Update on enforcing smoking ban in the Highlands
A report going to The Highland Council’s TEC Services Committee on Thursday (I June) will show that following the introduction of the ban on smoking in enclosed places, the enforcement strategy adopted by the Council, has been effective, and compliance by businesses and customers in Highland has been extremely high.
Door to door consultation with tenants over Housing Transfer
The Highland Council is to go door knocking at the homes of 14,500 tenants soon to advise them of the impending ballot on housing transfer, which will ask them to vote on transferring council houses to the not-for-profit organisation, Highland Housing Association.
Change To Opening Hours At Caithness Recycling Centres
Following a report presented to the Caithness Area TEC Services Committee yesterday (Monday 29 May) on Monday, the opening hours at the recycling centres in Wick and Thurso will be changed to reflect demand and the community skips in Halkirk, Castletown and Lybster will be removed.
New primary school for new Inverness community
Work has begun in the Highlands on the first new primary school to be built for a generation to accommodate a new community. Inshes Primary School, Inverness, will draw pupils from Drakies, Cradlehall and Hilton Primary Schools, freeing space at these schools and meeting the demand expected from the rapidly growing local community.
20mph Restrictions at Skye Schools
A 20mph part-time speed limit is now in operation at Uig Primary School on the Isle of Skye.
Sudden Death of Inverness Councillor
The Highland Councillor for Lochardil, Inverness, Mrs Margaret MacLennan, has died suddenly aged 74.
Council Conducts Weekend of Music
Around 250 young Highland musicians will meet in Inverness this weekend (Friday 2nd – Saturday 3rd June) to take part in selection events for the regional instrumental groups run by The Highland Council’s Instrumental Tuition Service.
Schools Contract Leads to Youth Employment Opportunities
The Highland Council, along with Morrison Construction and Tulloch, have announced that the PPP2 Contract recently signed between the Council and Alpha Schools will lead to increased employment and training opportunities for young people across the Highlands.
Council encourages claims for schools meals and assistance with school clothing
Parents, who think they may be eligible to apply for free school meals and assistance towards the cost of school clothing, are being encouraged to submit claims to The Highland Council’s Education Culture and Sport Service so the support is in place at the start of the new school session in August.
What’s On in Caithness and Sutherland?
Highland Council’s Countryside Rangers are pleased to announce the release of the "What’s On in Caithness and Sutherland" booklet for 2006.
Council Welcomes Investment in New Affordable Housing
The Highland Council has welcomed the Scottish Executive’s announcement that a record £31.5million will be invested in the provision of new affordable housing in the Highlands in this financial year. £10 million of this will be routed through the Community Ownership Programme, with a target of 225 new homes.
Record Investment for New Affordable Homes in Highland
Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm today announced record £31.5 million spending for affordable housing in Highland this year. The investment through Communities Scotland, the Executive’s housing and regeneration agency, will enable 560 new homes to be built for rent or low-cost ownership in the Highland region.
World Cup Comes To Outdoor Capital Of The UK
Tension and excitement is mounting in Fort William, in the Scottish Highlands, as organisers make the final preparations for the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, the most prestigious and extreme competition in the international mountain biking calendar.
Active fun for Highland three-year-olds
Families of Highland three-year-olds will now be offered tips for active games to play to help keep their children happy and healthy.
Police Board Extend Chief Constable’s Contract
Issued on behalf of the Northern Joint Police Board on Wednesday 24 May 2006.The Northern Joint Police Board today (Wednesday) agreed to extend the contract of Chief Constable, Ian Latimer until September 2011.
Youth input at Education, Culture and Sport Committee
Youth groups from throughout the Highlands will be centre-stage at the start of The Highland Council’s Education Culture and Sport Committee tomorrow (Thursday). The meeting starts at 10.30 am and will be held in the Council Chamber at Inverness.
No more excuses for underage sales
Following the recent conviction of two Highland businesses and fines imposed totalling £800, a senior Highland Councillor and the Council’s Chief Trading Standards Officer are urging all businesses throughout Highland to ensure that they have measures in place to prevent any age restricted products being sold to young people and children.
Lifeline bridge replacement scheme gets under way
Work begins this week on the first of two phases of improvements which will remove a 7.5 Tonnes weight restriction on the Letters to Loggie road on Lochbroom-side, near Ullapool.
Public invited to meetings on Community Warden Initiative
Residents in Alness and Invergordon are being invited to attend Public Meetings in order to find out what people think about the Community Warden initiative in their area.
The Sharmanka Travelling Circus - A delightful exhibition of spectacular automata by Eduard Bersudsky
June sees the arrival in the Highlands of a unique opportunity to see The Sharmanka Travelling Circus. Eduard Bersudsky’s “kinemats” are not so much sculptures but performers. Each one in turn springs into life and performs an intricate dance. Myriad little tableau play out their part within the whole structure; mice turn handles, ravens ring their bells, music plays and for a few minutes each sculpture is the centre of attention.
