Firth in 2016.
Maps of the Council's gritting routes by priority and policy are available online at www.highland.gov.uk/gritting The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
The Commission on Highland Democracy has this week launched its report at the meeting of The Highland Council. The Commission, which was supported in its work by The Highland Council, but is independent, has produced a comprehensive analysis of the state of democratic participation in Highland.
Police Scotland is reminding our communities to be on their guard, in both the actual and virtual worlds, against the risk of online fraud over the festive season. In the Highlands and Islands alone there has unfortunately been a number of incidents targetting individuals and businesses online with scams.
The Highland Council is reassuring people in the region that since Storm Caroline and the arrival of winter weather to the region, the Council's Community Services has been deploying all of its available resources to tackle the condition of Highland Council pavements and roads. The Council's gritting fleet includes 105 gritters, 42 footpath tractors and over 200 staff providing winter maintenance services.
Budget update Council will today consider a potential budget gap of £33.5 million in the next financial year in 2018-19. It will take several days to achieve clarification of the precise settlement to The Highland Council following the Scottish Government's draft budget announcement.
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant this afternoon tackled Nicola Sturgeon on the effects of extreme winter weather and access to health services in remote and rural areas. During First Minister's Questions in Holyrood, Mrs Grant asked what contingencies the Scottish Government had put in place to deal with the effects of extreme winter weather on rural and remote areas.
A new £16 million initiative is to be launched in the Highlands to boost innovation. The Northern Innovation Hub (NIH) will focus on four key industry sectors.
Highland Council has agreed to explore the feasibility of introducing a Universal Basic Income in the Highlands. The idea could see a pilot project to replace benefits with a basic income from the state.
The Highland Council has agreed to set up a tourism working group to take a strategic overview and set priorities to support the success and growth of tourism in the Highlands. The Council has also agreed to identify financial support that allows EventScotland and their partners to bid for future major International events to be hosted in Highland.
More than two thirds of income taxpayers will pay less tax next year on their current income, Finance Secretary Derek Mackay has confirmed as he published proposals to reform income tax in Scotland. The Draft Budget 2018-19 proposes a progressive income tax policy which protects low earning taxpayers through the introduction of a new Starter Rate of tax.
Every home and business will have access to superfast broadband by 2021, as a result of a £600 million investment confirmed today by the Scottish Government. The announcement, made as part of the Scottish Government's 2018-19 draft budget, marks the start of procurement for the Reaching 100% (R100) programme which will deliver fast and reliable internet, with a particular focus on rural and island communities.
Highland Councillors considered Scottish Government's proposals for changes to the management of schools at today's meeting of the Council. The Scottish Government is proposing new legislation on education, which would include a Headteachers Charter, placing even more responsibility and accountability for the running of schools on Headteachers, with other responsibilities passing to a new collaborative organisation covering Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Shetland, Orkney, Western Isles, Argyll and Bute as well as Highland.
The Highland Council today welcomed the proposal by the Scottish Government to establish a national not-for-profit energy company and agreed to make a case for the proposed company to be based in the Highlands. The motion, put forward by Cllr Richard Laird and Cllr Iain Cockburn, sets out the belief that Highland customers do not always experience the benefits of the energy produced in our communities and therefore proposes that the Council engage with the Scottish Government to make the case for the energy company to be based in the Highlands, where much of the energy is produced, and bringing jobs and benefits to the region.
Leader of the Council, Margaret Davidson welcomed the unanimous agreement of Council to an emergency motion tabled today, calling upon the UK Government to ensure a minimum standard of banking services in Highland communities. She said: "These closures have just not been thought through in terms of the impact they will have on many customers and small businesses.
The 2018-19 Draft Budget will protect the NHS and public services, support low earners and unlock Scotland's economic potential, according to Finance Secretary Derek Mackay. Setting out plans to invest an additional £400 million in Scotland’s health service, protect public services, lift the public sector pay cap and provide a package of investment in growing the economy and supporting small businesses, Mr Mackay said the budget would "invest in our public services and support business to thrive".
Local authorities will receive more than £10.5 billion in 2018-19, Finance Secretary Derek Mackay has announced, as he unveiled a range of measures to protect public services and generate economic growth. Mr Mackay said despite a cut of over £200 million to Scotland's block grant by the UK Government, the 2018-19 Draft Budget delivers a fair funding settlement for local authorities.
The newly created Scottish Fiscal Commission published its first major report to coincide with the Scottish Budget today. You can read it at - http://www.fiscalcommission.scot/publications/scotlands-economic-and-fiscal-forecasts/scotlands-economic-and-fiscal-forecasts-december-2017/.