Council welcomes latest Crown Estate announcement
Councillor Sandy Park, Convener of The Highland Council and Chairman of the Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Programme Advisory Board, has welcomed The Crown Estate announced today (Wednesday) that it is inviting expressions of interest for a tidal energy project in the Inner Sound, which lies between Caithness on the Scottish mainland and the island of Stroma.
Community Council Review – Phase 2 Consultation
The Highland Council is launching the second phase of a major review of Community Councils, which focuses on a proposed new Scheme for Community Councils, including a model constitution, standing orders and code of conduct for Community Councillors.
Completion of school pitch delayed due to poor growth
Pupils at Portree High School will have to wait longer to play sports on a new grass pitch at their school.
Return of the Culloden history walking tour
Following on from the success of last years event, on Thursday 8 April there will be another chance to meet an array of colourful characters from Culloden’s past set against the dramatic backdrop of Culloden House and woods.
Litter pickers across the Highlands prepare to spring into action
Across the Highlands over 3000 volunteers are gearing up to take part in more than 60 community clean ups as part of National Spring Clean 2010.
Cadets to Beat the Retreat at Dingwall
Dingwall will once again play host to the massed pipes and drums of the Army Cadet Force on Friday 9th April.
The Skye Trail, a 75 mile long guided walk with The Highland Council Countryside Rangers
On Wednesday 14th April The Highland Council Rangers in Skye and Lochalsh will set out on a 75 mile (120 km) guided journey through the Isle of Skye, following the route piloted by Cameron McNeish in the recent television programme, The Skye Trail.
Highland Council and NHS Highland launch consultation on plan for community care services
The Highland Council and NHS Highland are undertaking a consultation over the next few months on the joint plan for community care services.
Missing Shield found after 71 years
One of the longest running mysteries in the history of the Inverness Highland Games is over. The Inverness Merchants Shield, which was thought to have been lost forever, has been discovered in Aberdeen and will return to the Highland Capital for the first time in over 71 years later this week.
Kite making in Kiltarlity
Adults and children looking to have some fun over the holidays are being invited to come along and join The Highland Council Countryside Rangers for a kite making and flying session at Kiltarlity of Wednesday 7 April.
Celebration of major Cauldeen Primary School upgrade
A £1.2 million refurbishment of Cauldeen Primary School, Inverness, was celebrated at a ceremony at the school today (Friday) at which Hugh Fraser, The Highland Council’s Director of Education, Culture and Sport, and Councillor Norrie Donald joined staff and pupils in planting native trees in the school’s already improved and well planted grounds.
Youth Forum work begins in Lochaber
A new youth community action group was formed on Wednesday the 18th of March when the first meeting of the new Lochaber Youth Forum took place in Fusion Youth Space in the Nevis Centre.
Response to Highland Airways going into Administration
Councillor Ian Ross, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Planning Environment and Development Committee, has expressed the Council’s deep disappointment that Highland Airways, the Highland-based air services company, has gone into Administration.
Social work award for Tracey
The "outstanding leadership skills" of a Highland children's centre manager have been recognised with an award.
West Ross Ranger organises Easter Holiday events
Families looking for something to do during the Easter School holidays can join Highland Council’s West Ross Ranger on an orienteering trip “around the world” or a rock pool rummage.
Volunteers wanted for Ardersier Beach clean
The seashore at Ardersier is strewn with paper and plastic after the winter storms so The Highland Council Countryside Rangers are organising a beach clean day on Sunday (28 March) to clear things up before summer arrives.
Retiral of Health and Safety Manager
The Highland Council’s Health and Safety Manager, Allen Williams, is retiring on Friday 26 March after completing more than 41 years service to local government, the last 35 of which have been spent in the Highlands.
Inverness road repairs completed
Since 15 March, Harbour Road, Inverness, between Raigmore (Millburn) Level Crossing and the Mill Burn has been closed to vehicular traffic between 7.00am and 7.00pm, for the construction of footways and for other essential maintenance.
Highland Council commits £80,000 to marketing the Highlands
Highland Council and VisitScotland have today concluded the 2010-11 Service Level Agreement which commits council funds to VisitScotland, specifically for the delivery of Visitor Information and marketing the Highlands via VisitScotland’s national campaigns.
Turner watercolour and work of Iona-based artist feature in exhibitions
On Saturday (27 March) two new exhibitions open at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery. The centre-piece to the Art of Progress exhibition will be a 1833 painting by JMW Turner of the old stone bridge across the River Ness, a striking landmark of its day, while works created by silversmithing and weaving by award winning Scottish artist Mhairi Killen feature in the Absent Voices exhibition.
