What we will do for the economy

| Strengthening the Highlands | What we will do for children and families |
| What we will do for communities and older people |
| What we will do for our environment |
| What we will do to make Highland Council more effective and efficient |

 

  1. We will work with the Scottish Government, the business community, HIE and the third sector to promote sustainable business growth through the development and promotion of business gateway and other Council support.
  2. Work with the Scottish Government, HIE and the private sector to promote national key sectors namely energy, food and drink, life sciences, financial services, tourism and creative industries through engagement in strategy development and a range of initiatives.
  3. We will work with the Scottish Government, local partners and the private sector to enable 6,000 new houses, with appropriate amenities to be built in the Highlands by 2012, with 2,000 of these affordable houses for rent and low cost home ownership of which 600 will be for older people and people with disabilities.
  4. We will complete the business case for committing to a new programme of building over 700 council houses.
  5. Develop Highland tourism - our most significant industry - in partnership with the business sector, VisitScotland, EventScotland and HIE. We will focus on opportunities such as Gaelic, green tourism, events and activities. We will improve the Council’s own services for visitors.
  6. We will recognise and support the importance of the Cairngorm National Park to the Highland environment and economy.
  7. Work with HIE, Scottish Development International and statutory infrastructure providers to make the Highlands one of the most attractive places to do business in Scotland.
  8. We will work with the Scottish Govt, HIE and the private sector to extend and improve the provision and use of high speed broadband services for our businesses and communities.
  9. We will complete the Highland Development Plan and 3 Aquaculture Framework Plans by 2012.
  10. Prepare three new Local Development Plans, which will provide detailed planning guidance and will ensure full community participation in their preparation.
  11. Recognise the world class skills of the workforce at Dounreay and work in partnership with HIE, the Nuclear Decommissioning Agency and the Scottish and UK Governments to safeguard and enhance the social and economic environments of Caithness and North Sutherland during the Dounreay decommissioning.
  12. We will pursue initiatives to support sustainable procurement, including the procurement of local products and services by the Council and others.
  13. We will work with Community Land Scotland, HIE and the Scottish Government to ensure support for communities in the formation of local trust groups to buy, manage or have a stake in land, property or other assets on behalf of their community.
  14. We will work with the Scottish and UK Governments and partners to prevent and reduce poverty by supporting more people towards sustained employment.
  15. We will work with employers, further education colleges, Skills Development Scotland and HIE to increase the training and apprenticeship opportunities across the Highlands and maintain the number employed by the Council at 200 into 2011-12.
  16. Continue to decentralise Council jobs throughout the Highlands and work with partners to identify opportunities for further dispersal of public sector jobs.
  17. We will -
    • a) work with the UHI to explore closer relationships with secondary schools to expand course options for senior pupils and ensure the development of its academic research capability as the basis of economic development.
    • b) We will support the development of a new, high quality Inverness campus as an essential part of the UHI network.
  18. Work with Sabhal Mòr Ostaig - Scotland’s Gaelic College - to develop partnership projects which will support the Council’s objectives for Gaelic.
  19. Continue implementation of the Council’s Memorandum of Understanding with Nova Scotia to ensure collaboration on a range of mutually beneficial language and cultural projects.
  20. Invest £54 million over the next three years to maintain the quality of our road network and carry out improvements to our lifeline roads and bridges.
  21. Work with the bus operators to enhance, develop and promote the bus network in both rural and urban areas, improving the quality, frequency and accessibility of buses.
  22. Promote the development of an integrated transport network.
  23. Implement by 2009 an agreed £6 million programme of traffic management and streetscape improvement measures in Inverness City Centre and consider other arrangements which will reduce traffic congestion and improve the quality of the environment – completed 2009/10.
  24. Recognise the multi-cultural society we live in and welcome migrants and their families settling in our communities and increase English language tuition to assist their integration.
  25. Work through the Highlands and Islands European Partnership and the Scottish and UK Governments to secure the maximum benefit for the Highlands from the European funding programmes for the region and play a full part in key European organisations.

    We will also represent the interests of the Highlands by working with partners, Scottish and UK Governments, to develop our economy.

    We will:
  26. We will work with the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland to deliver key trunk road improvements on the A82, A9, Nairn By Pass and the new trunk link road between the A96 and the A9 which will provide access to the UHI campus site.
  27. We will work with the Scottish Government, Transport Scotland, British Waterways and other key stakeholders to examine and agree solutions for completing the link road between the A9/A96 and the A82 trunk roads, including crossing the River Ness and the Caledonian Canal.
  28. We will work with the Scottish Government, Transport Scotland and other local agencies to promote local improvements to the trunk road network at locations including Berriedale Braes and Torgoyle Bridge.
  29. Work with Highlands and Islands Airports, HIE and partners to attract new and enhanced air services into the Highlands at all airports. We will continue to work to safeguard Inverness to Gatwick flights, campaign to reinstate the Inverness to Heathrow flights and develop Wick Airport.
  30. Work with partners to improve local, national and freight rail services including shorter journey times.
  31. Continue to engage with Scottish Water and others to ensure that lack of infrastructure does not hold up housing and other developments – completed 2009/10.
  32. Press for the UK Government to write off the council’s housing debt and seek the support of the Scottish Government to make the case for debt write off.
  33. We will monitor any further temporary closures of Post Offices in the Highlands and support communities contesting any further reduction in the network to 2012.
  34. Continue to seek a strategic shift in the ownership of marine resources by working with the Scottish Government and pressing the UK Government to conduct a full review of the Crown Estates.