News Archive

Creating a Highland Citizens' Panel

The Highland Council has this week written to a random sample of 14,000 Highland households, with the aim of securing agreement from 2,300 volunteers to serve on a Citizens' Panel.   The Panel will be used on an ongoing basis by the Council as one method of consultation with the public.  

Warning On Free Alarm Offers

Highland consumers are being 'cold called' at home with the promise of free household alarm systems.   However, the offer may sound too good to be true and Highland Council Trading Standards Service are warning householders to be on their guard.  

World premiere of "A Moving Story"

A Highland Council Ranger project in Sutherland came to fruition when the red carpet was rolled out for the World premiere of "A Moving Story", a film starring many of the children of the North West Highlands Geopark which was shown at the Screen Machine 2 in Kinlochbervie on Monday (1st February 2010) 72 school children from six primary schools were taken on a 400 million year trip at Knockan Crag NNR by the Highland Council Rangers from Ullapool, Lochinver and Durness in October.  Their "dramatic" output was captured on film where the children imaginatively demonstrated their understanding of the famous Moine Thrust and the characters involved in the "Highland Controversy" - the great scientific debate in 19th century geology about the puzzle of why older rocks came to rest on younger ones which led to Peach and Horne surveying the geology of Assynt.  

MSPs Urged To Back Local Council Aquaculture Planning Powers

The Highland Council has written to Scottish MSPs seeking their support for the retention of aquaculture planning powers by local authorities.   The Council understands that Elaine Murray MSP will table an amendment at Stage 3 of the Marine (Scotland) Bill on Thursday, which seeks to have aquaculture planning included within the remit of Marine Scotland.  

HMIe Report - Kinlochbervie High School

The caring and supportive environment for learning was one of the three particular strengths highlighted by Her Majesty's Inspectors of Education in a report published today on Kinlochbervie High School.   Inspectors reported that in most classes, pupils were motivated and very willing to learn and that relationships between teachers and pupils were positive.  

Follow-through HMIe Inspection of Lairg Primary School

As part of the inspectorate's ongoing strategy for evaluating the educational provision of local authorities, a report is issued today on the inspection by HMIe of the quality of education at Lairg Primary School.   The follow-through report is based on an inspection visit which was carried out in November 2009 and describes the improvements that have been made since the original inspection in 2008.  

Council house rent increase contained to 1.3%

The Highland Council's Housing and Social Work Committee has recommended that the increase in council house rents for 2010-11 should be contained to 1.3% - an average weekly increase of 83p.   The proposed increase, to be approved by The Highland Council on 11 February, would see the average council house rent increasing from £63.92 per week to £64.75 per week (over 48 weekly charges).  

New staff team unveiled by SNH

A new team for Caithness has been created at Scottish Natural Heritage's North Highland Area Office in Golspie.   Tom Kellett is now in charge of the team of Area Officers following a promotion.  

Council Calls For Patience During Wintry Weather

The Highland Council's Convener Councillor Sandy Park is calling for patience when it comes to clearing Highland roads and pavements.   Since the recent wintry conditions have started the Council's entire fleet of 114 road, and 54 pavement gritters and over 200 winter maintenance staff have been working flat out within the Council's gritting policy to keep roads clear.  

Encouraging Tourism At The Ward Forum

There was a full house at the new Burghfield Campus of North Highland College in Dornoch last Monday (5 October 2009).  The East Sutherland and Edderton Ward Forum listened to Scott Armstrong from Visit Scotland and Colin Simpson, Tourism Coordinator from the Council talk about the summer 2009 season, which has been very successful for operators in Sutherland.