Budget consultation meeting at Lairg
The Highland Council begins a four month budget consultation at a meeting of its North West and Central Sutherland Ward Forum on Saturday (27 March).
National Inquiry launches Highlands competition for future vision for a low carbon life
The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) and The Highland Council has today launched a competition to identify future aspirational visions for a low carbon life in the Highlands of Scotland.
Conference highlights need to make land purchase easier
Land reform legislation needs to be changed to make it easier, quicker and cheaper for crofting and community groups to use their right to buy land. This was the conclusion of a conference hosted by The Highland Council at Inverness this week into Community Right to Buy (CRtB) legislation set out within the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.
HMIe report on Dornoch Primary School
Learning experiences in the nursery, children’s confidence and motivation and community links which enhance learning and help children to experience success are the hallmarks of Dornoch Primary School according to an HMIe inspection published this week.
Follow-through inspection of Golspie High
As part of HMIe’s ongoing strategy for evaluating the educational provision of local authorities, a report is issued today on the inspection of the quality of education at Golspie High School. The follow-through report is based on an inspection visit which was carried out in February 2010 and describes the improvements that have been made since the original inspection in 2008.
Head Teacher appointed
A permanent Head Teacher has been appointed for Scoraig Primary. She is Alison Barr who has been the Acting Head of the School since the beginning of December 2009.
High school wins national enterprise award
Pupils from a North Sutherland secondary school have taken the top prize in a national trade fair at Stratford-upon-Avon.
Battery recycling now available
New facilities to recycle household batteries are now in place at all Recycling Centres across Highland. AAA’s normally used for TV remote controls and AA’s used for many children’s toys, as well as mobile phone, camera and electronic batteries are just some of the types suitable for this latest service.
Dingwall musician invited to join National Jazz Orchestra
A young trombone player from Dingwall has earned himself a place in the National Jazz Orchestra of Scotland.
National Young Quality Scot Awards 2010
Thirteen Highland Young people have been presented with a Young Quality Scot Award in recognition of the volunteer work they carry out in their communities.
Pupils rally for Highland Celtic Games Festival
Sixty children from the Ardnamurchan Primary school cluster recently came together for a Highland Celtic Games Festival at Ardnamurchan High School.
Lochaber Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships
The first Lochaber Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships was held on Friday 19th March in blustery conditions in the Leanachan Forest
Young musicians excel
The Highland Regional Youth Orchestra finished their 09/10 season with an outstanding performance in the Averon Centre, Alness on Saturday evening under the baton of their Conductor, Susan Dingle.
Apprentice Boys of Derry - Inverness Campsie Club
Following consultation between The Highland Council, Northern Constabulary, and the event organisers, permission has been granted for the Apprentice Boys of Derry - Inverness Campsie Club to hold a march in Inverness on Saturday 10 April 2010.
Strengthening Support for School Leavers
Over 45 groups gathered at Drummond School’s Transitions Fair held last Friday (19 March).
Inverness Town Twinning Seminar
Town twinning via the internet - otherwise known as ‘e-twinning’ – will be one of the topics of discussion at a seminar on Town Twinning being held this weekend in Inverness.
Highland counts the cost of winter maintenance
The coldest winter in the Highlands since 1962 has resulted in an estimated overspend on The Highland Council’s Transport, Environmental and Community Services budget by £1.497 million (2.2%) by the end of the financial year.
Flood team proposed for the Highlands
Members of The Highland Council's Transport Environmental and Community Services Committee has welcomed the allocation of around £240,000 per year from the Scottish Government to set up a dedicated Flood Team within the Council.
Emergency repairs for Ross infrastructure.
A popular tourism route in the Highlands has been identified in need of emergency repairs. Vehicle weight restrictions will be put in place on the highly scenic single track road the C1087 “Bealach n Ba” which is the only access road to Applecross in West Ross.
New public parking charges for Aviemore and Fort Augustus
Revised parking charges will be introduced at the public car parks in Aviemore and Fort Augustus this summer by The Highland Council.
Highland outlines waste awareness campaign for 2010/11
A campaign aimed at encouraging Highland householders to reduce, reuse and recycle their waste has received continued support from members of The Highland Council’s TEC Services Committee.
Community right to buy: Highland Council conference sets focus on land reform legislation
Community Right to Buy (CRtB) legislation set out within the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 will be in the spotlight next week at a conference being organised by The Highland Council.
Black Isle halls secure funding to help keep heating costs down
Eleven community groups across the Black Isle have just been awarded £13,989 towards insulating their village halls.
