News Archive
30/9/2017
Fish Landings Increase
The value of fish landed by Scottish registered vessels in 2016 increased by 25% in real terms, according to the latest statistics published by the Scottish Government. Driven by an increase in the value of pelagic species, 453,000 tonnes of sea fish and shellfish was landed by Scottish registered vessels, with a value of £557 million.18/9/2017
Sutherland members offer to work with Openreach to find solutions
Members of Sutherland County Committee have expressed their concern about the delays in the roll out of superfast broadband in remote parts of the Highlands. Mr Bruce McClory, Senior Operations Manager from BT Openreach attended the meeting to hear concerns and provide an update.15/9/2017
Worlds First Tidal-powered Hydrogen Generated At EMEC
EMEC has generated green hydrogen gas demonstrating potential for a clean replacement for polluting fuels The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) has produced hydrogen gas using electricity generated from tidal energy in Orkney. This is the first time that hydrogen has been created from tidal energy anywhere in the world.14/9/2017
New Food Fraud Report Shows Almost Nine In Ten Consumers In Scotland Do Not Trust Foreign Food Chains
Food Fraud Report reveals UK food confidence is declining, with cases of food fraud such as the horse meat scandal most to blame - 74% of people believe there is an issue with food fraud in the UK - 33% of consumers are less trusting of food than they were five years ago. - Only 12% have confidence in the European food chain and 3% in the global food chain.14/9/2017
SSSC Celebrates 100,000 Registrants
The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) Register of Social Service Workers has reached a total of 100,000 people (13 September 2017). This milestone means that approximately half the social service workforce which currently has around 200,000 workers is now registered and many more will join them when we open the Register to the 50,000 workers in care at home and housing support services on 2 October 2017.14/9/2017
New £10 Note Issued Today
The new £10 not began to be issued into circulation today. The note is printed on polymer and is the first Bank of England banknote with a tactile feature to help blind and partially sighted users.14/9/2017
Sutherland Considers Local Opportunities In City-region Deal
Members of Sutherland County Committee received an update on the City-Region Deal at their meeting on Wednesday 13 September 2017. Chair of the Sutherland County Committee Councillor Linda Munro said: "The City-Region Deal is to be welcomed and it is a good thing for the Highlands.14/9/2017
Sutherland Committee considers the Councils role in local education governance
Members of the Sutherland County Committee have considered the implications of the Scottish Government's proposals for education governance and have agreed to seek views on the proposals through discussions in their communities and with their local Parent Councils. The Council has agreed to seek to work with Government, including through CoSLA, the Northern Alliance and other fora in an endeavour to influence the proposals in a more positive and constructive direction.14/9/2017
Highland Council Leader Says Promises Broken And Commitments Not Met By Scottish Police Authority
Leader of the Highland Council, Margaret Davidson has responded to a presentation at City of Inverness Area Committee by Police Scotland on their plans for the Inverness Control Room and establishing two National Database Enquiry Units (NDEUs). She said: "Presentations to local committees on revised plans to establish two National Database Enquiry Units cannot be seen as consultation.13/9/2017
Network Rail Recruiting For Advanced Apprenticeship Scheme!
We are now accepting applications to our March 2018 Advanced Apprenticeship Scheme! We are looking to recruit to various locations throughout Scotland, including Helmsdale and Inverness. Closing date 22 September 2017.24/8/2017
First Section Of A9 Dualling Programme To Fully Open
The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, Keith Brown, announced today that the first section of the mammoth A9 dualling programme is set to open in the coming days, on a visit to inspect finishing work on the two year construction for the £35m road between Kincraig and Dalraddy. As fresh aerial footage of the new road was published, Mr Brown highlighted that the new 7.5km section of dual-carriageway will deliver a range of benefits to the public and the Scottish economy.23/8/2017
Investment In Hydraulic Bollards To Help Protect Inverness City Centre Pedestrians
Following on from the introduction of decriminalised parking in Highland, The Highland Council has invested £50k to help protect pedestrians in Inverness city centre. Cllr Allan Henderson, Chair of the Council's Places Committee said: "I am very pleased that the new parking enforcement service has delivered these improvement works funded from the Council's Traffic Management and Control budget.23/8/2017
North Coast Leisure Centre To Join High Life Highland Management Portfolio
Members of The Highland Council's People Committee have agreed to transfer funding from its third sector grants budget to High Life Highland to manage the North Coast Leisure Centre at Bettyhill in Sutherland. Members have agreed that the budget of £39,309 for Tongue and Farr Sports Association (North Coast Leisure Centre, Bettyhill) from the Council's third sector grants budget will be moved to the budget for services commissioned from High Life Highland, and that the service delivery contract with High Life Highland be amended accordingly.17/8/2017
Police Scotland Plough On With Centralisation Despite Council Leaders Plea
Leader expresses disappointment following Police meeting. Leader of the Highland Council Margaret Davidson commented following her meeting with Police Scotland on 16 August 2017, saying: "I am very grateful to ACC Hawkins and other officers for a very candid and useful meeting and for providing the information which we requested.17/8/2017
CORE POLITICS LAUNCHES NEW ONLINE TV SERIES MEET THE MPs - Jame Stone
From what our newest MPs did after winning their seat - to who they'd like to win Love Island - no subject is off limits. Meet the MPs is an ambitious online series which will introduce the colourful new personalities who have recently joined Westminster's green benches following June's General Election.17/8/2017
Workshop focuses on food and drink innovation
Food and drink businesses looking to grow through innovation are encouraged to register for a free workshop which takes place in Inverness on 31 August. Share The event will focus on the new ‘Make Innovation Happen' service which provides a single access point for all innovation support to the Scottish food and drink industry.16/8/2017
Scottish Government Urged To Use New Benefit Power
The Leader of the Highland Council, Margaret Davidson, has urged the Scottish Government to start using devolved powers to mitigate the impact of benefit changes in the Highlands. The call follows a meeting with Inverness MP, Drew Hendry, where she discussed the problems created by the introduction of Universal Credit.16/8/2017
Free public Wi-Fi to be rolled-out across the Highlands
Members have today approved proposals to expand the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal funded free open public Wi-Fi system to 14 towns across the Highland. Towns recommended for the free Wi-Fi programme are Alness, Aviemore, Dingwall, Dornoch, Drumnadrochit, Fort Augustus, Fort William, Invergordon, Nairn, Portree, Tain, Thurso, Ullapool and Wick.16/8/2017
Money released to enable affordable housing schemes in Ardgay and Cromarty
Members of the Highland Council's Places Committee have approved the use of Landbank funding to assist in the development of affordable housing in Highland. The Council holds a Landbank Fund which is used to enable affordable housing to be delivered either through loans and grants to our partner housing organisations, or directly to part fund the provision of new council housing.16/8/2017