Craig Harvey (21) from Wick in the Highlands, has been crowned Scotland’s top Civil Engineering Apprentice of 2013 at the annual SBATC Apprentice of the Year awards. The title was presented to Craig at a special ceremony held on Tuesday 10th December at the Scottish Parliament.
Detailed proposals to realign The Highland Council’s Service management teams into 5 directorates will be presented for approval to the full council meeting on Thursday (19 December). At its last meeting on 24 October, the Council agreed to reduce the number of Services from seven to five, delivering savings of £350,000 per year.
UK Government urged to act quickly to end ‘culture of exploitation’. Enterprise Minister Fergus Ewing today called on the UK Government to bring forward plans to introduce a cap on the cost of payday loans.
DINGWALL, Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd., (December, 11th) sold 109 weaned calves and store cattle, 57 adult head of breeding cattle and 78 OTM cattle. Bullocks (62) sold to 309.1p per kilo for a 220kg Limousin cross from 13 Inverbreakie Drive, Invergordon, and £1,040 gross for a 455kg Charolais cross from 16 Balvaird, Muir of Ord, and a 480kg Saler cross from Druminlochan, Feshiebridge.
The Highland Council is being asked next week to freeze the Council Tax for a seventh successive year and confirm a budget of £563.697 million for 2014-15. The Council Tax bands would remain: Band A: £775.33; Band B: £904.56; Band C: £1,033.78; Band D: £1,163.00; Band E: £1,421.44; Band F: £1,679.89; Band G: £1,938.33; Band H: £2,326.00.
Police Scotland note the sentence issued today at Shetland Sherriff Court of Ralph Halcrow. He pled guilty to being concerned in the supply of heroin.
Online resource to help manage and protect our soils for future generations. A website, which brings together information on one of Scotlands most valuable natural assets, has now gone live.
Thurso Surf are offering gift vouchers this Christmas. If you knwo someone who would like to try a few lessons on surfing then get in touch with Thurso Surf on their web site, Facebook page or email.
The Highland Council is fully backing plans by the Scottish Government to increase fixed penalties for littering and fly-tipping but wants to see more robust action taken against contractors who try to avoid landfill costs by dumping materials indiscriminately. It agrees that the penalty for littering should rise to £80 and the penalty for fly-tipping should increase to £200, penalties which are due to take effect from 1 April, next year.
Funding of over £5 million distributed. The fishing industry and harbours across Scotland have benefitted from the latest package of awards under the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) and the fisheries harbours emergency grant scheme.
The highland Council has received a copy of the Follow Up statutory report on Caithness Heat and Power prepared by Audit Scotland. This Follow Up statutory report is being considered by the Accounts Commission at its meeting on 12th December 2013.
Views sought on vision for £1.3 billion programme. Detailed proposals for the new Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) have been set out by Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead.
Help for early years and childcare as councils receive £10.6 billion. Funding for Scotland's councils will total almost £10.6 billion next year, John Swinney announced today.
Paul Wheelhouse comments on a report from the Committee on Climate Change. Commenting on the Committee on Climate Change’s final advice to the UK Government that there has been no change in the circumstances upon which the fourth carbon budget (2023-2027) was originally set in 2011, Environment and Climate Change Minister Paul Wheelhouse said: “We strongly endorse the Committee on Climate Change view that there is no case for the UK Government to pull back from its 4th carbon budget and we welcome their view that Scotland has made good progress in key sectors such as energy.
Work taken forward to strengthen foundation of poultry industry in Scotland. A plan to support poultry farmers and protect the future of the industry in Scotland will be produced by Christmas, Farming Minister Richard Lochhead has said.
"Having trouble finding Christmas gifts that are as unique and individual as your loved ones? Let Tartan at Heart help you out! Ranging from hair accessories to notice boards, cufflinks to Christmas baubles and wreaths, Tartan at Heart has something for everyone. All items are handmade from the 100% wool tartan from some of the best mills in Scotland and can be personalised including by choice of tartan.
Macdonald's Bakers are offering hampers made to order in time for Christmas. You can choose from their Caithness Christmas slab, Scotch Bun, Cherry cake or any of the Bakery products.
Trading Standards Officers at The Highland Council are reminding businesses to be wary of making donations to telephone cold-callers looking for contributions to seemingly good causes. Reports have come in of Highland businesses being targeted by publishing firms seeking payments for educational publications in return for the business being named as a contributor.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (December, 10th) sold 59 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (19) averaged 232.8p (-1.1p) and sold to 244p per kg and £1,695.00 gross.
Local crofters, caterers, hoteliers and shop owners have attended meetings throughout the West Highlands to discuss buying and selling local food and drink. These meetings are the first in a series taking place throughout the Highlands over the winter and are part of a Think Local Highland Food and Drink project being co-ordinated by Sarah Allen and Davie MacLeod on behalf The Highland Council.
