Financial Support to Commonwealth Games cyclist
Caithness Members of the Highland Council have come to the aid of a member of the Scottish Commonwealth team by agreeing to fund the purchase of a new racing frame required for this years games from their discretionary budgets.
Don’t be caught out by ‘free’ offers and trials online warns Highland Council Trading Standards
Highland Council Trading Standards are warning other consumers to be on their guard when responding to online classified adverts or advertising features after hearing from Highland consumer, Ms Jessica Thomas
Council Ward Budget reaches £200,000 milestone
The Highland Council’s East Sutherland and Edderton Ward Forum heard on Tuesday evening how over £200,000 from the Ward Discretionary Budget has been distributed to projects throughout the Ward.
2010 SMHAFF Highland Events
The 4th Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival (mhfestival.com) has 12 events in the Highlands this year.
Challenge Innovation Fund
The Highland Council has agreed to operate a challenge fund to encourage third sector organisations to develop innovative approaches to assisting people with barriers to employment into training, work experience or jobs.
Local initiative to help roughsleepers this coming winter
The winter of 2010 will see a new and unique accommodation service being provided by local churches and charities to challenge roughsleeping in the Inverness area.
Record entry and new attractions at Baxters Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running promise exciting weekend for runners and spectators!
A combination of a record number of entries across all events for the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running, faster times in prospect for all events and the introduction of a new event village with attractions for runners and spectators makes this Sunday’s event one not to be missed!
Launch of Baron Taylor’s, Drummond and Lombard Streets Project
Inverness Business Improvement District (BID) and The Highland Council today announced that a joint project is underway in Baron Taylor’s, Drummond and Lombard Streets to improve the amenities in the area.
Promoting the regeneration of Nairn Town Centre
New plans to redevelop the town centre in Nairn are being presented to the local community.
Cooks from Highland Council care homes swap trade secrets with Albert Roux
It’s not every day a celebrity chef drops in on a training event, but for cooks in Highland Council care homes Albert Roux made a special exception.
Highland Young Guitarist winner announced
Following a successful afternoon of accomplished and musical guitar playing from all the entrants to the first highland Young Guitarist Competition on Saturday, the judging panel were delighted to award the runner-up prize to Dingwall Academy pupil Ross Turner from Muir of Ord, with the first prize going to Michael Ferrie, a pupil at the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music at Plockton High School who originally hails from Callander.
Community Councillors needed in Fearn
The nomination period for people living in the Fearn Community Council area to stand for election to the community council has been extended
Northern CJA Annual Report approved by councillors
Councillors have approved an annual report outlining the community justice performance of seven local authorities and partners across the north of Scotland
HRH The Earl of Wessex visits Fortrose Academy
Excitement was high at Fortrose Academy earlier today (Thursday 23 September) with pupils, staff and members of the community gathering to give a right royal welcome to special guest, HRH The Earl of Wessex KG KCVO.
Councillors agree street lighting pilot
The Highland Council’s Transport Environmental and Community Services Committee, has agreed to consult with local communities to identify appropriate areas for trialing energy reduction options for street lighting.
Roll-out of alternate weekly waste collections
The Highland Council’s Transport Environmental and Community Services Committee has agreed to roll out alternate weekly waste collections to communities across the Highlands as the Council endeavours to be more efficient in the way it delivers services and save up to £500,000 in the process.
Litter free Highlands
Highland Councillors have agreed to get tough on people who drop litter and fly-tip, shifting the focus from education to enforcement.
Inverness West Ward Forum
“Facilities for Young People” is the main topic for discussion at the Inverness West Ward Forum on Thursday 30th September. The forum, which is open to all to attend, is being held in Kinmylies Parish Church Hall, Kinmylies Way, Inverness. Doors are open at 6 p.m. for a 6.30 p.m. start.
Public advised of timetable for Nether Lochaber Slipway upgrade
The public is being advised of the timetable for works that are required at the Corran Ferry, Lochaber, to allow the slipway at Nether Lochaber to be upgraded.
NCJA looks at local authority preparations for new community sentence
The Northern Community Justice Authority (NCJA) is seeking more information from north councils on their preparedness to introduce a new community sentence for offenders.
Highland Development Plan consultation gets under way
A 10-week public consultation gets under way on Friday 24 September on The Highland Council’s Highland wide Local Development Plan, which represents the Council’s land use vision, strategy and principal, general policies for the whole Highland Council area except that part within the Cairngorms National Park Authority boundary.
Audit of building standards highlights excellent performance
The buildings standards team within The Highland Council’s Planning and Development Service has been highly commended for the way it has significantly improved the service it provides to customers.
