Due to the uncertainty over the retention of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) Board and following discussions at last week's Highland Council meeting, a report went to today's (Wednesday 2 November) Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee so members could discuss the issue. In its original response to the Scottish Government on the Enterprise and Skills Review, the Council stressed the need to retain a regional economic development focus and the report presented today considered the outcomes of the first phase of the Review and how proposals for the implementation of phase 2 could impact on the Highlands, in particular proposals to create a Scottish wide Strategic Board.
Dornoch is the only Scottish finalist in the Great British High Street Awards and local Councillor Jim McGillivray is calling for people to cast their vote to give the Sutherland village a chance of winning. He said: "Across all fourteen categories of the awards, Dornoch is the only Scottish finalist, and we're up against Leominister and Stockton on Tees in the Rising Star category, both of which have much larger populations than we do.
The Highland Council is anticipating it may have to make savings of £47 million to £72 million over the next 3 years, with a budget gap of some £26 million next year (2017-18) The financial environment is very challenging, with an unprecedented degree of uncertainty which makes planning very difficult. There will be a very short timescale to react and provide options for budget savings once the Scottish Government settlement is made known on 15 December.
Creag Riabhach wind farm to generate enough power for 36,000 homes. Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse has today given consent for the construction of a 22 turbine wind farm in the Highlands.
Unemployment rates in Scotland fell by nearly one percentage point over the last quarter to 4.6%, the lowest rate of unemployment since 2008 according to the latest ONS statistics published today. The Labour Market Statistics for June to August 2016 show Scotland continues to outperform the UK on female employment, unemployment and inactivity rates.
The Redesign Board of The Highland Council will recommend keeping Catering, Cleaning and Facilities Management/Janitorial Services (CCFM) in house within the Council. Options for the future management of Catering, Cleaning and Facilities Management/Janitorial Services (CCFM) were considered by the Redesign Board today.
Voluntary organisations and personal licence holders who obtain occasional licences for the sale of alcohol under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 for events they are organising may shortly also require to obtain a public entertainment licence under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 for the same event. Premises with a premises licence or an occasional licence for the sale of alcohol under the 2005 Act have both up till now been exempt from the requirement also to hold a public entertainment licence ( PEL) under the 1982 Act.
Business cases totalling a value of around £48 million have been submitted as part of the City-Region Deal. If approved, the money will be drawn down so that work can start on progressing a number of exciting projects in the Highlands.
The timing of the Scottish Government's 2017-18 Budget has been confirmed to Parliament. Finance Secretary Derek Mackay has told MSPs that, subject to Parliamentary approval, the Draft Budget 2017-18 will be introduced to Parliament on 15th December 2016.
Police Scotland to strengthen community focus and deal with emerging threats. Scotland needs an increasingly resilient, flexible, responsive and locally-focused police service to help keep communities safe.
Scotland's Chief Statistician today published three reports in relation to Pesticide Usage in Scotland. These were: pesticide use on outdoor vegetable crops in 2015, pesticide use in protected edible crops in 2015 and rodenticide use by local authorities in 2015.
Over 5000 North Highland pupils have undertaken a project with the Highland Council's Rangers so far this year. It has been a really busy year in the North Highlands for The Highland Council's Countryside Ranger team.
The Highland Licensing Committee has agreed changes to the activities which are required to have a public entertainment licence so the Highland Council is advising community groups, members of the public, event organisers, charities and businesses to make sure they are aware of the different requirements so not to face the disappointment of having their event or activity cancelled. In particular organisers of public Hogmanay events are being asked to check if their event now falls within the revised definition and, if so, they are being encouraged to submit their applications early.
Wednesday 12th October 2016 is the day to head to the Beachview in Brora and other places on other dates in Highland if you want to find out more about support or training for making choices about Self Directed Support. Self Directed Support is available for adults and children and young people who have been assessed as requiring care or support.
A new safety camera motorcycle which can be used across the country is being launched by The Scottish Safety Camera Programme. The motorcycle will supplement and enhance the mobile fleets as its compact nature will allow it to attend at locations previously unavailable to the current fleet of camera vans.
THE University of the Highlands and Islands has opened new student residences on Inverness Campus. Students are moving into the £6 million facility this week in time for the start of the new academic year.
Calum Maclennan (18) from Alness took up the role of Highland Youth Convener this week and started the job by saying he was looking forward to spending the next 12 months working with the Highland Youth Parliament, Area Youth Forum and Pupil Councils in secondary schools across the Highlands. As the tenth Youth Convener, Calum will be based at High Life Highland's Head Offices in Inverness fulfilling the bursary position until August 2017.
Fishing groups across Scotland are set to benefit from £11.4 million of European funding to help deliver economic growth, Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said today. This funding is part of the first round of the European and Maritime Fisheries Fund and will support 65 projects across the country, enabling investment of up to £48 million in sea fisheries, aquaculture and processing industries.
Parents and carers of primary and secondary school children who are eligible to claim for assistance with school clothing for their children are to benefit from an 11% increase in the grant being made available by The Highland Council. Members of the Highland Council's Resources Committee have agreed to increase the amount of school clothing grant per pupil to £90 for all applications received from 1 April 2016 for the 2016/17 academic year.
The Highland Council Waste Team are encouraging people to give quality unwanted items a new home by donating to a good cause. Passing your stuff on to be used by someone else is a great way to help out family and friends or support a local charity.
