News Archive

Council staff commended for work on storm damage

Work has been completed on clean ups and repairs at 21 locations throughout the Highlands that were affected by the 14/15 December storm in 2012.   Members of The Highland Council’s Transport, Environmental and Community (TEC) Services Committee were updated yesterday on works completed and works still in progress at Portmahomack and Balintore Harbours.  

Householders warned of rogue traders offering tarmacking services

Trading Standards officers of The Highland Council Standards are warning householders to be on their guard if approached at their home and offered tarmacking.   This follows reports being received that rogue traders are operating in the Dornoch area and are informing householders that they are in the area working for The Highland Council and have some tarmac left over.  

Council amend rent arrears policy to assist tenants affected by Bedroom Tax

Highland Councillors have agreed to adopt a “sympathetic ” policy for those Council house tenants affected by the new Bedroom Tax, who unavoidably fall into rent arrears through the loss of housing benefit for under-occupying their homes.   It is estimated that 2,200 Highland Council tenants (16%) are affected by the introduction of the Social Rented Sector Size Criteria Restriction (Bedroom Tax), which sees people who are under-occupying by one bedroom having their benefit reduced by 14% and those under-occupying by more than one room having their benefit reduced by 25%.  

Sutherland Brothers Annual Trade Day - 25th April 2013

Sutherland Brothers Annual Trade Day is being held in Wick Assembly Rooms on Thursday 25th April between 2pm and 8pm.   If you are a business looking to purchase from a local wholesaler why not come along and meet us along with many of our local and national suppliers.  

Event To Prime Highland Firms For Investment

Small firms from across the Highlands will get the lowdown on how to tap into traditional and alternative sources of finance at an event in Inverness later this month.   The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has joined forces with local business experts Highland Opportunity and their Business Gateway service plus MSP, Rhoda Grant, to host a special event -Accessing Business Finance - at the Inverness Caledonian Thistle Stadium on the 29 April.  

How To Make An Award-Winning Application

Practical and useful ideas and time-saving tips to help you make strong applications for Business Awards The Federation of Small Businesses, in association with the Highlands & Islands Tourism Awards, is to pilot a workshop for all businesses in Caithness and Sutherland, knowing that winning awards, or being shortlisted, increases business.   Businesses that win awards do better! Sponsored by Dounreay Communities Fund the event will take place on: Tuesday 16th April at dounreay.com Traill House, 7 Olrig Street, Thurso KW14 7BJ.  

Intermediate Preparing to Export course - Caithness and Sutherland

11 April 2013 Highlands and Islands Enterprise, in partnership with Scottish Development International, is offering an Intermediate Preparing to Export course for companies that are already exporting to 2/3 markets and would like to further develop their export capabilities.   • Course kick-off: 2-day residential on 11th & 12th April 2013 (1 nights accommodation and dinner will be provided) • Course continues on: 4 additional sessions held over 6-8 weeks: 25th April, 9th May, 23rd May and 6th June 2013 Location: The Norseman Hotel, Wick This programme is fully funded by Smart Exporter, an ambitious new international trade skills programme, and is targeted at Scottish companies that are already exporting and wish to develop their export capabilities to grow their business.  

Police catch 120 drivers speeding across Highlands and Islands

Police in the Highlands and Islands took part in a national ACPOS led campaign over the weekend 8 March to 11 March to highlight the dangers which exist on country roads.   A total of 120 drivers were caught speeding.  

Holiday Home Owners Must Sign Up To Pay For Refuse Collections

Council targets Sutherland and Inverness-shire holiday homes avoiding waste collection services payment.   In February this year The Highland Council wrote to the owners of around 600 non-domestic rated (NDR) holiday home properties in all the Inverness and Sutherland areas advising them of their legal obligations under the Environmental Protection Act and associated Duty of Care Regulations to have in place a waste collection contract for dealing with the waste generated from their businesses.  

Council's Reassurance Over Provenance Of School Meals

Staff, parents and pupils in the Highlands are being reassured about the quality and safe consumption of the fresh meat and processed food used in school meals in the Highlands.   Council Catering and Cleaning Manager Norma Murray has written to the head teachers of the Council's 177 primary schools, 29 secondary schools and three special schools in response to the national debate and general concerns surrounding the presence of horsemeat in some UK food products.