Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is stepping up its efforts to ensure that businesses and communities across the region are able to harness the benefits of digital communications, including next generation broadband (NGB). Stuart Robertson, currently the development agency's Head of Digital and Broadband, as well as its Area Manager for Shetland, is to take on a new, dedicated role as Director of Digital Highlands and Islands.
Council budget blog focuses on how the Council can generate income. The latest topic for discussion on The Highland Council's budget consultation blog asks the public for ideas on how the Council can generate income and also for views on whether the Council should charge more for certain Council services.
Double boost for River Ness Flood and Streetscape Scheme The Highland Council's City of Inverness Area Committee has given a double boost to the River Ness Flood Alleviation and Streetscape Scheme. The Committee has approved £1 million towards the cost of the streetscape element of the major works and £250,000 towards the cost of a public art programme to complement the streetscape works.
More consumers in Highland will have a new way to find out how well local food caterers and retailers are performing thanks to more food businesses being covered by the Food Hygiene Information scheme. The Highland Council is one of the 32 Scottish local authorities taking part in the Scheme.
Council Leader encourages communities to apply for Climate Challenge Fund. Five communities in the Highlands have between them received over £420,000 from the 11th round of the Climate Challenge Fund and the Leader of The Highland Council hopes more community groups will be encouraged to come forward with projects that tackle climate change.
The Scottish Government has announced the results of the second round of the Autism Development Fund. As part of a strategic commitment to improve the lives of people with autism spectrum conditions, Cantraybridge College has been awarded £22,000 to deliver an autism-friendly project that aims to improve employability for young people with autism by making workplaces more open to and understanding of people with autism.
WICK HIGH SCHOOL LAUNCHES INNOVATIVE ONLINE REWARDS SCHEME IN SCOTLAND. Wick High School is the first school in Scotland to sign up to Vivo Miles, the award winning online rewards system for secondary school students.
The Highland Licensing Committee is recommending one change to existing taxi fares following an annual review. The proposed change, which would take effect from Monday 21 January next year, is to permit Tariff 2 to be charged from 9.00pm until 7.00am instead of from 10.00pm to 7.00am as at present.
Highland Councillors have agreed to consult with current garage tenants and residents living close to Council garages and garage sites on the number currently vacant and on how to make better use of these areas. The council owns and manages 1,820 individual garages and 904 individual garage sites.
A new name for the gateway to Caithness & North Sutherland - Wick Airport rebranded 'Wick John O' Groats Airport' Wick Airport is to be renamed Wick John O' Groats Airport later today in a bid to promote the airport as the gateway to the UK's most northerly mainland settlement. The move was suggested by the Airport Consultative Committee in order to reflect the status of John O'Groats as a world famous tourist destination and highlight the close proximity of the airport to the village, which is undergoing a multi-million pound transformation.
The lowest paid employees of The Highland Council will benefit from the introduction of a £7.20 an hour wage from April next year. The national UK minimum wage from 1st October is £6.16 per hour (see below for details of age rules and amounts) Members of the Council's Finance, Housing and Resources Committee today agreed to introduce the Scottish Living Wage by applying a living wage supplement to all employees currently paid less than £7.20 per hour to bring them up to £7.20 per hour from 1 April 2013.
The Highlands have been awarded Fairtrade Zone Status by the Fairtrade Foundation. The good news was announced at The Highland Council's Finance Housing and Resources Committee by Council Vice-Convener Councillor Hamish Wood, who has led the Fairtrade campaign over the past two years.
Some mums and mums-to-be in the Highlands are missing out on a "fantastic" scheme which gives them free milk, fruit and vegetables. Healthy Start is a UK Government initiative to improve the health of pregnant women and families on benefits and tax credits.
The new Newtonhill Croft Woodland established by the Forestry Commission for Scotland on the outskirts of Wick is coming together with help from the local community who have played a vital role in shaping the new site. Several projects have recently reached completion and have enhanced the woodland site for enjoyment by the local community.
Scottish Water has launched three new water efficiency videos to raise awareness of water use around the home by our customers. Water is a precious resource and a lot of energy is used by Scottish Water to treat and then pump it to homes.
The Highland Licensing Board has agreed to hold a special meeting on Tuesday 6 November at 2:30pm to consider consultation responses received on its door entry policy for premises with late night opening hours, which requires admission by midnight. A report presented to the Licensing Board today (2 October) said the special meeting will allow more time for members to read and consider all responses and invite a number of parties from each of the "for/against" sides of the argument to make a presentation to the Board on their position.
One of the UK's leading renewable energy developers is holding Meet the Buyer events in Inverness and Thurso for businesses interested in seizing opportunities in the growing sector. RWE npower renewables, an already established developer and operator of both wind farms and hydro electric plants in the region, is hosting the session for the wide range of businesses which could play a part in projects they, and other developers, have in the pipeline for the Highlands and Islands.
Pregnant women will be vaccinated against whooping cough to protect their newborn babies following a rise in cases amongst young infants. The vaccination programme aims to boost the short-term immunity passed on by pregnant women to protect their newborn babies - who normally cannot be vaccinated until they are eight weeks old.
Week Commencing 24th September 2012 Energy: Moray Offshore Renewables Ltd, the consortium of EDP Renewables and Repsol, will be holding public meetings in the north next week to update on its submission to Scottish Government to construct offshore wind projects at three fields (Telford, Stevenson and MacColl) in the outer Moray Firth, just off the coast of Caithness. The events will be at Helmsdale Community Centre on Monday 1st October from 12-8pm and at Mackay's Hotel, Wick, on Tuesday 2nd October from 12-8pm.
