Two Awards in One Day - National Recognition of Highland Council's Pre-Application Advice Service The Pre-Application Advice Service for Major Developments, a cross Highland Council and other public agency project led by the Planning and Development Service, received a commendation in the Development Management category at the Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning and a Silver Award in the Service Innovation and Improvement category at the COSLA Awards on March 11th 2011. The Service helps to make the planning process more efficient by encouraging early and effective discussion with developers to better inform their subsequent planning applications.
Convener of The Highland Council, Councillor Sandy Park is warning people in the Highlands not to be duped by unsolicited letters informing them that they are winners of the Euro millions Lottery. Concerned, Councillor Park recently received a letter claiming to be from Michael Maxwell, Vice President of Euro millions Commonwealth of Nations Online Lottery's Head Office in Pall Mall, London advising him that he had won £400,000.
The next meeting of the Highland Biodiversity Forum will take place at Highland Council Chambers, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, at 10.00am on Saturday 2nd April 2011 (tea & coffee will be available from 10am). The purpose of the day is to provide an opportunity for all those involved and interested in Highland's biodiversity to find out more about what is happening locally and at a Highland-wide level.
Projects aiming to improve treatment for people with diabetes are to receive almost £1.2 million from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The funding will support LifeScan Scotland's cutting edge research and development work in Inverness.
Traditional Woodsman's Coppice and Greenwood Skills Course The first ever course to be held in Scotland that carries a nationally recognised qualification in traditional woodland skills (OCN level 2/SVQ2) will be held this April/May in a woodland setting at Helmsdale, Sutherland. This should be a 5day course, with date to be agreed with participants, depending on demand.
The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) contributes £191m every year to the Scottish economy and supports 3,300 full time jobs, according to a new independent economic impact assessment. Scotland's newest university also helps to sustain a further contribution of £202m every year and 2,700 jobs through the further education provision of the 13 academic partners and research institutions in the partnership.
Seven candidates will contest the forthcoming by-election to elect one councillor to serve The Highland Council's Ward 3 - Wick. The candidates are: Laurel Bush, Animaland, 16 Kennedy Terrace, Wick.
This year a new search function will be launched on the Council's website which allows householders with access to the internet to find their 2011 e-recycling collection calendar. The Highland Council's Waste Management Unit will not be delivering kerbside recycling collection calendars in 2011, unless they are making changes to a service.
Investment sought to build more affordable homes Two prominent pension funds are in talks with the Scottish Government about investment in affordable housing in Scotland, it emerged today. Strathclyde Pension Fund and Calmac Pension Fund are amongst the investors with whom the Government is having early discussions about future investment options.
Week commencing 7th March Programme activities: Energy: Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore MP was asked by John Thurso MP during Scottish Questions at Westminster this week to support his calls for Caithness to become one of the UK's first Marine Energy Parks. The coalition Government announced this idea recently, and there is a desire in the area to take the idea forward as a means of further emphasising the Pentland Firth's role as the UK hub of marine energy development.
We have removed a number of property ads that were placed more than one year ago. If property owners that had ads on still have properties for sale they can still place the ads back on the site again FREE of charge.
NB: Deadline to apply 31st March. Training must be completed by 30th June 2011 Skills Development Scotland: http://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/our-services/services-for-employers/encourage-employees-to-develop-new-skills.aspx Flexible Training Opportunities gives businesses with under 150 employees the opportunity to apply for up to £5,000 towards employee training costs.
This message is for all professionally qualified therapists, complimentary therapists, hairdressers, nail technicians, beauticians or any other folk who help the rest of the human race relax, de-stress and look beautiful too! We are just beginning to add the finishing touches to our new treatment room at The Tongue Hotel and are seeking a range of therapists who might be interested in undertaking a regular session to provide their services to our local community and guests. We will provide a newly renovated space (can be set for use with hairdressers back wash and cutting chair or arranged with a full size massage table.
The Highland Council's Housing and Social Work Committee has agreed in principle to build a new five-bed children's residential home in Wick at an estimated cost of £1.2 million. Investigations are under way to identify a suitable site for the home, close to school and amenites, and secure the necessary permissions, subject to further decisions by the Council over funding.
Everybody Online Caithness has been given another great boost by local BT staff. Project Officer, Shona Macdonald, has been working with the local BT management team to resolve one of the main challenges which faces the project, which is gaining volunteers.
The Highland Council has learned lessons from the Caithness Heat and Power Project in Wick, and introduced measures to ensure the corporate failings are not repeated in any future project. A total of 39 actions have been put in place in a response to an internal audit of the Wick-based enterprise and these actions have been acknowledged by external audit and the Accounts Commission.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (March, 8th) sold 60 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (23) averaged 170.2p (+3.0p) and sold to 184p per kg and £1,145.70 gross.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts, (March, 9th) sold 1,830 sheep of all classes. Lambs (701) averaged £58.96 and sold to £89 gross for Texel crosses from Viewhill Croft, Dingwall.
Highland Council to create arms length organisation for Community Learning and Leisure Members of The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport (ECS) Committee have agreed to a major transfer of the management and delivery of Community Learning and Leisure Services to an arms length organisation (ALO). The transfer which will take place in the financial year 2011/12 will save the Council £1 million per year through an ALO.
Business as usual for voluntary sector with The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport Service Service delivery contracts between the voluntary sector and the Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport Service will remain under the management of the Council when its Community Learning and Leisure (CLL) Service transfer to an arms length organisation (ALO). Members of the Council's ECS Committee have agreed to transfer its CLL Services to an ALO in the financial year 2011/12.
