Since the referendum decision to leave the European Union, The Highland Council has considered and made representations on a number of issues which have potential implications for the Highland economy and Highland communities. EU funding has brought hundreds of millions of pounds of assistance to the region over the past 40 years which has been critical to the region's growth.
Funding for crofter homes. More than £1 million has now been awarded this year to support crofters in some of Scotland's most rural and remote communities to get better housing.
SNP coucillor Ron MacWilliam speaking out after the Highland council Brexit summit held in Inverness. Calls for Highland Council to lead a new ‘Regional Workforce Recruitment Strategy'.
Uplift comes as part of response to independent review. Solicitors and advocates providing people with advice and representation through the legal aid scheme in Scotland will receive a 3% increase in fees.
Week Commencing 26tg November 2018 Energy & Business Services: Following last week's Offshore Wind Week Crown Estate Scotland has just published its report into future licensing rounds for offshore wind leases. http://www.crownestatescotland.com/media-and-notices/news-media-releases-opinion/timescales-and-next-steps-for-new-offshore-wind-leasing-for-scotland at the same time it has been interesting to note that Highland Council's north planning committee this week agreed to raise no objection to the application by Moray West for an offshore windfarm off the Caithness coast.
EDP Renovaveis, Diamond Generating Europe and Engie have secured finance to build the 950MW Moray East offshore wind farm off the coast of Scotland. Project financing agreements have been signed with a syndicate of 16 commercial banks as well as with EKF, Denmark's export credit agency, and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation.
Last week's Resources Committee noted the positive movement in the Council's revenue budget from a projected year end overspend in quarter one of £5m down to £2.2 in quarter two. This has been assisted by concerted effort across services and enhanced control of vacancies and all expenditure.
Following the announcement on 28 November 2018 by Thai Union that they will close at the end of the year their Edinburgh Salmon plant in Dingwall, a multi-agency response to support the staff has commenced. Known as the PACE initiative (Partnership for Continuing Employment) The Highland Council, together with local public sector agencies provide free, impartial advice to staff on dealing with the practical and emotional sides of redundancy, including support to get a new job.
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.