Councils warns employees to beware of bogus phone calls.
The Highland Council has issued a message to its staff advising them not to give out personal Bank details over the phone.
Texas student studies Cromarty dialect
Staff from Am Baile, The Highland Council’s award-winning history and culture website, recently welcomed a fellow heritage enthusiast from the USA.
Highland Lights rounding off a year of highlights!
Highland Lights ~ Solais na Gaidhealtachd, the climax to Highland 2007 in Inverness on Saturday 12 January 2008, promises to be a great night out for all the family.
HMIE follow through inspection of Melvich Primary School
HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) published a report on the inspection of Melvich Primary School in December 2006. Action points were identified as a result of the inspection and HM Inspectors revisited the school in October 2007 to evaluate progress made against the action points and to assess the extent to which the school was continuing to improve the quality of its work.
A96 Corridor Framework Launch
A planning blueprint, which sets out a 30-40-year development plan within the A 96 Corridor between Inverness and Nairn from 2011, was published today (Wednesday) by The Highland Council.
Top Marks All Round for Kingussie Primary School
Kingussie Primary School has received a very positive HMIe report which highlights a range of key strengths at the 157 pupil school.
Final Chance to Shape Building Blueprint for West Highland and Islands Plan
The West Highland and Islands Local Plan - The Highland Council’s principal policy document for deciding on planning applications in Skye and Lochalsh and Lochaber – is published on Friday (21 December) and the public have 12 weeks in which to object or comment.
Community Council Nominations Needed
Residents of both Conon Bridge and Maryburgh have taken swift action to re-establish a Community Council to give their respective communities a voice.
HMIe Report on Drummond School
In an HMIe report on Drummond School, Inverness, a range of strengths were identified.
Working Group Drives Forward Climate Change Agenda
The Highland Council has established a cross-party working group to spearhead the Council’s commitment to tackling climate change.
Highland schools celebrate Christmas with healthy eating choices.
Around 20,000 Highland pupils will celebrate Christmas this month as they sit down to a healthy Christmas lunch.
Action Plan Launched For North Highlands
A three year 50-point action plan for regenerating the Caithness and North Sutherland economy has been agreed by key stakeholders.
Motorists Advised of Rock Maintenance Works in Lochaber
The Highland Council will be carrying out essential rock slope maintenance works early in the new year on two roads in Lochaber.
Gaelic Song Fellow Sings Carols in Germany
Fiona Mackenzie, The Highland Council’s Mairi Mhòr Gaelic song Fellow, based in Dingwall, will be travelling to Bonn, Germany, this weekend to sing Gaelic Carols at the Kulturzentrum Theatre.
Mey lad is top Caithness Critter.
At the last Caithness Critters event of the year, Thomas Simpson, aged 10 from Mey received the annual prize for Best Attendance.
First turf cut for Highland Archive and Registration Centre.
A turf cutting ceremony was held today (Monday 17th December) at the Bught, Inverness to mark the award of a construction contract for The Highland Council’s £10.5 million Highland Archive and Registration Centre which will enable the Highlands to showcase archives that are of world significance in a state of the art building.
Prince's Trust (Clydebank): Quiraing Challenge
Six young people from Clydebank have recently been ‘over the sea to Skye’ on their first Prince’s Trust team challenge.
12 Tips for Christmas Shoppers
Trading Standards Officers of The Highland Council have provided 12 handy tips to help the public avoid the pitfalls of Christmas shopping. They are: -
Administration Confirms Intention to Freeze Council Tax
The Highland Council’s Administration has confirmed its intention to freeze the Council Tax in 2008-9 at the 2007-8 level.
Dingwall Drainage Works Pay Their Way
New flood prevention equipment installed at the Boggan Burn, Blackwells Street, Dingwall, following the floods of October 2006 has passed its first test, according to The Highland Council.
Presentation To Director of Planning and Development
Tributes have been paid to The Highland Council's Director of Planning and Development, John Rennilson, who retires on Friday 21 December after 12 years at the helm of the frontline service.
New beverage carton recycling scheme a first for the Highlands
The Highland Council, in conjunction with Tetra Pak Ltd and the carton industry body ACE UK (Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment), has launched a new beverage carton recycling scheme at its Recycling Centres in Aviemore, Dingwall, Fort William, Nairn and Thurso to give residents the opportunity to recycle even more of their household rubbish.
Council Marks Service of JPs
The Highland Council is holding a series of civic receptions to mark the service to communities of court and signing Justices of the Peace, many of whom are retiring as the result of changes, which took effect this week to lay justice provisions.
Achfary Primary School HMIe Report
In a glowing HMIe report on Achfary Primary School, Sutherland published today (Tuesday 11th December, 2007) inspectors praised the work of the school judging almost all aspects of the work of the school as either good or very good with arrangements for the care and welfare of pupils singled out as excellent.
Council Call for New Flood Management Authority for Scotland
The Highland Council is urging the Scottish Government to streamline the way it deals with flood management and prevention by giving responsibility to one of the existing authorities.
