The Highland Council has released for consultation new Biodiversity Planning Guidance that will support the implementation of cross-cutting biodiversity policies as set out in National Planning Framework 4. The Guidance aims to provide clarity and certainty for developers on what information is required to demonstrate the conservation, restoration, and enhancement of biodiversity and will enable the Planning Authority to take a consistent, proportionate, and balanced approach to decision making.
The UK is to lead a new Maritime Capability Coalition alongside Norway, with Defence Secretary Grant Shapps confirming the transfer of two Royal Navy minehunter ships to the Ukrainian Navy. The UK will lead a new Maritime Capability Coalition alongside Norway, delivering ships and vehicles to strengthen Ukraine's ability to operate at sea.
48% professionals aren't planning on attending their work's Christmas party this year. Almost two fifths state it being ‘too much effort’ this year.
Christmas letter will remind families to use money on card. Hundreds of people who get the Scottish Government's Best Start Foods benefit will receive a pre-Christmas reminder urging them to spend large balances which have built up on their cards.
Government announces new unit to clamp down on companies evading sanctions. Minister Ghani announces new Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation to strengthen enforcement and clamp down on companies dodging Russian sanctions Unit will increase power to issue penalties for trade sanctions breaches and refer cases for criminal enforcement to HMRC Goods imports from Russia already down 94% in the year following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Two businesses which were bought by the local community in Dunbar after receiving Scottish Government funding have been praised for their entrepreneurial initiative by First Minister Humza Yousaf, who is in East Lothian for the 52nd Travelling Cabinet. The First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Mairi Gougeon heard how local residents launched successful community shares offers to raise finance for the grocery store.
IMPACT30 is led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and is delivered by business skills training consultancy, Skillfluence. The fully funded business growth programme for people aged 35 and under who are in key decision-making roles, offers bespoke support from industry specialists.
Orangutans, leopards, jaguars and other endangered species protected with new legislation to safeguard forests. Palm oil, cocoa, beef, leather and soy are to be included in new legislation aimed at helping ensure the products we buy do not harm the world's forests.
UK fishing fleet to have access to 750,000 tonnes of fishing opportunities in 2024 and total value of fishing opportunities increases from £900 million in 2023. The UK fishing industry will have access to 420,000 tonnes of fishing opportunities worth up to £700 million after agreements were reached with the EU and Norway, the UK Government has announced.
UK scales up support for sustainable, climate-resilient farming practices, and improved access to clean water in climate-vulnerable countries. UK support will help farmers around the world adopt sustainable, climate-resilient practices.
Negotiations with the EU and Norway on fishing opportunities for 2024 have now concluded. These agreements set out Total Allowable Catch (TAC) limits and management measures for jointly managed stocks.
Highland Council members will next week consider a report which looks at ways in which the local authority can leverage funding to deliver renewable energy projects to deliver net zero, generate income and maximise opportunities for the Highlands to benefit as a whole. Alongside this, Councillors will also be asked to look at measures relating to the development of complimentary approaches relating to community benefit and community wealth building.
Members of Highland Council will next week consider innovative approaches to generate additional income to maintain public services. The Council is facing a £62m budget deficit and officers presented income generation options to Redesign Board last week which agreed to recommend these to members at next week's meeting of Highland Council.
haidh tachartas dreuchdan Gàidhlig Siuthad! a chumail air a' mhìos a chaidh seachad (9 Samhain 2023) aig Cùirt an Easbaig ann an Inbhir Nis agus bha sgoilearan an làthair bho ochd àrd-sgoiltean air feadh na Gàidhealtachd. Chuir buill Comataidh Gàidhlig Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd fàilte air an naidheachd gun deach Siuthad! a chumail aghaidh-ri-aghaidh a-rithist airson a’ chiad uair bho 2019.
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant is perplexed at the newly published National Transport Strategy Delivery Plan by Transport Scotland especially where it states that they expect to update Parliament on the A9 completion timetable in Autumn 2023. The MSP was yesterday assured by the Scottish Government through a Written Parliamentary Question that the season of Autumn "is not defined beyond commonly understood" terms however, today the Scottish Government have contradicted themselves and said that they will update the Scottish Parliament on the A9 programme for completion in Autumn 2023.
Members of the Highland Council's Corporate Resources Committee, who met yesterday, Thursday, 7 December 2023, agreed a Non-Domestic Rates Empty Property Relief Scheme, which will initially commence from 1 April 2024. Within 3 years the reductions will be gone.
Highland Council's catering team are celebrating after the council renewed its Food for Life Served Here Bronze award for an incredible 14th time. The council, which first received the award for its primary school meals back in 2009, is now serving over 11,611 nutritious, sustainable and locally-sourced Food for Life meals in its 161 primary schools and 166 nurseries every day.
Ukrainian people seeking refuge from the war will be supported to access longer term housing, under plans to further reduce the number of displaced people in Scotland living in temporary welcome accommodation. From Thursday 07 December, Ukrainians arriving in Scotland for the first time through the Super Sponsor scheme and entering welcome accommodation will be supported by local authorities to identify two longer term accommodation options.
Artificial intelligence is having a profound effect on economies and society. From production, to services, to healthcare, to pharmaceuticals; to education, to research, to data analysis; to software, to search engines; to planning, to communication, to legal services, to social media - to our everyday lives, AI is transforming the way humans interact.
The current TV licence fee of £159 will increase by £10.50 - a rise of 6.6% - the government has announced. It is less the £1 per month increase.