Youth Convener visits local Community Council
Youth Convener Magnus Monahan returned to his local area to attend the
Highland Tourism Project Wins Top UK Award
The Great Glen Ways Initiative led in partnership by British Waterways Scotland, Forestry Commission Scotland, The Highland Council and Scottish Natural Heritage, scooped first place in the Recreation and Tourism category of the 2010 Waterways Renaissance Awards which celebrate the best sustainable regeneration and development projects revitalising inland waterways across the UK.
Highland schools compete in ski contest at Cairngorm Mountain
Nearly 100 school children from across the Highlands competed in the Sir Frances Walker Schools Ski and Snowboard race today (Wednesday 17 March) at Cairngorm Mountain.
New Head Teacher for Golspie High School
Golspie High School in Sutherland has appointed a new head teacher. He is James Vance, who is currently Depute Rector at Banff Academy, Aberdeenshire.
Successful wildlife survey comes to Laide
The National Amphibian and Reptile Recording Scheme (NARRS) are holding a training event at Laide Wood on the 17th of April.
Allotment meeting at Merkinch
Anyone interested in becoming involved in a new city allotment scheme is invited to attend a meeting next Tuesday (23 March) at the Merkinch Community Centre.
Council welcomes first marine and tidal energy lease awards
The Highland Council has warmly welcomed the announcement today (Tuesday) that Caithness and North Sutherland is to benefit from the award of the first round of marine and tidal energy leases in the Pentland Firth.
HMIe Report on Millburn Academy, Inverness
In an HMIe report on Millburn Academy, Inverness the inspectors noted the following particular strengths of the school
Inverness West Ward Forum addresses winter maintenance
Winter maintenance is the topic for discussion at The Highland Council’s Inverness West Ward Forum being held at the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Inverness on Thursday (18th March), starting at 6.30 pm.
New plan to help Highland Wildlife
A new plan to help wildlife was launched on Saturday (13 March) at the Highland Biodiversity Forum in Inverness.
Education Ward Forum rescheduled
The Highland Council’s Cromarty Firth Ward Forum postponed in February due to bad weather conditions is now due to take place on Thursday 25th March in Invergordon Town Hall.
Money to help with ideas continues
A scheme aimed at helping community groups access support for their ideas and projects reaches its 6 month mark next week (Wednesday 24 March).
Youth Orchestra to perform in Alness
Romeo and Juliet by Tchaikovsky and the theme from Angela’s Ashes are just two of the pieces the Highland Regional Youth Orchestra will be performing during a concert in Alness on Saturday 20 March.
Council signs major ICT contract with Fujitsu
The Highland Council has now signed a major new contract with Fujitsu for Information Communication and Technology Services over the next five years. The £66 million contract will take effect from1 April.
Cairngorms National Park consultation
The public is being given a second period of consultation to respond to proposals by the Scottish Government to reduce the size of the board of the Cairngorms National Park Authority from 25 to 19 from 2 October 2010.
Highland Leader’s fossil fuel levy surplus proposal
The Leader of The Highland Council has urged the UK Government to direct a surplus of £150 million in the fossil fuel levy fund attributable to Scotland towards connecting renewable power from the Highlands and Islands into the UK Grid.
Information event targets school leavers with additional support needs
An information event is being organised for young people with additional support needs who are thinking about what they will do when they leave school.
Highland General Election votes to be counted overnight
Following a period of public consultation over the count for the General Election, the Returning Officer for the three Highland UK parliamentary constituencies has decided to count the votes in each constituency overnight.
Major investment in Highland schools
An update on major building projects being undertaken by The Highland Council’s Education Culture and Sport Committee has been welcomed by councillors. They were told:
Plockton @ Pertick
S6 Students of the National Centre for Excellence in Traditional Music – Sgoil Chùil na Gàidhealtachd will be performing in concert at Partick, Glasgow on Thursday 25 March.
Highland agencies launch latest plan For Highland’s Children
‘Giving every Highland child and young person the best possible start in life’ is the aim of a plan which was launched today (Fri 12 March 2010) at the Highland Joint Committee on Children and Young People in Inverness.
The Apprentice Day for Highland Youth Voice members
Young people from all over the Highlands will have the chance to play the “Apprentice” Wednesday (17 March).
Planning for Award winning Open Spaces
On March 11, 2010 the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth John Swinney, presented the awards for the 13th Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning.
Highland Council signs up for WWF’s Earth Hour
The Highland Council is supporting the WWF’s Earth Hour 2010 and on Saturday 27 March will be joining million of people across the globe by switching off lights to seven prominent landmarks for an hour in a demonstration of support for people and wildlife threatened by climate change.