The Highland Council welcomes youth crime funding announcement
The Highland Council has welcomed the announcement today (Monday) by Communities Minister Fergus Ewing, that funding for Youth Crime Intensive Support and Monitoring Services will continue into the new financial year, and will be rolled out across the country.
Council To Consider Fair Trade Status
Highland Councillors will be asked on Thursday to confirm their corporate commitment to Fair Trade by progressing work already underway to gain council-wide Fair Trade status.
Badaguish Centre lodges opened up for Christmas and Hogmanay.
Lodges at an outdoor learning centre at Badaguish in the Cairngorms are now available to the public for holiday Christmas and Hogmanay lets this festive season.
Christmas capers for children at Fort Augustus.
Great Glen Way Rangers are inviting children to join them for some Christmas fun and cheer this weekend on Saturday 15th December from 10.30am to 3.30pm at Fort Augustus Community Hall.
Top Regeneration Award For Alness
The Easter Ross Town of Alness has won a national award organised by the British Urban Regeneration Agency (BURA) for community inspired regeneration.
Stepping up Bid to Revive Nigg Fabrication Yard
Highland Councillors will be asked on Thursday (13 December) to step up the bid to bring the Nigg Fabrication Yard, Easter Ross, back into positive use in the interests of the economic development of the area.
Head Teacher Appointed
A permanent Head Teacher for Strathdearn Primary School, Tomatin has been appointed. She is Mrs Kathleen MacRae from Shawbost, Isle of Lewis, who has been Acting Head Teacher at the school since August 2007.
Swift box building day is success
The Seadrift centre at Dunnet turned into a hive of activity at the weekend when volunteers turned out to build swift nest boxes.
New 50th nature reserve in Scotland welcomed by Minister
Environment Minister Michael Russell today welcomed the creation of the 50th Local Nature Reserve (LNR) in Scotland’s fastest growing city.
Students know their rights in young consumer competition.
Four Fraserburgh pupils are the winners of the North of Scotland Heat Young Consumer of the Year Competition held on Friday 7th December at Highland Council Chambers, in Inverness.
Road safety seminar
The importance of road safety will be highlighted at a seminar next week (Monday 10th December) held in the Golf View Hotel, Nairn.
Exhibition Sets Out River Ness Flood Alleviation Options
The public is being invited to attend an exhibition next week when options for a major flood alleviation scheme for the centre of Inverness will be unveiled.
Sale of Tore history book funds new books for local school.
Sandra Bain, a local Tore resident and former pupil of Tore School, has made a huge contribution to the purchase of new reading and maths resources for Tore Primary.
Highland Rangers help protect rare butterfly habitat.
An extremely rare butterfly found at Ardersier Common on the Moray Firth will have a better chance of survival thanks to works being organised by Countryside Rangers with The Highland Council’s Planning and Development Service.
A Gaelic Christmas in Glasgow
The world’s first Scottish Gaelic Christmas album will be showcased in concert on Monday 10th December in Glasgow.
Culbokie chosen for three-bin recycling trial.
One hundred households in the Black Isle village of Culbokie are being sought to volunteer for a three-bin recycling trial.
New Head Teacher for Portree High School
A former pupil of Portree High School has returned to the school as head teacher.
Permanent Head Teacher For Skye Cluster Schools
A new permanent Head Teacher of the cluster primary schools at Kyle and Kyleakin has been appointed.
Highland Council defers Slackbuie hearing.
Members of The Highland Council’s Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey Planning Applications and Review Committee today (4th December 2007) agreed to defer consideration of a planning application and formal hearing by Elphinstone Land Ltd / ASDA Stores for the development of a superstore, petrol filling station, 5 small retail units and associated works on land at Slackbuie Farm, Inverness.
Pupils Help Open North Coast Road Improvement
Two pupils from Melvich Primary School finished what they started today (Tuesday) when they helped open the upgrading of the A 836 North Coast road, between Melvich – Strathy.
Dingwall and Seaforth Ward Forum to discuss planning issues.
Planning issues will be topic of discussion at the next Dingwall and Seaforth Ward Forum which takes place on the 11th December at 7pm in the Council Offices, Dingwall.
Bualnaluib Primary commended for very good progress.
Following a visit to Bualnaluib Primary School, Aultbea, in September 2007, HM Inspectors of Education have reported that the school has made very good or good progress in all matters highlighted by their previous visits.
Inspectors report praises improvements at Lochaber High School
An HMIe follow-through report on Lochaber High School, Fort William, published today (Tuesday) has praised recent improvements in the school, including the effectiveness of leadership and pupil support arrangements as well as noting significant improvements in attainment at S4.
Highland Gallery and Museum - A vision for the future
The search for a site for the new Highland Gallery and Museum continues with a drop in session for the public on Tuesday 11th December 2007, between 12noon and 7pm at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery’s, Discovery Centre.
Caithness locals urged to help Swifts
Members of the public are being invited to join Highland Council’s Countryside Rangers to build bird boxes for Swifts, at the Seadrift visitor centre, Dunnet this Saturday (8th December).
Council appoints Assistant Chief Executive
The Highland Council has appointed an Assistant Chief Executive to join its Senior Management Team.