Free offer should ring alarm bells
Highland Council Trading Standards Service is warning householders to be on their guard if they receive a phone call informing them that they have won a free house alarm.
Additional management support in Social Work
The Highland Council has agreed to boost its management team in Social Work on a temporary basis to ensure robust implementation of the Service’s budget recovery plan and to progress the joint working with NHS Highland in relation to the transformational change required in Community Care (Getting it right for older people).
Laxford Bridge re-opens to all traffic
Motorists are being advised that Laxford Bridge on the A838 Lairg – Durness Road has this morning re-opened to all traffic following repairs to major structural damage caused by a road accident on Wednesday 30 September.
Options for two new Highland primary school projects proposed
Councillor Bill Fernie, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Education Culture and Sport Committee has confirmed that a report will be considered by the Committee on Thursday 12 November recommending options for two new school projects in the Highlands, which could attract Scottish Government funding.
Highland households are highly satisfied with Council services
People in the Highlands find it easy to contact The Highland Council and are highly satisfied with Council Services according to the findings of an independent report.
Inspection works, Longman Gypsy/Travellers’ site, Inverness
The Highland Council has today (Thursday 29th October, 2009) informed residents located on reclaimed land at The Highland Council’s Gypsy/Travellers’ site at Stadium Road, Inverness that it intends to examine the site to determine whether there are any associated risks to health or the environment. If necessary, appropriate remediation will be carried out.
Public sector contract opportunities, £3,000 and over
The Highland Council is encouraging local suppliers to come along to the last four of a series of 10 Procurement road shows. Entitled “Win More Business!” the events are aimed at helping local suppliers to develop their skills in tendering for public sector contracts.
Development of UHI Centre for History, Dornoch
The Highland Council is backing the proposed relocation of the UHI Centre for History within Dornoch to premises which will put the centre in a better position to meet the demand generated by successful degree courses now being taken by students through the prospective university of the Highlands and Islands.
Annual bonfire and fireworks display
The City of Inverness Grand Bonfire and Fireworks Display will take place on Thursday 5 November starting at the later time of 7.30pm and a bumper crowd is expected at Bught Park to see the show.
Developing a 5-year action plan to meet Highland’s housing needs
A recent housing study undertaken for The Highland Council has highlighted a chronic and persistent lack of affordable housing in the Highlands.
The Highland Council is backing the Scottish Government’s new strategy for caring for the elderly
The new strategy will focus on supporting people to be independent for longer. It will require a shift in the balance of care away from institutions towards more innovative models of care in the community.
Success of first Highland education festival
The two day Highland education festival held at Dingwall Academy on Tuesday and Wednesday has been a resounding success with over 1800 teaching staff, learning support auxiliaries and classroom assistants from schools across the Highlands attending.
Response to Clachnacuddin FC going into administration
The City Committee of The Highland Council will be briefed on the latest developments concerning Clachnacuddin FC at its meeting on Monday 2 November.
Council agrees preferred bidder for ICT procurement
At a special meeting today (Tuesday 27 October), The Highland Council’s Resources Committee agreed to appoint Fujitsu Services as its preferred bidder for Information Communication and Technology Services over the next five years.
Highland young musicians prepare for 21 year celebrations
Two days of musical excellence to commemorate 21 years of Highland Regional Music Groups are now reaching the final stages of preparation.
Reminder for residents
Easter Ross residents only have a few days to respond to a survey looking at bus service provision.
Transport Seminar for Dingwall
The Highland Council’s Dingwall and Seaforth Ward members are hosting a free transport seminar on Saturday (31 October) from 9.30 am – 12.30 pm in Dingwall Academy.
Lochaber to host Highland transition event for young people
The Highland Council and Skills Development Scotland have organised a Transition Fair in Lochaber which will promote the services and opportunities which are available for young people with additional support needs when they leave school.
Solar bike shed for Highland school
Pupils living in Glenelg, Wester Ross can now cycle to school each day safe in the knowledge that not only will their bikes stay dry in the newly erected bike shed but the solar panels on the shed roof will be busy producing energy for them to use in their own classrooms.
Northern Community Justice Authority publishes second annual report on its work with sex offenders
The Northern Community Justice Authority (NCJA) has published its second detailed annual report which outlines how the agencies involved have effectively worked together to ensure that sex offenders in the community pose as little risk as possible to the public.
Dingwall and Seaforth forum to focus on regeneration
The next meeting of The Highland Council’s Dingwall and Seaforth Ward Forum will be held on Wednesday (28 October) when the focus will be on regeneration.
Cultural bridges made through Scottish and Chinese song workshops
Young people in Inverness from Chinese and Scottish backgrounds are being brought together through a musical project which will see them perform on the 1st December as part of the first concert of the 2009 Inverness Winter Festival’s Advent Calendar Music Trail
Blackbeard’s Haunted Ness Islands opens Inverness Winter Festival
The Skull and Cross Bones will fly over Inverness Town House to promote the opening event in the second Inverness Winter Festival, which will run until Hogmanay.
Council to urge Lloyds Banking Group to continue support
Highland Councillors will be asked next week to write to Lloyds Banking Group calling on them to continue their support of the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland.
NCJA annual report highlights community justice efforts in the North of Scotland
The Northern Community Justice Authority (NCJA) has published its latest annual report, highlighting some of the projects changing communities for the better in the north of Scotland.
Homecoming for Highland archives
The first of hundreds of historic documents are being returned to the Highlands from the National Archives in Edinburgh. The Homecoming of the of archives to the Highlands was marked by Bruce Crawford, Minister for Parliamentary Business, during a visit to the new Highland Archive and Registration Centre in Inverness on 22 October.
