The Care and Repair initiative, which has been in existence since 1989 in Ross and Cromarty and 1994 in Sutherland, has recently achieved a significant milestone of improving the 3,000th house. The initiative, which is managed by local charity, ILM Highland, was started by the then Ross and Cromarty District Council in Applecross.
Householders in three wards across Highland are being urged to take advantage of a Scottish Government programme which could make their homes warmer and help save money on energy bills. The Highland Council has been awarded £490,000 by the Scottish Government to deliver the Universal Home Insulation Scheme (UHIS) in 3 Highland wards - Badenoch & Strathspey; East Sutherland & Edderton; and Skye.
Local people in and around Durness are being invited along to an evening reception hosted by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) at Durness Village Hall on Wednesday 27 October 2010 from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. Scottish Natural Heritage is the Scottish Government's advisor on the management, enjoyment, understanding and sustainable use of Scotland's wildlife, natural habitats and landscape.
The Highland Council's East Sutherland and Edderton Ward Forum heard on Tuesday evening how over £200,000 from the Ward Discretionary Budget has been distributed to projects throughout the Ward. One hundred and fifty five projects, with a total value of over £1.1 million have benefited from the funding since it was created in 2007.
The buildings standards team within The Highland Council's Planning and Development Service has been highly commended for the way it has significantly improved the service it provides to customers. The team received the praise of the Planning Environment and Development (PED) Committee for the outcome of a re-audit of the service by the Scottish Government's Building Standards Division.
THE HIGHLAND COUNCIL COMHAIRLE NA GÀIDHEALTACHD TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (SCOTLAND) ACT 1997 AS AMENDED HIGHLAND wide LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN PLANA LEASACHAIDH IONADAIL NA GÀIDHEALTACHD GU LÈIR PUBLICATION OF PROPOSED LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN The Plan & Where to Read It The Highland Council has prepared a Highland wide Local Development Plan. The current "Proposed Plan Draft" (hereinafter referred to as "the Plan") can be inspected free of charge during normal opening hours at the following locations: ï‚· Every public library within the Highland Council area (a full list is available via: http://www.highland.gov.uk/leisureandtourism/libraries/ ) ï‚· Every Highland Council Planning and Building Standards office (a full list is available via http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourenvironment/planning/planning-and-development-contacts.htm ) ï‚· Every Highland Council Service Point within the Highland Council area (a full list is available via: http://www.highland.gov.uk/livinghere/servicepointnetwork/localservicepoint.htm The Plan will also be available on all mobile libraries and can be viewed online at: http://www.highland.gov.uk/developmentplans Content & Purpose The Plan represents the Council's land use vision, strategy and principal, general policies for the whole Highland Council area except that part within the Cairngorms National Park Authority boundary.
Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail (The Royal National Mòd), Scotland's premier festival celebrating Gaelic linguistic and cultural heritage, which is taking place in Caithness this October for the first time in its 118 year history, is inviting Gaelic and local exhibitors to showcase their products and services at The Mòd Showcase. The nine day celebration of Gaelic music, dance, drama, arts and literature, running from Friday 8th until Saturday 16th October, is set to attract thousands of spectators to the Caithness towns of Wick and Thurso, two of the most northerly points of mainland Scotland.
Highland Councillors are being asked to adopt a zero tolerance approach to enforcement of littering and fly-tipping. A report to the TEC Services Committee on Thursday recommends that: _ • enforcement officers should target Inverness city and other main towns on a regular basis; • the zero tolerance approach to enforcement should be supported by publicity in the local media to advertise the city/towns where enforcement is being targeted; • the numbers of fixed penalty notices issued should be published; • the number of staff authorised to issue Fixed Penalty Notices should be extended to include Community Wardens from Housing and Property Services; • TEC Services and the Housing and Property Service should continue to work with the Police and other agencies to promote a litter free Highlands; and • the effectiveness of the zero tolerance litter enforcement campaign should be monitored through the number of Fixed Penalty Notices issued.
Get ready to dig deeper this October with Highland Archaeology Festival 2010. This two-week festival which celebrates the archaeology, history, landscape and culture of the Highlands, features a packed programme of guided walks, family activities, self-guided trails, evening lectures, special exhibitions, competitions and conferences.
From Monday 4 October, The Highland Council is bringing itself in line with most local councils in Scotland by introducing a flat rate weekly charge for day care services. The £5 per week charge incorporates the existing transport charge of 50p per journey to a day care centre.
The Highland Council's Transport Environmental and Community Services Committee has agreed to roll out alternate weekly waste collections to communities across the Highlands as the Council endeavours to be more efficient in the way it delivers services and save up to £500,000 in the process. The challenging timetable of implementations - between April, next year, and April 2012 - is: - • Lochaber and Caithness - April 2011 • Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey - July 2011 • Ross and Cromarty - October 2011 • Inverness - January 2012 • Wester Ross and North West Sutherland - April 2012 • East and Central Sutherland - April 2012 Councillor John Laing, Chairman of the TEC Services Committee, said: "During our budget consultation earlier this year, we received a very clear signal from the public that they want us to increase recycling and be more efficient in the way we deliver this essential service.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise has commissioned a study to investigate the nature and impact of business tourism on the economy of Caithness and North Sutherland. The report will assess the numbers of rooms currently being booked by business travellers and the trends anticipated in future from major demand generators like nuclear decommissioning and the emerging renewable energy sector.
Members of the public are being invited by The Highland Council and Community Care Assynt to an Open Day at the Assynt Centre in Lochinver on Thursday 26 August. The aim of the Open Day - which is from 11am to 3pm - is to celebrate both the centre's past and its exciting future under the auspices of Community Care Assynt.
The Highland Council is seeking Euro funding to proceed with three lifeline road projects. They are the: - • A890 Strathcarron to Balnacra, West Ross • A861 Drynie Hill, north of Acharacle, Ardnamurchan • A838 North approach to Laxford Bridge, North-West Sutherland The Council's capital programme has allocated £750,000 each year against lifeline roads in each of the next three years, and this is based on attracting grant from the European Regional Development Fund.
Ever wondered what goes on behind closed doors? Every September, the national Doors Open Days offers free access to landmark buildings, private homes and usually private work spaces that the public never normally get a chance to see. The Highland programme is co-ordinated by The Highland Council and Inverness City Heritage Trust.
A taste of country estate living for the guests visiting one of North West Sutherland's finest houses is providing more than the usual tourism benefits for the local area. This is because the owners of the 12 bedroom Glencanisp Lodge are the Assynt community itself.
The Highland Council's Finance and Trading Standards teams have been alerted to the fact that Highland residents are currently being targeted by a Council Tax rebate scam. The "phishing" scam involves attempts by callers to obtain bank details over the phone, on the false promise of being entitled to receive a rebate on their Council Tax payments.
Helmsdale Community Centre will host the East Sutherland and Edderton Ward Forum at 7.30pm on Tuesday (10 August). Donellen Mackenzie and Bob Silverwood of The Highland Council Social Work Service will be leading discussions regarding changes to community care provided through Highland Community Care Partnership.
Former Highland Councillor Mrs Rita Finlayson from Helmsdale has died after a long illness. She passed away on Sunday at the Lawson Memorial Hospital, Golspie.
A Council spokesman confirmed that officers from the Council's Environmental Health team had visited the farm at Auldearn yesterday (Tuesday) to interview the farmer who owned 2 of the bulls born in the UK from embryos from a cloned cow. The visit was to confirm information on the bulls and their offspring.
