Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill today gave evidence to Holyrood's Justice Committee on proposed reforms to the licensing system. The fee regulations put forward by Mr MacAskill, under the new Licensing Act, set limits that allow licensing boards to fully recover their costs - whilst also preventing them from making a profit.
The following are funds approved up to the last day of the month. Please note that the sums relate to approvals, not payments.
The approvals list for HIE Caithness and Sutherland is in two sections. The first details assistance given to businesses, community groups and other public sector authorities to deliver specific projects.
In an age where technology makes virtually anything downloadable, a group of business trainers in the Highlands and Islands have become some of the first in the UK who are using it to chalk up some powerful results in customer satisfaction. The group uses a hand held device - known as Knowat - to gather real time feedback for 100k Welcomes, a national training initiative designed to equip Scotland's tourist industry to compete in the lucrative worldwide market by offering first-class customer service.
If you are concerned about the rising energy prices, you may be interested in contacting the Caithness Energy Advice Team. The Energy Advice Team's aim is to help people keep warm and pay less for their energy.
Are you a local contractor in the north of Scotland? The North Scotland Industries Group is pleased to invite you to an important event featuring presentations from 2 companies with major and forthcoming business interests in the North of Scotland, and who are keen to meet with local contractors / service providers. NSIG Business Event Pentland Hotel, Thurso Tuesday 5th February - 12.00/14.30 Presentations from Caithness Petroleum and Scottish Water (This event is open to members and non-members) Agenda (times approximate) 12.00 / 12.15 - Arrive - coffee / tea 12.15 / 12.20 - Introduction - Ian Couper, Chief Executive NSIG 12.20 / 12.45 - Presentation from Sheila Campbell-Lloyd, Scottish Water 12.45 / 12.55 - Q&A Session - Scottish Water 12.55 / 13.05 - Short Break 13.05 / 13.30 - Presentation from Peter O'Sullivan - Chief Operating Officer, Caithness Petroleum 13.30 / 13.40 - Q&A Session - Caithness Petroleum 13.40 / 13.45 - Closing remarks - Ian Couper 13.45 / 14.30 - Buffet lunch and networking Attendance - £20 members, £30 non-members To book your place, please contact NSIG before close on 1st February with name(s) of person who will attend.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts, (16th January 2008) sold 4,951 store sheep including the annual sale of 668 cast rams. Lambs (2,734) averaged £32.32 and sold to £57 gross for Beltex cross ewe lambs from Whitebog, Fortrose.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (January, 15th ) sold 76 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (49) averaged 132.9p (-4.1p) and sold to 143p per kg and £957 gross.
Members of The Highland Council's Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey Planning Applications and Review Committee today (15th January 2008) were minded to grant outline planning application by Elphinstone Land Ltd / ASDA Stores for the development of a superstore, petrol filling station, 5 small retail units and associated works on land at Slackbuie Farm, Inverness. The Area Planning & Building Standards Manager, David Polson, is to report back to the next meeting of the Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey Planning Applications and Review Committee with a package of conditions and the terms of developer contributions by legal agreement.
NDA BOSS SEES FUEL PLANT BEING FLATTENED Outgoing NDA chief engineer and nuclear safety director Laurence Williams was at Dounreay to see the shell of the old fuel fabrication plant being razed to the ground. The plant, code-named D1202, was the first of the "atomic factories" built at Dounreay in the 1950s to become operational.
There is a lot a motorist can do to reduce fuel consumption and save money. There are quite a few easy and inexpensive maintenance steps that can be taken to add miles to every gallon and save money.
Highland Lights ~ Solais na Gaidhealtachd, the climax to Highland 2007 in Inverness on Saturday 12 January 2008, promises to be a great night out for all the family. Wrap up warm and take part in this fantastic extravaganza of music, fire and fireworks planned by Inverness to mark the close of Highland 2007, Scotland's year of Highland culture on An t-Seann Bliadhn' Ùr - The Old New Year.
Over the holiday season many Scots will have a bit of a clear out, especially those who have grabbed a bargain in the sales. This inevitably means households have a number of bulky items and bags of rubbish to get rid of.
Plan ahead to help avoid a nightmare move Making life changes such as moving to a bigger dream home or downsizing for a better quality of life are popular New Year resolutions. However, many are put off in carrying out a move as it is one of life's most stressful events.
As you might imagine, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) gets a lot of queries every year. They arrive in their thousands by email, web, and phone.
During his last visit to site Laurence Williams, Health & Safety Director, NDA presented certificates to the latest candidates who have completed their SVQ Level 2 in Nuclear Technology Decommissioning following 9 months of extensive training and assessment verification in D1204. The candidates are required to demonstrate their competence by completing a series of core units which are independently and nationally verified to maintain the required standard.
When a local video production company announced that they were nominated for a major Scottish Wedding Industry award last month little did they know that they would actually be walking away with the pretigious "Voted Outstanding Wedding Supplier (VOWS) award. Video Viewpoint proprietor, Colin Sinclair, along with his wife Susan attended the glitzy award ceremony recently in the Edinburgh Corn Exchange along with other top industry professionals and nominees.
The Highland Council has issued a message to its staff advising them not to give out personal Bank details over the phone. This warning has arisen due to the Council's Finance Service being alerted by employees who said that they had been contacted by telephone from individuals claiming to be from the Council's Payroll and Pensions office asking for personal Bank details to enable outstanding payments to be made.
Plans for one of the UK's biggest cosmetic makers to turn bog myrtle into an income-earning crop have moved a step closer with approved funding of £201,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Boots Company PLC has developed products using the essential oil extracted from bog myrtle, a native plant of the Highlands and Islands.
Businesses across the Highlands and Islands are full of praise for a series of e-tourism workshops that reveal the secrets of how to run a successful online marketing campaign. Organised by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in partnership with the Scottish Tourism Forum and VisitScotland, the workshops show tourism businesses how to use e-marketing and e-commerce to compete more effectively in a busy marketplace.
