News Archive

Expert Bike Mechanic Moves From Clitheroe To Armadale

Simon Wilkinson has taken his experience and skills north to Sutherland and the move could not have come at better time with the North Coast 500 attracting a growing number of cyclists.   Siomn said,"I've been a bike mechanic for 28 years running the family business.  

165 Candidates To Contest 21 Council Multi-member Wards

The elections for the 74 seats on The Highland Council, being held on Thursday 4 May, will involve 165 candidates contesting all of the 21 multi-member wards.   The breakdown of candidates is as follows: - Independent - 59 Labour and Co-operative party - 3 Liberal Democrat Focus Team - 1 Scottish Christian Party "Proclaiming Christ's Lordship" - 1 Scottish Conservative and Unionist – 21 Scottish Green Party – 8 Scottish Labour Party – 15 Scottish Liberal Democrats – 19 Scottish Liberal Democrat Focus Team - 1 Scottish Libertarian Party – 1 Scottish National Party (SNP) – 31 Scottish Socialist Party – 2 UKIP – 1 No description – 2 Councillors are elected using the single transferable vote system so electors will be asked to mark their ballot paper, ranking candidates in preferential order.  

Council Agrees Redesign Board Recommendations

The Highland Council has agreed all the recommendations made by the Redesign Board.   The Board proposes a significant shift to localism.  

Highland Council Funding To Cab Projects

The Highland Council has agreed to extend funding to two CAB projects of up to £50,000.   The Mental Health and Midwifery projects provide money and welfare advice to pregnant mums and those experiencing mental ill health.  

Council To Consider Spending An Extra £1million Capital On Roads

A paper going to the Council meeting on 9 March will propose a £1 million spend of additional capital monies on roads infrastructure.   The Scottish Government, announced on 2 February 2017, an additional Capital Grant for Highland Council of £2.046 million for 2017/18 and a paper to council will ask members to consider whether to allocate £1 million of this to roads.  

Making It Easier To Pay - Automated Telephone Payments Launched

Highland Council has launched the 1st step in automated telephone payments for customers.   From 22/02/2017 customers will be able to contact the Service Centre on the payments line 01349 886605 to make a rent payment and get a rent balance.  

Highland Council Budget - Independent Councillors Protect Vital Services Despite Cuts

The Council's budget gap for 2017/18, the difference between required expenditure and income, is £20.344m.  Budget proposals include increasing the rates of Council Tax by the maximum allowed 3%.  

Council sets out CAT process for communities

Highland Council has published its Community Asset Transfer (CAT) process to help guide communities that wish to request community asset transfers of publicly owned buildings or land.   The Community Empowerment Act (Scotland) 2015 gives community bodies the right to make requests for ownership, lease, management or use of public owned buildings or land whether or not they are available for sale or are deemed surplus to requirements by the owning body.  

Council Seeks To Balance The Budget With Fewer Job Losses

The Administration of The Highland Council is hoping to balance the council's budget with far fewer job losses and cuts to services than previously feared.   Following considerable analysis of potential savings and consultation with staff and opposition groups, the Administration have developed a package of proposals to take to the Council meeting on 16 February for approval.  

Achfary Primary school to close

The Highland Council welcomes the confirmation from the Scottish Government that the Council's decision to close Achfary Primary School has not been called in by Ministers.   The school has been mothballed since the end of session 2011/12, with pupils attending either Scourie or Kinlochbervie Primary Schools.