Skye and Lochalsh - Environment Fun Days 2010
The Highland Council and National Trust for Scotland Countryside Rangers are hosting two Environment Fun Days for primary school pupils in Skye and Lochalsh in March 2010.
Consultation on review of Greater Fort William primary school provision
Two statutory consultations are to be carried out in the Greater Fort William area over future pre-school and primary school provision in the area.
Consultation over primary school closures
The Highland Council is to carry out statutory consultations to close five rural primary schools which the Council considers are no longer educationally viable.
Highland bids for Council House Building
Fifty five new homes could be built in the Highlands if The Highland Council is successful with a £1.65 million funding bid to the Scottish Government.
Public invited to have their say on Highland's Housing strategy
Members of The Highland Council's Housing and Social Work committee have welcomed the Council’s Consultative Draft Local Housing Strategy for 2010 – 2015.
Highland looks towards 2012 Homelessness requirements
Members of The Highland Council's Housing and Social Work Committee have welcomed an update on the Council's Homelessness Strategy.
Nessie to star on new Monopoly: Highland board
On Thursday (11th March 2010) MONOPOLY announced that the Highlands – including, of course Inverness - is to get its very own customised and official MONOPOLY game.
Council to enhance community services for older people
The Highland Council’s Housing and Social Work Committee is to provide increased support to local communities, to help develop a range of adult learning and healthy living opportunities for older people.
Memorable flag raising event marks schools success
A Black Watch piper played as a flag was proudly raised at Croy Primary earlier today in recognition of the school receiving a top environmental award.
Budding film makers wanted
With the build up and results of the annual Oscar ceremony very much in the news this week, young budding film makers in the Highlands are being given the chance to call “lights, cameras and action” with the launch of a new competition to come up with a short film to promote waste recycling.
Scottish Government judges on Council’s West Highland planning policy
People with an interest in The Highland Council’s West Highland and Islands Local Plan, which covers Skye, Lochalsh, Lochaber and a small part of Badenoch, can now see a copy of the ‘Report of Examination’
Roadside surveys in the Inverness area
The assistance and understanding of motorists in the Inverness area is again asked for while traffic surveys are conducted to provide data for the development of a transport model, by completing surveys on their travel movements.
HMIe report on Aviemore Primary School
Pupils at Aviemore Primary School were praised by HMIe in their recent report for being enthusiastic, well behaved and well-motivated learners.
Inverness Boy writes new anthem for city
An Inverness Cadet celebrates the 150th Anniversary of the cadets by writing a bagpipe tune for the City.
Council offers assurance on care homes
The Leader of The Highland Council’s Administration has given a categorical assurance that the only work currently being carried out on the future of Council care homes is a review of the business case for building care homes at Burnside/Ach an Eas, Inverness, Muir of Ord, Fort William, Tain and Grantown.
Highland pupils are hungry for Euro-info title
Pupils from 14 Highland Primary schools will go head to head later this week in the topical knowledge Scotland-wide competition – Euroquiz
LEADER funding continues to benefit rural Inverness
The Rural Inverness LEADER Group has approved another significant amount of community development funding for the area. Destination Loch Ness Ltd and The Highlanders’ Museum at Fort George have together been awarded just over £110,000 for two major projects.
Fusion Remix festival for Nairn
A festival for young people in Nairn taking place this Saturday (13th March).will give those taking part the chance to try a wide range of activities including walking in giant hamster balls at Nairn Swimming Pool, street football, ultra violet body painting and an evening Blue Light Rave.
Replacement of Craggie Bridge, Inverness-shire
A temporary restriction on the C1056 road will be in place from Monday 12 April until Saturday 3 July to allow for essential replacement work to be carried out to Craggie Bridge.
New musical work premiered at Lochaber concert
140 young musicians from across the Highlands performed a concert on Saturday in Lochaber, the highlight of which was the premiere of a composition by Scottish composer and performer Patsy Reid.
Inverness Leisure encourages customers to recycle
The green team at Inverness Leisure, headed up by Ivana Curuvija, Clerical Assistant have taken a radical step this week and removed all litter bins in their car park in a bid to encourage their customers to recycle their rubbish in the new recycling points located inside the centre.
Highland Community Council Review
Highland Councillors today (Thursday 4th March) approved a draft Community Council Scheme for Highland for consultation between April and June this year.
Extension of webcasting of meetings at Council HQ
The Highland Council’s pilot webcasting scheme is to be extended so that by the end of this year all council and strategic committee meetings held at Council headquarters in Inverness can be viewed by the public from their computers.
