The Highland Council is fully backing plans by the Scottish Government to increase fixed penalties for littering and fly-tipping but wants to see more robust action taken against contractors who try to avoid landfill costs by dumping materials indiscriminately. It agrees that the penalty for littering should rise to £80 and the penalty for fly-tipping should increase to £200, penalties which are due to take effect from 1 April, next year.
Funding of over £5 million distributed. The fishing industry and harbours across Scotland have benefitted from the latest package of awards under the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) and the fisheries harbours emergency grant scheme.
The highland Council has received a copy of the Follow Up statutory report on Caithness Heat and Power prepared by Audit Scotland. This Follow Up statutory report is being considered by the Accounts Commission at its meeting on 12th December 2013.
Views sought on vision for £1.3 billion programme. Detailed proposals for the new Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) have been set out by Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead.
Help for early years and childcare as councils receive £10.6 billion. Funding for Scotland's councils will total almost £10.6 billion next year, John Swinney announced today.
Paul Wheelhouse comments on a report from the Committee on Climate Change. Commenting on the Committee on Climate Change’s final advice to the UK Government that there has been no change in the circumstances upon which the fourth carbon budget (2023-2027) was originally set in 2011, Environment and Climate Change Minister Paul Wheelhouse said: “We strongly endorse the Committee on Climate Change view that there is no case for the UK Government to pull back from its 4th carbon budget and we welcome their view that Scotland has made good progress in key sectors such as energy.
Work taken forward to strengthen foundation of poultry industry in Scotland. A plan to support poultry farmers and protect the future of the industry in Scotland will be produced by Christmas, Farming Minister Richard Lochhead has said.
"Having trouble finding Christmas gifts that are as unique and individual as your loved ones? Let Tartan at Heart help you out! Ranging from hair accessories to notice boards, cufflinks to Christmas baubles and wreaths, Tartan at Heart has something for everyone. All items are handmade from the 100% wool tartan from some of the best mills in Scotland and can be personalised including by choice of tartan.
Macdonald's Bakers are offering hampers made to order in time for Christmas. You can choose from their Caithness Christmas slab, Scotch Bun, Cherry cake or any of the Bakery products.
Trading Standards Officers at The Highland Council are reminding businesses to be wary of making donations to telephone cold-callers looking for contributions to seemingly good causes. Reports have come in of Highland businesses being targeted by publishing firms seeking payments for educational publications in return for the business being named as a contributor.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (December, 10th) sold 59 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (19) averaged 232.8p (-1.1p) and sold to 244p per kg and £1,695.00 gross.
Local crofters, caterers, hoteliers and shop owners have attended meetings throughout the West Highlands to discuss buying and selling local food and drink. These meetings are the first in a series taking place throughout the Highlands over the winter and are part of a Think Local Highland Food and Drink project being co-ordinated by Sarah Allen and Davie MacLeod on behalf The Highland Council.
Drop into Eye Candy in Thurso this Christmas and find gifts for those hard to buy for people! Come in and see the latest Kate HH Studio collection. Hand made jewellery fashioned from biscuit, sweet and toffee tins.
LIVE at http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2aukdlZIe7o STARTS at 11.00am Tuesday 10th December 2013 Over 300 people from organisations across civic Scotland will meet in Edinburgh tomorrow to put questions to the Cabinet about Scotland’s Future. The Scottish Government has invited hundreds of people – from large and small businesses, trade unions, the voluntary and public sector, charities and other Scottish organisations to the event at the EICC.
Crucial agriculture support maintained & more funding for environment schemes. Vital rural development support for farmers, including Less Favoured Area support (LFASS), will be protected and funding for agri-environment schemes increased under proposals for the future of Scotland’s farming budgets.
NHS Scotland will use digital technology to improve health, according to Health Secretary Alex Neil as he visits a leading health service in the USA to learn about their online system. Health Secretary Alex Neil is visiting the Veteran Authority during his visit to Washington DC, to hear how they have pioneered the use of online health records.
Scotland’s small businesses are benefiting from a range of policies designed to boost enterprise and help them thrive. Saturday December 7, 2013 saw the launch of Small Business Saturday, an initiative encouraging support for small businesses across the UK, and on one of the busiest shopping days of the year the Scottish Government has outlined the broad range of policy measures that are in place to assist them.
Week commencing 2nd December 2013 Energy & Business Services: Partnership representatives were once again in Aberdeen this week. A CNSRP-sponsored business influencers’ event was held in association with the Scottish Council for Development & Industry (SCDI), and attracted around 70 attendees, with key guest speaker Fergus Ewing MSP, the Scottish Government Minister for Energy, Enterprise & Tourism.
A high-powered team from the Crown Estate visited Gills Harbour this week where it met directors of its Canisbay community-owned port and its (partial) lessee Mr Andrew Banks, managing director of Pentland Ferries Ltd. 'Preliminary discussions' on several matters of mutual interest took place, including a brief introduction to and description of the present 'Coastal Community Fund'.
Today (5 December 2013) 56 schools, 7 Service Points and council offices were closed due to lack of power, bad weather or loss of water. There were issues with the Council’s website and school closures online which are being investigated.