First time homebuyers within The Highland Council area are set to benefit from the introduction of a mortgage guarantee scheme, using the Local Authority Mortgage Scheme model already successfully launched by a number of English councils. The scheme aims to support up to 33 new homebuyers in the current year in getting on to the property ladder.
Police issue warning to disqualified drivers. The Highland and Islands Division continue to receive information and intelligence about drivers who drive illegally when they have been disqualified or do not hold an appropriate licence.
Highland Council offers five new graduate opportunities. Five graduates will soon get the opportunity to conduct a six-month internship with The Highland Council under the pilot ‘Graduate Intern Programme’ developed and led by the Council’s Planning and Development Service.
Work got under way today (Friday 10th May 2013) on the demolition of The Highland Council’s Caithness HQ at Market Place, Wick in readiness for an £8 million redevelopment of the town centre site as modern Council office accommodation. The Council has awarded a contract to Morgan Sindall to carry out the redevelopment of Market Place.
Buyers urged to beware of scams, stick to reputable traders. Scammers are trying to take advantage of the latest wave of large-capacity USB memory sticks by selling fake devices with much lower memory than advertised.
The district heating scheme in Wick is being expanded. Ignis is to supply heat to the Wick Assembly Rooms, which is the largest public performance venue north of Inverness.
Europe Day - EU Open Doors On 9 May 1950, Robert Schuman, the first President of the European Parliamentary Assembly, presented his proposal on the creation of an organised Europe, indispensable to the maintenance of peaceful relations. This proposal, known as the 'Schuman declaration', is considered to be the beginning of the creation of what is now the European Union.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (May, 7th) sold 64 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (44) averaged 233.8p (+1.0p) and sold to 244p per kg and £1,851.50 gross.
A major new development to test cutting edge wind technology in an offshore environment before commercial deployment was given the green light today by Energy Minister Fergus Ewing. Mr Ewing granted consent for an offshore demonstration wind turbine with an installed capacity of up to 7 MW at the Fife Energy Park in Methil.
An independent review of the current systems for making new medicines available across NHS Scotland has been published recently. The review considered every aspect of the introduction of new medicines from national advice to local decision-making to establish whether any improvements can be made.
An agreement signed in South Korea today will see Scotland develop its international reputation as a world leader in the marine energy sector. Finance Secretary John Swinney witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Scottish Development International and Incheon Metropolitan City to encourage the two countries to exchange knowledge, ideas and technologies to develop their marine energy industries.
Leatherjacket Numbers High – SRUC Warns the Hard Winter Has Not Stopped March of the Daddy-long-legs grubs! Leatherjacket populations in many of Scotland’s fields are exceptionally high this spring with a very real risk to spring sown cereal crops and grassland. According to the latest annual survey, carried out by Scotland’s Rural College in west and central Scotland between November last year and April 2013, population densities of crane fly larvae are at their fourth highest level since the survey started 38 years ago.
Latest figures from the annual oil and gas survey of international activity, published today, show a 5.8 per cent increase in total sales from the sector to reach £17.2 billion, with international sales rising by 8.4 per cent in 2011-12, reaching a record 47.6 per cent of total sales. Scottish companies now operate in over 100 markets across the world.
HIE’s 2012-13 end of year results, reviewed by Board members this week, reveal that the agency has met or exceeded its targets for increasing turnover and international sales for supported businesses and social enterprises. It also highlights the delivery of a wide range of ambitious projects which are making a real difference to the region’s economic and social sustainability.
The by-election for a councillor to serve the Landward Caithness Ward (No 4) on The Highland Council has been won by Mrs Gillian Coghill from Halkirk, who will join the Independent Group on the Council Mrs Coghill from Halkirk was one of four candidates, who contested the vacancy, created by the retiral of Robert Coghill in February. She joins Councillors David Bremner (Independent), Willie Mackay (Independent) and Alex MacLeod (Independent Nationalist) in representing Landward Caithness Ward.
Energy/ Business Services: As we continue to see positive interest in Caithness from the energy sector, I met this week with representatives from Highlands & Islands Airports Ltd, HIE and Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd to discuss feedback from recent contact and to agree the key messages we will continue to take to companies in the sector about the value of doing business in the north. Enabling Activities: Continuing work on developing our activities in support of skills this week: I met with local partners to discuss how we might best help people to understand and take advantage of some forthcoming opportunities in the “home-working” sector, where doing a range of skilled work from a home base can be an attractive option.
SCOTTISH AFFAIRS COMMITTEE LAUNCHES NEW INQUIRY INTO THE IMPACT OF THE BEDROOM TAX & OTHER CHANGES TO HOUSING BENEFIT IN SCOTLAND In 2011, the UK’s Coalition Government launched a programme of welfare reform, including reform of the Housing Benefits system. Changes to the housing benefit system announced by the Government include: - The introduction of the Housing Benefit Cap or “bedroom tax” which means a reduction in benefit for anyone with a “spare” bedroom - changes to how the rate of housing benefit is set; - changes to the way the Local Housing Allowance is set; - increasing non-dependent deductions; and - reforms to social housing.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (May, 1st) sold 814 store cattle & 49 OTM cattle. Bullocks (477) averaged 236.8p and sold to 304.1p per kg for a 370kg Limousin cross from Wester Tomloan, Ardclach, and £1,280 gross for a 600kg Charolais cross from Lower Gartally, Lewiston.
Tomorrow (Thursday 2 May 2013) voting begins in the Landward Caithness By-election with polling stations open their doors at 7am and remaining open for people to come and vote until 10pm. The electorate for the Ward is 8,546.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (April, 30th) sold 81 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (45) averaged 232.8p (+8.7p) and sold to 264p per kg and £1,734.60 gross.
