News Archive

Council Leader welcomes outcome of Parliament vote to retain HIE Board

Leader of The Highland Council, Margaret Davidson (Independent) has welcomed the outcome of the vote yesterday, 17th January, in the Scottish Parliament, on the motion to reverse the decision to scrap the Board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).   Cllr Davidson said: "This vote sends a strong message to the Scottish Government about their incessant centralising agenda and we would now urge Ministers to reconsider their entire approach.  

Highland Council is ready for winter

The Highland Council's Community Services Committee has confirmed that the local authority if ready for winter with respect to its gritting service of council roads.   Members have been assured that the council has adequate salt stocks for the region which were replenished in September and October; that the authority will have around 60,000 tonnes in stock for the start of the main winter season and that there are no concerns about future provision of deliveries from the council's supplier.  

EU funds guaranteed

Certainty for over £700m of farming, fishing and structural funds projects.   EU funding contracts for structural funds, fisheries and farming projects that are agreed before the UK proposes to leave the EU will be paid in full, the Scottish Government has announced.  

Funding for the fuel poor

More people across the country will be able to keep themselves and their families warm this winter as a result of £10 million funding announced today.   Housing associations and councils will be given a share of £9 million funding to help improve the housing of some of the poorest households and those most in need.  

Tackling serious organised crime

More than £100 million in criminal assets seized.   Significant progress has been made tackling serious organised crime in Scotland as public, private and voluntary sector partners work together to deal with emerging threats from cyber crime, human trafficking and fraud.  

Call for the Highlands and Islands Enterprise board to be retained

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.  

Highland Council Pre-Budget Statement

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.  

Redesign Board makes recommendation for future of janitorial and catering services

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.  

Council highlights new rules on occasional licences and public entertainment licences

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.  

Provisional Budget date confirmed by Scottish Government

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.