News Archive

21/11/2014

 
uSwitch Mobile Awards 2014

Last night's annual uSwitch.com Mobile Awards, held in London's Gherkin, revealed the UK's most popular mobile manufacturers, networks and retailers, as voted for by consumers and a judging panel of tech journalists.   People's Choice: - Three wins three out of the 10 awards voted for by consumers, including best pay monthly network and best value for money.  

19/11/2014 : Local Authority

Budget Leader welcomes outstanding response to consultation

A huge number of responses have been received as part of the phase two Budget Consultation.  There were 4 key strands to this phase of the consultation including surveys of the Citizens' Panel, the Highland Communities Panel, ten Focus Groups with hard to reach groups and an online survey as well as general comments which were received.  

18/11/2014

Caithness and Sutherland Local Development Plan events coming to Halkirk, Wick and Tongue

People living and working in Caithness and Sutherland are being encouraged to help influence a new Local Development Plan for the area known as CaSPlan.   Upcoming events include: · Halkirk on 25 November at the Ross Institute, Bridge Street; · Wick on 26 November at the Town Hall, Bridge Street; and · Tongue on 27 November at the Village Hall, Kirkiboll.  

18/11/2014 : Auctioneers

Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 18 November 2014

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (November, 18th) sold 40 prime cattle.  Prime bullocks (10) averaged 213.2p (-8.3p) and sold to 233p per kg for a 575kg Shorthorn cross from Sanquhar Mains, Forres, and £1,483.20 gross for a 720kg Simmental cross from Docharty Farm, Dingwall.  

17/11/2014 : Local Authority

Committee concerns over licensed vehicle standards

Highland Council Licensing Committee is voicing its concern that a small number of licensed taxi and PHC operators are failing to take appropriate steps to ensure their vehicles are safe and meet the standards required.   This follows three hearings at each of the last two Committee meetings, on 14 October and 11 November, following the receipt of reports from Trading Standards.  

14/11/2014 : Advisory / Counseling Services

Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update

Weekly update from CNSRP - week commencing 10th November Energy & Business services: Andritz Hydro Hammerfest has this week confirmed Meygen's order for three of its 1.5MW tidal devices, as part of the first phase of deployment for the tidal site in the Inner Sound of the Pentland Firth.  The project reached its financial closure in September this year, with the news that local company JGC Engineering had secured a major supply contract for the devices.  

14/11/2014 : Local Authority

 
Conference call to work together for a low Carbon Highlands

Over one hundred delegates will be welcomed to The Highland Council's second Carbon CLEVER Conference on Monday 17 November, in Inverness which this year is titled "Working Together for a Low Carbon Highlands".   Highland Council Convener and Conference Chair, Councillor Jimmy Gray said: "The range of speakers and delegates who have signed up to the conference shows real commitment from organisations in Highland to address climate change, and is testament to the vision of Carbon CLEVER.  

14/11/2014 : Advisory / Counseling Services

UK Superfast broadband rollout now one of the fastest in the world

The Government's rollout of superfast broadband has passed more than 1.5 million premises and is now reaching more than 40,000 additional homes and businesses every week.   In the Highlands and Islands more than 30,000 premises can now access a faster and reliable service as a result of the work carried out to date.  

14/11/2014

Output in the Construction Industry, September and Q3 2014

This statistical bulletin includes the latest estimates of output in the construction industry for September and Q3 2014.  Output is defined as the amount charged by construction companies to customers for the value of work (produced during the reporting period) excluding VAT and payments to sub-contractors.  

14/11/2014

Energy Billing Blunders Leave Consumers £280 Million Out of Pocket

- More than three million energy consumers have been overcharged by their supplier in the last year due to billing errors, costing a total of £280 million or £78 each.   -Of the big six suppliers, ScottishPower is the worst offender - more than one in six (16%) of its customers say they were sent an incorrect bill in the past year.  

13/11/2014 : Local Authority

 
Collaboration will lead to new opportunities at Inverness Campus

Building work has begun on a new enterprise and research centre at Inverness Campus.   The building will house a new collaboration between two of the region's key strategic organisations.  

13/11/2014

High Life Highland Libraries Win Quality Award

The work of High Life Highland libraries has been recognised at The Highland Council Quality Awards for delivering the best used and most cost-effective library service in Scotland.   Earlier this year it was announced that HLH libraries had received an impressive 2.15 million visits which took prime position in Scotland for the number of visits to libraries per 1000 of the population.  

13/11/2014 : Auctioneers

Dingwall & Highland Marts - 13 November 2014

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (November, 13th) sold 2,360 store sheep.  Lambs (1,452) averaged £50.32 and sold to £75.50 gross for Texel crosses from Langal, Argyll.  

12/11/2014 : Local Authority

Garden waste kerbside collections stopping for winter

As winter approaches householders are reminded that Garden Waste Collections will cease for a period of 3 months from the end of November.  There will be no brown bin collections in December, January or February.  

12/11/2014 : Local Authority

Thurso and Brora public events for CaSPlan

Members of the public are being invited to an event in Thurso to consider the Main Issues Report for a new Caithness and Sutherland Local Development Plan (CaSPlan).   The first event is in Thurso on 18 November at Caithness Horizons, High Street.  

12/11/2014 : Auctioneers

Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 12 November 2014

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (November, 12th) sold 170 weaned calves and store cattle.  Bullocks (78) averaged 239.2p and sold to 290.3p per kilo for a pen of 248kg Charolais crosses from Bernera Farm, Glenelg, and £970 gross for a 460kg Luing cross from 41 Croick, Halladale.  

11/11/2014 : Advisory / Counseling Services

Research reveals value of Gaelic to businesses and communities in Scotland

The economic and social value of Gaelic as a unique asset for Scotland is the focus of a pioneering study which is published today.   Development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has led a partnership project to research ways in which Gaelic is currently being used to deliver economic and social benefits to businesses, social enterprises and communities, and how its impact can be maximised.  

11/11/2014 : Other Public Services

 
Damen Delivers Tug for Scrabster Harbour

Scrabster Harbour Trust (UK) has taken delivery of a new harbor tug / workboat, a Damen Stan Tug 1606.  The vessel, named Highlanders, will replace its current workboat which was built in 1976.  

11/11/2014 : Marine Services

 
ANDRITZ to supply tidal current turbines to MeyGen

ANDRITZ HYDRO Hammerfest, part of international technology Group ANDRITZ, has received an order from MeyGen Ltd.  to supply three 1.5-megawatt tidal current turbines to the planned tidal array in the Inner Sound of the Pentland Firth, Scotland.  

11/11/2014 : Local Authority

Council helps businesses to bid for public sector contracts

North businesses are being invited by The Highland Council's Procurement team and Business Partners to join them at Mackay's Hotel, Wick on Tuesday 25 and Wednesday 26 November to find out about new opportunities in public sector business.   This is a free advice and information event aims to help interested businesses bid for public contracts, whether they have worked with the Council before or never considered public sector contracts.