Grantown Primary School Gets Top Marks
Grantown Primary School has gained the highest possible praise from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIe) for the school’s partnership with parents, the School Board and the community as well as the relationships of all involved in creating the environment for learning.
Highland Council Launches Home Composting Scheme
Next week The Highland Council launches its Home Composting scheme in Inverness, Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey offering residents a lifetime’s supply of free compost if they buy a discounted compost bin for their garden for only £10.
Help needed to detect "alien" plants
The Partnership for Rural Inverness and Nairn is asking for help to detect “alien” Giant Hogweed plants that are just starting to appear in Nairnshire, East Inverness and the Black Isle.
Community takes the lead
Residents in Alness and Invergordon are being invited to attend Public Meetings in order to find out what people think about the Community Warden initiative in their area.
"Getting It Right for Every Child" in Highland
Highland’s Joint Committee on Children and Young People has agreed that Highland should be a pathfinding authority for the national implementation of ‘Getting it Right for Every Child’.
Lochaber children put their best foot forward
As part of "Walk to School Week" the children of Ballachulish Primary School have become the first school in Lochaber to take part in a new walking initiative.
Council publishes migrant authors’ book
As part of the national celebrations for Adult Learners’ Week a book of migrant learners’ writing will be launched this week (12noon, Tuesday 23rd May) at Tulloch Castle in Dingwall.
Lochaber drivers urged to "Go Slow"
Motorists in Lochaber are being warned that part time 20mph speed restrictions will be introduced at another school in the area, for children’s safety.
Highland Schools Shortlisted For Education Oscars
Two Highland schools have been shortlisted for this year's education Oscars, highlighting them as examples of excellence.
Meeting The Challenges Of A Growing Highland Population
A 10-point plan of action emerged from the second Population Summit, held in Inverness on Tuesday.
The Big Willow Art Project Event
An exciting art project is now well underway on the Brahan Estate near Marybank in Ross-shire with a team of enthusiastic volunteers, drawn from the membership of the Scottish Basketmakers’ Circle, assisting Patrick Dougherty in building a willow sculpture by a lochan.
Council Welcomes Appeal Ruling Dismissing Plans for Invergordon Water Treatment Plant Upgrade
The Highland Council has warmly welcomed a ruling by Scottish Ministers which confirms the Council’s decision to reject a planning application by Scottish Water Solutions to upgrade the existing waste water treatment plant at Rosskeen, Invergordon.
Council Informs Education and Catering Services About E.coli O157
The Highland Council is writing to all pre-school, early years and nursery groups in Highland to remind managers and proprietors of their responsibilities regarding infection control and food hygiene and E.coli O157.
People invited to have say on proposed changes to mountain railway, states SNH and The Highland Council
Tourists, local people, estates, and organisations are being given the chance to have their say on proposed changes to the Cairngorm Funicular Railway in a major consultation exercise.
Walk to School Week – Highland, 2006
Highland parents and carers are being encouraged to join the adventure of "Walk to School Week" and support this year’s theme of independence from Monday 22nd till Friday 26th May 2006.
Population Summit
The partners of the Highland Wellbeing Alliance are holding a Population Summit on Tuesday (16 May) at Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness. A keynote speaker is Tom McCabe, Scottish Finance Minister who is also responsible for public sector reform.
Highland schools lead parental push
Issued on behalf of the Scottish Executive
Inverness Information Day for Non-English speakers
On Monday 22nd May, people for whom English is not their first language are invited to come to the Town House, Inverness for free information and advice about their local community.
Ross and Cromarty drivers urged to "Go Slow"
Motorists in Ross and Cromarty are being warned that part time 20mph speed restrictions will be introduced at another two schools in the area, for children’s safety.
Ranger explores wildlife from Antarctic to Abriachan
A Countryside Ranger has swapped her snow shoes for walking boots as she leaves a job in the Antarctic to spend the summer season working with The Highland Council’s Planning and Development Service in the Inverness area.
Direct Debit Delay
The Highland Council has written to 46,428 people who pay their Council Tax by Direct Debit to sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused by a six-day delay in collecting the payment due on the first banking day of May ie Tuesday 2 May.
Sunart Hosts Climate Change Conference
Over 60 people opted to spend a brilliant sunny Saturday on 6 May indoors at a conference held in the Sunart Centre, Strontian looking at climate change.