Discussions on Mod funding in the Highlands
A meeting was held today (Thursday) between senior representatives of The Highland Council and An Comunn Gaidhealtachd to discuss arrangements for the funding of future Royal National Mods held in the Highlands.
Council faces 45% cut in housing development spending
Highland Councillors were advised today (Thursday) that the funds available to them in 2011-12 to promote affordable housing developments is to be significantly reduced by the Scottish Government.
Budget consultation timetable agreed
The Highland Council has agreed proposals for consulting with the public over options to identify major savings in 2011/12 and 2012/13.
Council supports campaign for Highland-wide Fairtrade zone
To mark Fairtrade Fortnight and as part of the current campaign for the Highlands to become officially recognised as a Fairtrade zone representatives from the Inverness Local Fairtrade Group were at Council Headquarters earlier today (Thursday 4 March) to promote a leaflet highlighting local cafes and traders who have signed up for FairTrade.
Essential repairs means partial closure of Harbour Road, Inverness
Between Monday 15 March and Friday 26 March,The Highland Council intends to carry out footpath works, plus other essential maintenance, on Harbour Road, Inverness, between Raigmore (Millburn) Level Crossing and the Mill Burn.
Way to go! Great Glen Ways Project reaches finals of UK Awards
The Great Glen Ways Initiative has reached the UK finals of the 2010 Waterways Renaissance Awards which celebrate the best sustainable waterway regeneration and development projects across the UK.
Council calls on public to heed Health and Safety Warnings at Caithness woodland
The Highland Council is urging dog walkers in Caithness to heed health and safety advice and to stop using the Newtonhill Community Woodland which was closed as a precautionary measure to all site users by the Council in March 2008.
Seeking a major reform of Crown Estate in Scotland
The Highland Council’s Leader Councillor Michael Foxley underlined the Council’s commitment to major reform of the Crown Estate in Scotland when he gave evidence to the UK Government’s Treasury Sub-Committee, which is reviewing the role of Crown Estate in Scotland.
East Sutherland Tourism Industry meets at Burghfield House in Dornoch
East Sutherland tourism businesses met at a seminar entitled “Tourism is Everyone’s Business” at the Burghfield House on Monday 1 March.
New head teacher for Carrbridge Primary School
The new head teacher of Carrbridge Primary School is Miss Jillian Kean, who, since August last year, has been the acting head teacher at the 67-pupil school.
Lochaber concert to premiere new composition
The sound of music will fill the Nevis Centre in Fort William on Saturday when 140 young musicians from across the Highlands perform a concert, the highlight of which will be the premiere of a composition by Scottish composer and performer Patsy Reid.
Rescheduled Forum
The Highland Council’s Tain and Easter Ross Ward Forum, originally postponed due to bad weather, will be held next Thursday (11 March).
New resource to help bring curriculum to life
Teachers in Highland will be using a new toolkit to help explain changes to the school curriculum to parents.
Council awards contract for second phase of Lochaber High School redevelopment
The Highland Council’s investment in Lochaber High School will rise to £15.1 million with the award of a contract for the latest phase of the redevelopment of the school.
Mallaig High School hostel welcomes first residents
Mallaig High School’s new £4 million residential hostel welcomed its first residents today (Monday).
Knockbreck knocks waste on the head
Knockbreck Primary is winning in the battle against waste. Based on the number of bins and collections, the Tain primary school, which has 124 pupils, has the lowest volume of waste produced per pupil of all the schools in the Highland Council area.
Ringing and singing at Glenurquhart Library
On Tuesday (2 March) the musical sounds of ringing and singing will fill Glenurquhart community library during a special evening to help an Oxfam project raise funds for a library in Africa.
Forum to focus on ways of growing the Black Isle
The next Black Isle Ward Forum takes place on Thursday (4 March) and under the heading of “Growing the Black Isle”, the main topic of discussion will focus around local allotment opportunities and community and farmer markets.
Roads temporarily closed during city half marathon
The 2010 Inverness Half Marathon and Fun Run takes place on Sunday 14 March and the Council is advising drivers that temporary traffic restrictions will be in place in and around the city on this date.
Dingwall Heritage Discussion
The Dingwall History Society and The Highland Council have been working in partnership to commission a Conservation Area Appraisal for Dingwall.
Presentation of top toilet awards
Following The Highland Council’s success at the Loo of the Year Awards, staff from the Education, Culture and Sport service responsible for looking after the award winning toilets were presented with their certificates at a special ceremony held on Monday (22 February) in Inverness.
Partnership response to the closure of Dornoch Slaughterhouse
The Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise have received the Options Appraisal they commissioned to look into options for the future operation of Dornoch Slaughterhouse.