At a special meeting today (Thursday 9th February 2012), The Highland Council agreed to freeze the Council Tax for a fifth successive year and has confirmed a revenue budget of £602 million for 2012-13. The tax for 2012-13 is: Band A: £775.33; Band B: £904.56; C: £1,033.78; Band D: £1,163; Band E: £1,421.44; Band F: £1,679.89; Band G: £1,938.33; Band H: £2,326.
HI-Scot Credit Union, the Credit Union for the Highlands and Islands, has just enjoyed its busiest start to a year in its five year history. Membership now stands at over 2000 and interest in the Credit Union just continues to grow.
Radical changes are being proposed to the way 600,000 houses in the social rented sector are allocated and managed. These changes would particularly affect the 128,000 households on social housing lists.
Ahead of this week's stage three debate on the Scottish budget Finance Secretary John Swinney confirmed that he met with all opposition parties and would continue to listen to the views put forward by others to secure the best budget for Scotland. With the debate due on Wednesday and at the end of a week in which the Finance Secretary set out the constraints on Scotland's economy as a result of UK economic policy and the alternatives that would be available with the powers of independence Finance Secretary John Swinney said:"We have put forward a budget that promotes economic recovery, protects household budgets and supports jobs and training opportunities for our young people.
A new campaign aimed at encouraging Scots to think about the health effects of regularly drinking above the recommended alcohol guidelines was launched today. The Scottish Government's Alcohol Behaviour Change is this year encouraging women to 'Drop a Glass Size' in 2012.
The Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment Alex Neil, has outlined his intention to further reform public procurement to improve Scottish businesses' access to contract opportunities. Mr Neil said:"I have spent a lot of time in recent months engaging with businesses and others who have concerns about public procurement.
People in the Highlands are invited to find out more about, and have an opportunity to have their say on the development of Planning for Integration of health, education and social care services in the area provided by NHS Highland and The Highland Council. At eight public meetings in February and March, Jan Baird, Planning for Integration, Transitions Director will explain how, from 1 April 2012, staff are being brought together into integrated teams to work with children and families and with people who use community care services.
Week commencing 30th January 2012: Energy: Good news for the local economy this week with confirmation of a further contract award for Subsea 7's Wester facility near Wick. Congratulations to Willie Watt and his team on securing the $100 million contract to fabricate 2 pipelines for BP's Clair Ridge project.
International marine energy developer sets out plans for continued investment in technology development and commercialisation during 2012. Atlantis Resources Corporation will continue its AR1000 tidal turbine testing programme at the National Renewable Energy Centre (Narec) in Blyth, Northumberland.
Seabed-to-surface engineering firm Subsea 7 announced its £63m contract from BP Exploration Operating Company today, safeguarding 100 jobs at the company. The deal is part of the second phase of the Clair Ridge Project, 75km west of Shetland, which is undergoing £4.5bn investment from BP.
2012 marks the 10th Caithness International Science Festival - to celebrate this milesstone, over the weekend of 10 & 11 March 2012, Science O3 will be hosting a Science Fair, comprising talks, demonstrations, displays and workshops. There will be talks by Stuart Munro, Scientific Director of Dynamic Earth Edinburgh, Alison McLure of the Institute of Physics and Ian Rae from the Scottish Association for Marine Science.
The Scottish retail sector grew in the fourth quarter of 2011 and outperformed the sector in Great Britain over the year according to figures released today by Scotland's Chief Statistician. The figures show that the volume of retail sales in Scotland grew by 0.7 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2011 and by 0.7 per cent annually.
Scotland's Chief Medical Officer today reiterated advice for people to guard against the risk of vitamin D deficiency. Sir Harry Burns and Chief Medical Officers from across the UK have sent a joint letter to health professionals, reminding them of the importance of making people at risk of deficiency aware of the importance of getting enough vitamin D and how they can access daily supplements where necessary.
Legislation to complete a programme of property law reform in Scotland was published earlier this month (Jn 2012 The Long Leases (Scotland) Bill will bring an end to ultra-long leases (let for more than 175 years and with more than 100 years to run) by converting them to ownership. The Bill forms part of a programme of property law reform put forward by the Scottish Law Commission.
The Highland Council will be asked to agree an additional £2m for road repairs when it meets next Thursday (9 February 2012). Councillor John Laing, the Chair of TECS Services, said that the extra funding, recommended by the Administration for 2012-13, would be used to address the additional damage to the road network following successive winters when we experienced prolonged periods of very low temperatures, which resulted in damage to roads throughout Scotland.
The Highland Council is being recommended to freeze the Council Tax for a fifth successive year and confirm a budget of £602 million for 2012-13 when it meets on Thursday 9 February 2012. Through its three-year budget setting process, the Council has already identified savings of £18.6 million for 2012-13.
In a first for the UK, a new map detailing Scotland's wild areas is being published today by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). Some of the country's wildest landscapes are already identified and protected if they fall within national parks or national scenic areas.
The Highland Council will be asked next week at its budget setting meeting to inject an additional £650,000 into classroom support in primary schools. The recommendation to the full council on Thursday 9 February comes from a Cross-Party Working Group, which has been reviewing the role of classroom assistants in primary schools over the past year.
Children across Scotland are now benefitting from a programme designed to improve their oral health. The £15m Childsmile nursery, school and practice programmes have now been rolled out across the country, and are being delivered in every health board in Scotland.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts, (February, 1st) sold 1,879 sheep of all classes. Lambs (1,041) averaged £65.18 and sold to £97 gross for Beltex crosses from Caberfeidh, Glenurquhart.