Launch of Scotland’s Biggest Highland Games
The ever-popular City of Inverness Highland Games at the Bught Park Arena promises to be the biggest staged in Scotland this year. Inverness has the honour of becoming the first Highland Games in Scotland to host the Masters World Championships (MWC), the official World Championships for heavies aged over 40. And for the first time, the Inverness Games is being held over two days to host the MWC.
Rationalising Council Accommodation In Dingwall
Following a meeting of the Ross and Cromarty Area Meeting on Monday, Councillors have given the go-ahead for officers to continue with plans to look at the rationalisation of council office accommodation in Dingwall.
Good Response Urged
Residents in Invergordon and Alness are being urged to return their completed survey to The Highland Council in the next week (by Friday 19 May).
Cooking Up A Treat For Young People
Tortilla wraps, cottage pie, health bars and black forest gateau were just some of the appetising dishes pupils of Ullapool High School whipped up during a seven week series of cookery lessons.
Refurbishment of Strathburn House, Gairloch
A proposed £350,000 refurbishment of Strathburn House, Gairloch, has prompted The Highland Council to seek alternative accommodation for the 13 residents during the 35-week period the residential home will need to close.
Highland Wild Encounters - Fiadh-bheatha sa Ghaidhealtachd
For two weeks at the end of May (20th May- 4th June 2006), Highland Council Rangers and RSPB staff will provide unique opportunities to observe Highland Wildlife in Caithness and Sutherland.
Balnain Pupils' Art Exhibition
An art exhibition by Balnain Primary School pupils goes on show this weekend (Saturday 13th May, 11am) in the community library at Glen Urquhart High School in Drumnadrochit.
Council puts the brakes on City drivers
Motorists in Inverness are being warned that part time 20mph speed restrictions will be introduced at another three schools in the area, for children’s safety.
Far Reaching Strategy Agreed in Care Home Review
The Highland Council today (Thursday) agreed a far-reaching strategy for modernising care for older people, including doubling the number of houses for older people over the next five years, increasing home care and agreeing to invite tenders for modern care homes in Inverness, Tain, Muir of Ord, Fort William and Grantown.
Housing Transfer Moves a Stage Closer
Housing transfer in the Highlands moved a stage closer today (Thursday) when The Highland Council agreed to submit its business case to Communities Scotland, the body which regulates social housing.
Council Adopts Highland Renewable Energy Strategy and Planning Guidelines
After a debate this morning, Members of The Highland Council confirmed the decision of the Planning, Development, Europe and Tourism Committee to adopt, with some changes in South East Sutherland and incorporating new information on the ability of the Council to insist about local content in developments, the Highland Renewable Energy Strategy and Planning Guidelines.
Highland Deaf Centre Official Opening
The Highland Deaf Centre was officially opened yesterday (Tuesday) by Councillor Olwyn Macdonald, Vice-Chairman of The Highland Council’s Housing and Social Work Committee.
Bogus Home Working Schemes And Business Opportunities Targeted
The Highland Council’s Trading Standards team recently participated in a nationwide internet sweep examining working from home business opportunities during which over 1000 internet sites were examined and as many as 360 sites were identified as suspicious and requiring further investigation.
Council Accommodation In Dingwall
Highland Councillors will be asked on Monday to consider plans to rationalise council office accommodation in Dingwall.
Work Starts on New Portree High School
Work began today (Tuesday) on the eagerly-awaited £25 million new Portree High School.
Councillor Welcomes Improvement in Reducing Delayed Discharge from Hospital
The total number of patients experiencing a delay in discharge from hospital has been significantly reduced as the result of concerted action by NHS Highland and The Highland Council.
Joint Working Between Highland and Moray Councils
The Highland Council and Moray Council are stepping up joint working to improve on and find more efficient ways of delivering services. Recent meetings have identified a number of areas where shared delivery of services can bring benefits and reduce costs.
Her Majesty’s Inspector of Education Report on Kilmuir Primary School
Kilmuir Primary was inspected in January 2006 as part of a national sample of primary education, covering key aspects of the school’s work at all stages.
Council Visit To Dounreay
Sixteen members and officials of the Highland Council paid a visit to Dounreay on Friday, April 28, to see for themselves the dramatic changes taking place at Dounreay.
Highland Events To Celebrate 50 Years Of The Duke Of Edinburgh’s Award
2006 is an important year for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. It is the 50th Anniversary of the Award’s creation, and to mark the occasion a range of events are planned for the Highlands including a reunion dinner.
Highland School First for Road Safety Figures In Scotland
A primary school in Inverness Area is believed to be the first in Scotland to introduce an innovative road safety measure which aims to reduce the speed of drivers.
Road Closures During Race For Life Event
The Highland Council wishes to warn drivers in Inverness than during this weekends Race For Life event, to be held on Sunday 7 May, temporary road closures will be in place along the route.