News Archive

Independent Highland Council Administration Increases Support For Additional Needs Pupils

The Highland Council can confirm that it will sustain the current funding for Additional Support Needs in Primary and Secondary Schools for the new school year - 2016/17.   While the Council has taken measures to address a £40m budget gap, it will not require to reduce the funding to schools for children with additional needs.  

Sutherland issues under spotlight next week - 27th May 2016

The Sutherland District Health and Social Care Partnership meets on Friday 27th May, 10am, in The Chamber, Highland Council Offices, Drummuie, Golspie.   Issues to be discussed include an input from Helen Houston of Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust in relation to Community Empowerment and Localism in Sutherland, as well as a presentation from Stephen Pennington of Highland Home Carers.  

Road Maintenance budgets to be devolved to Local Area Committees

The budget for Road Maintenance for 2016-17 is to be distributed between the eight Local Area Committees to enable greater local decision making in line with the Council's localism agenda.   The budget for road maintenance contains four main and distinct activities.  

Highland Council Trading Standards - Non-domestic rates reduction scams warning

Highland Council Trading Standards have warned of - rates reduction - firms who are targeting local businesses.   The Highland Councils Finance Service raised concerns when they began to receive calls from Highland businesses about receiving unsolicited marketing letters.  

Join your Councils fight against fraud. Report it!

The - report it - campaign is a new initiative by The Highland Councils Corporate Fraud Team which is asking residents to help them tackle fraud.  The Fraud Team, which is situated in the Finance Service, was established in August 2015 to detect, investigate and prevent all frauds against the Council, including housing tenancy fraud (the use of Council housing by someone not entitled to occupy that home).  

Stronger Sutherland - Money For Local Groups

Sutherland and Edderton Members of The Highland Council have set aside £15k of funding to let the local communities decide for themselves which projects are needed in their area.  Whether you want to organise a club for young people, a healthy living project, a crime prevention idea, a lunch club for older residents, a community arts project, the only limit is your imagination.  

New bin collection calendars now available on Highland Council website!

New waste and recycling collection calendars for 2016-2018 are now available on The Highland Councils website and at Service Points.  The calendars can be downloaded and printed out from www.highland.gov.uk/bindays Type in your street address and the appropriate calendar will appear.  

Farr Kids Clean Up

Learning to become responsible citizens and helping to care for our local community is the theme for a series of events being undertaken by the children of Farr Primary School in Bettyhill, North Sutherland.   As a launch activity and also part of their Eco-schools focus, the P1-3 class with teacher Mrs Campbell and P4, 5 and 6 class with Mr Wylie undertook a village litter pick on Wednesday 23rd March 2016.  

Proposed closure of Achfary Primary School

The Highland Council is to seek the views of local communities on the future of Achfary Primary School which has been mothballed since the summer of 2012.   Members of the Council's Education, Children and Adult Services Committee have agreed to undertake a public consultation on a proposal to formally close the school.  

Where will the spirit take you?

From Wigtown to Wick, Dundee to Dornoch, or Stranraer to Stornoway, visitors can now embark on a round-trip of Scotland with just one ticket.   The Spirit of Scotland Travelpass, launched by VisitScotland in partnership with ScotRail and CalMac will allow people to travel the length and breadth of the country by land, sea and track for one fixed price.