Focus on dog fouling in Caithness
Recent enforcement action in Caithness has seen seven fixed penalty fines issued by The Highland Council in a matter of weeks in a clampdown of dog walkers who do not clean up after their dogs.
Real time information system expansion
The Highland Council has awarded a contract to deliver a substantial expansion to its existing real time information system.
Temporary road closure at Millburn level crossing
Drivers in Inverness are advised that a section of Harbour Road will be closed from 9pm on Saturday 31 October until 6.00pm on Sunday 1 November to allow Network Rail to carry out maintenance at Millburn Level Crossing.
Learning festival to highlight Curriculum for Excellence in the Highlands
A major event to showcase good practice around Highland in relation to Curriculum For Excellence will see over 1,800 people gathering in Dingwall Academy on Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 October to discover more about the work achieved in Highland schools.
Highland Local Transport Strategy Consultation
The consultation on The Highland Council’s local transport strategy is now underway and members of the public have until Friday 11 December to respond to this important document which sets out how the transport system will be developed in the Highland area over the next three years. Following a pre-consultation last winter with public meetings throughout the Highlands, the draft local transport strategy has been finalised.
A revolutionary new method for “Rhoddie Bashing”
A new method of disposing of the highly invasive, non-native species Rhododendron Ponticum is being demonstrated at two training days in the West Highlands.
Business Gateway at Innovate Conference
Business Gateway will have a stand at the Innovate Scotland conference providing delegates with the chance to learn about funding opportunities, competitions and programmes and initiatives.
Highland Junior Golf Championships at Spey Valley
Eden Court hosts exhibition of Scotland’s first Housing Expo
An exhibition of the UK’s first sustainable housing expo, which will be held in Inverness in 2010, will go on display at Eden Court, Inverness from Tuesday (20 October).
Upgrade of A9 Tore roundabout
Upgrade of A9 Tore roundabout: night time work (8pm to 6am) starts on Monday 19 October
Community resolve attracts support for Skye village hall
The determination of a village hall association on the Isle of Skye has attracted support from The Highland Council and building and maintenance firm ROK through the Highland Culture programme.
New licensing laws
A new licensing law has come into force which is designed to help protect local communities from some of the more negative effects of alcohol.
Temporary traffic restriction on Crown Road, Inverness
In order to allow inspection work to be carried out to a retaining wall Crown Road in Inverness will be closed to westbound (downhill) traffic from 9.30am to 4.30pm on both Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 October.
Encouraging tourism at the Ward Forum
There was a full house at the new Burghfield Campus of North Highland College in Dornoch last Monday (5 October).
Reading and writing in Ross-Shire Homecoming 2009 event
Dingwall is definitely the place to be on Saturday 7 November when not only will Ross County play Inverness Caley in the all important derby match at Victoria Park,but also Ross and Cromarty Readers’ Groups(RCRG) will stage an all day literary Homecoming event at Dingwall Academy.
Highland Archive and Registration Centre Opens for Business
The new Highland Archive and Registration Centre at Bught Road, Inverness, will open for business on Monday 26 October.
Pupils to visit Culloden drive sculptures
Pupils from Duncan Forbes Primary School will be visiting Culloden Drive today Thursday (8 October at 1.45pm) to see their designs brought to life by a chainsaw carver.
Time travellers fortnight - Cola-deug an t-siubhalaiche ama
People looking for something to do over the October holidays can choose from ten exciting events and activities at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery.
Win more business! Public sector contract opportunities, £3,000 and over
The Highland Council is encouraging local suppliers to come along to the first three of a series of 10 Procurement road shows. Entitled “Win More Business!” the events are aimed at helping local suppliers to develop their skills in tendering for public sector contracts.
Public asked for views on measures to combat Kessock Bridge delays caused by resurfacing
The Highland Council’s Black Isle members are holding a ward forum next month to invite comments from the public about the best ways to ease disruption that will result from the introduction of single-lane movement on the Kessock Bridge to accommodate resurfacing work, expected in 2011.
Laxford Bridge update
The Highland Council has appointed contractors to repair Laxford Bridge, damaged last week when an Army lorry collided with a bridge parapet before plunging into the River Laxford 30ft below.
City road works on Old Perth Road
The Highland Council is advising motorists that work is due to commence on Old Perth Road, Inverness on Monday 12th October to construct a new pedestrian crossing with associated footway improvements.
Service Centre operating hours to be extended
The Highland Council has agreed to extend the operating hours of its Service Centre, which acts as a hub for customer telephone contact and blue badge processing.
New campaign urges public to act against harm
Act against harm – that’s the message behind a new campaign to ensure adults living in Scotland who are being harmed or are at risk from harm are supported and protected.
Thurso Cemetery Bridge Opening Ceremony
Pupils from Miller Academy Primary School, Thurso, were centre stage today (Friday) at a ceremony to mark the opening of a new footbridge which forms an important pedestrian link over the River Thurso, below Thurso Cemetery.
Laxford Bridge Update
The A838 road at Laxford Bridge, in North West Sutherland, is set to re-open tonight (Thursday) to vehicles under 7.5 tonnes.
Damage to Parapet Forces Closure of Laxford Bridge
Motorists are being advised that Laxford Bridge on the A838 Lairg – Durness Road is closed as the result of major structural damage caused by a road accident on Wednesday night.
New Acting Head Teacher for Golspie High School
Jim Steven, head teacher of Invergordon Academy, is to become the interim head teacher at Golspie High School.
HMIe tell Caithness school to keep up the good work
In a report published today on Watten Primary, confident pupils, a positive ethos, staff teamwork and partnership with parents and the community were the strengths identified in their June 2009 inspection of the school.