News Archive

£1 Million For School Libraries Over 3 Year

The Scottish Government is allocating £1 million to improve school libraries over the next three years.   Launched today by the Deputy First Minister, the School Library Improvement Fund will be open for education authorities to apply for funding on behalf of school libraries in their area.  

Sutherland members offer to work with Openreach to find solutions

Members of Sutherland County Committee have expressed their concern about the delays in the roll out of superfast broadband in remote parts of the Highlands.   Mr Bruce McClory, Senior Operations Manager from BT Openreach attended the meeting to hear concerns and provide an update.  

New Food Fraud Report Shows Almost Nine In Ten Consumers In Scotland Do Not Trust Foreign Food Chains

Food Fraud Report reveals UK food confidence is declining, with cases of food fraud such as the horse meat scandal most to blame - 74% of people believe there is an issue with food fraud in the UK - 33% of consumers are less trusting of food than they were five years ago.   - Only 12% have confidence in the European food chain and 3% in the global food chain.  

New £10 Note Issued Today

The new £10 not began to be issued into circulation today.   The note is printed on polymer and is the first Bank of England banknote with a tactile feature to help blind and partially sighted users.  

Sutherland Committee considers the Councils role in local education governance

Members of the Sutherland County Committee have considered the implications of the Scottish Government's proposals for education governance and have agreed to seek views on the proposals through discussions in their communities and with their local Parent Councils.   The Council has agreed to seek to work with Government, including through CoSLA, the Northern Alliance and other fora in an endeavour to influence the proposals in a more positive and constructive direction.  

Highland Council Leader Says Promises Broken And Commitments Not Met By Scottish Police Authority

Leader of the Highland Council, Margaret Davidson has responded to a presentation at City of Inverness Area Committee by Police Scotland on their plans for the Inverness Control Room and establishing two National Database Enquiry Units (NDEUs).   She said: "Presentations to local committees on revised plans to establish two National Database Enquiry Units cannot be seen as consultation.  

First Section Of A9 Dualling Programme To Fully Open

The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, Keith Brown, announced today that the first section of the mammoth A9 dualling programme is set to open in the coming days, on a visit to inspect finishing work on the two year construction for the £35m road between Kincraig and Dalraddy.   As fresh aerial footage of the new road was published, Mr Brown highlighted that the new 7.5km section of dual-carriageway will deliver a range of benefits to the public and the Scottish economy.  

North Coast Leisure Centre To Join High Life Highland Management Portfolio

Members of The Highland Council's People Committee have agreed to transfer funding from its third sector grants budget to High Life Highland to manage the North Coast Leisure Centre at Bettyhill in Sutherland.   Members have agreed that the budget of £39,309 for Tongue and Farr Sports Association (North Coast Leisure Centre, Bettyhill) from the Council's third sector grants budget will be moved to the budget for services commissioned from High Life Highland, and that the service delivery contract with High Life Highland be amended accordingly.  

CORE POLITICS LAUNCHES NEW ONLINE TV SERIES MEET THE MPs - Jame Stone

From what our newest MPs did after winning their seat - to who they'd like to win Love Island - no subject is off limits.   Meet the MPs is an ambitious online series which will introduce the colourful new personalities who have recently joined Westminster's green benches following June's General Election.  

Scottish Government Urged To Use New Benefit Power

The Leader of the Highland Council, Margaret Davidson, has urged the Scottish Government to start using devolved powers to mitigate the impact of benefit changes in the Highlands.  The call follows a meeting with Inverness MP, Drew Hendry, where she discussed the problems created by the introduction of Universal Credit.