The Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS) provided record relief to almost 104,000 recipients in 2017-18. The increased number of recipients benefitting from total relief under the scheme, which removes or reduces their rates bills rose to £226 million - an increase of £46 million from £180 million from last year.
An Official Statistics Publication for Scotland. The Scottish Welfare Fund continues to help Scottish households in need.
Scotland's Chief Statistician today published three reports in relation to Pesticide Usage in Scotland. These were: pesticide use on arable crops and potato stores in 2016, pesticide use on soft fruit crops in 2016 and rodenticides on arable farms 2016.
Scotland's Chief Statistician today published statistics on Higher Education Student Support in Scotland 2016-17. The figures show that the number of students supported and the amount of support provided by the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) for those studying in Higher Education increased in the 2016-17 academic session.
Issues including digital connectivity, Brexit and the integration of health and social care will be discussed at the Convention of the Highland and Islands (CoHI) in Oban on Monday. Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing will also outline plans to begin work to identify Scotland's first Aquaculture Innovation Sites.
Members of The Highland Council have agreed that the Council will examine and report back on the feasibility of applying under the provisions of the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016 for a Rent Pressure Zone for Inverness and for any other community in the Highlands facing similarly expensive housing rents. Members approved a motion presented by Cllr Richard Laird (Inverness Central Ward) and Cllr Ron MacWilliam (Inverness Ness-side Ward) which stated: "The Highland Council notes the unprecedented high rents for private sector housing in Inverness and many other areas in the Highlands and the pressure this places on both the Highland Housing Register and those individuals and families seeking a home in the city." Council Housing Officers will be asked to explore and examine the feasibility of applying for Rent Pressure Zones - if required - and to report back to a future meeting of the Council.
The Highland Council has agreed to work with CoSLA and other partners to undertake research on options to enhance local control of taxation. Leader of the Council, Margaret Davidson, who put forward the motion with Councillor Jimmy Gray, said: "Over the past 50 years the proportion of local taxation in Local Authorities has decreased from around 50% to some 18%.
Redesign of the Council means it will be more open-minded to new ways of delivering services, more commercially-minded to raise income to sustain services and jobs across the region and more community-minded to involve more people in Council decisions and community-run services. One way of being more open-minded is to undertake reviews of services to identify where blockages and delays occur, to cut out waste and improve services for people using them.
The job market has never been more competitive, so it's never been more important to give yourself that extra edge. ForexBonuses reveals the second languages that it's most beneficial to learn based on employment figures and availability.
Motorists are being advised of a partial road closure of the B871 Syre - Kinbrace road in Sutherland, North West Highland. A 9km stretch of the B871 is closed for an estimated period of 6 weeks to enable contractors to undertake emergency repair works to the partially collapsed Lonigall Bridge which has made the road impassable.
MSP David Stewart, Labour's Environment and Climate Change Shadow Minister, highlighted Highland's record of achievement in hydro power at an energy debate, calling for an expansion to meet climate change targets. At the Scottish Government’s Hydro Nation debate in Parliament this afternoon (Thursday), Mr Stewart said hydro power was a key renewable that helped reduce reliance on imported gas and coal while increasing diversity of generation mix.
Late last night the Highland Council ‘s Roads Inspector received a phone call advising him that that a 15 metre section of the road at Soldiers Rock on the Knoydart peninsula had collapsed. This 4.8 mile single track road between Scottas and Airor is a lifeline road for the communities beyond the slip which include Airor, Doune and Sandaig.
"The forward look of the Council is one of ambition, improving outcomes and working across Communities". This is the view of the external audit report on The Highland Council.
More than 800,000 premises in Scotland can now benefit from fibre broadband, following 34,000 connections in the last six months. The £428 million Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) scheme is on track to meet its target of 95% by the end of this year.
Work to establish a Scottish National Investment Bank takes a step forward today with the launch by First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon of a public consultation on the details of the Bank's operation. Addressing an international conference on inclusive growth in Glasgow, the First Minister set out a number of steps the Scottish Government is taking to reduce inequalities and ensure that all parts of society benefit from economic prosperity.
Scotland's council tax base increased to 1.967 million Band D equivalents in September 2017. This figure, calculated after taking account of Council Tax Reduction, is much higher than that for 2016, due primarily to the increases in the multipliers in Bands E to H, which took effect from April 2017.
The Council has a legal duty to provide certain advice and information services on debt, welfare and housing for local residents. Employment rights advice is also provided but there is no statutory duty on the Council to provide this.
Highland Council is fully supportive of the aim to close the poverty-related educational attainment gap between children and young people from the least and most disadvantaged communities. In Highland, 1537 Primary and 1006 Secondary School children live in the most deprived data zones.
The above panel have been working over the last few years to build a website which would benefit people living in and visiting Caithness, in relation to visiting/using "accessible" services for people with disabilities. http://www.caithnessaccesspanel.co.uk/ We are now at the stage that we need information of local businesses that provide services to the public to input onto our website.
Simon Henrick, Head of News at Green Flag, commented: "Statistics show that the price of petrol has crept up by over 3p per litre in the past three months. This means owners of cars with 55 litre tanks are spending £1.65 more every time they fill up than they were in July.