Multi-track approach to Nigg yard revival
The Highland Council has confirmed its multi-track and flexible approach to reviving the former oil yard at Nigg, Easter Ross.
Beachwatch 2010
Members of the Caithness Countryside Volunteers, with support from Highland Council’s local Countryside Ranger, cleaned up a popular Caithness beach last Sunday as part of the national Beachwatch event taking place around the country.
Highland Archaeology Festival – 2nd – 17th October 2010
Get ready to dig deeper this October with Highland Archaeology Festival 2010.
New day care charge
From Monday 4 October, The Highland Council is bringing itself in line with most local councils in Scotland by introducing a flat rate weekly charge for day care services.
Highland Project has come runner-up at National community safety awards
A local community safety project in Highlands, Safe Highlanders, has come runner up in a national award for excellence and innovation at the inaugural Scottish Government Safer Community Awards 2010.
Wester Ross Employers thanked for supporting pupils
Businesses in the West Ross area are being invited to attend an award ceremony to receive thanks from The Highland Council for the ongoing and valuable contributions they make in supporting pupils through skills for work; work experience; and enterprise projects.
Councillors urged to identify street lighting pilot
In a bid to reduce energy costs, Highland Councillors are being invited to consult with their local communities to identify appropriate areas for trialling energy reduction options for street lighting.
Council get tough to create a litter free Highlands
Highland Councillors are being asked to adopt a zero tolerance approach to enforcement of littering and fly-tipping.
Council to test care home market for Muir of Ord and Tain
The Highland Council’s Housing and Social Work Committee has unanimously agreed to seek expressions of interest from the independent sector to provide modern and high quality residential care services in Muir of Ord and Tain.
Work starts on Nether Lochaber slipway
Work started this week on emergency repairs to the lifeline Corran Ferry at Nether Lochaber with the good news for users that , following consultation with the local community, The Highland Council has devised a way of repairing the slipway that minimises disruption to services.
Inverness city – West Link
A Stakeholder Group, set up to examine and agree solutions for completing the Inverness City – West Link road between the A9/A96 and the A82 trunk roads, is making progress with identifying options for crossing the River Ness and the Caledonian Canal.
Freedom of Kingussie
The Highland Council is to bestow the title of Freeman, a prestigious honour which is rarely presented, to a Kingussie man in recognition of his outstanding dedication to many aspects of his local community.
Self Directed Support seminar
More than 80 people from groups and organisations offering social care services in the Highland area attended the Creating Control: A Discovery of Self Directed Support seminar in Inverness this week (13 and 14 September).
Council nominations for CNPA
The Highland Council has nominated Badenoch and Strathspey councillors Jaci Douglas and Gregor Rimell to serve on the new board of the Cairngorms National Park Authority until May 2012.
School “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” winner receives prize
Rayanne Truscott from Inverness High School has won first prize for her school in The Highland Council Waste Aware Team’s “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” competition held earlier this year at the Energy + Action = Change day in Inverness.
Forum to focus on work with young people
The work of the local Youth Action Team will be in the spotlight at the Cromarty Firth Ward Forum being held in Kiltearn Parish Church Hall in Evanton on Thursday 16 September at 7.30pm. Local Youth Action officers will give the Forum an insight into some of the work they do to help youngsters whose behaviour is causing concern, or who have perhaps committed offences get back on track.
Call for community transport scheme in Black Isle and Dingwall
The Ross-shire Transport Forum has put its full weight behind a call to develop a community transport scheme for the Black Isle and Dingwall area.
National e-Consumer Week 2010 - Students stay safe online with internet shopping tips
As part of National Consumer Week 2010, Highland Council Trading Standards is raising awareness with students in Inverness on how to be safe shoppers online.
Highland Archive hosts Railway Society AGM
Members of The Highland Railway Society were recently welcomed to The Highland Archive and Registration Centre in Inverness where they held their annual general meeting on 4 September.
Inverness and East Ross tenants benefit from energy saving measures
The Highland Council and Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) have teamed up to provide energy efficiency measures to 700 Council tenants in four housing estates in Inverness and also one in East Ross.
Highland Art Galleries to exhibit work of acclaimed American artist
Major drawings by Ed Ruscha, one of the most influential and pioneering American artists of the past half-century, will be touring Highland art galleries from September as part of ARTIST ROOMS, the important new public collection of international post-war and contemporary art that national fundraising charity for works of art, the Art Fund is helping to tour across the UK.
Public asked for views on new District Park at Inshes
The public are being given the chance to view and have their say on plans for the largest planned public park in Inverness since the Victorian era.
New Highland Music Day
Young musicians from all over the Highlands will be taking part in the first Highland Music Day on Friday 1 October in Inverness.
Lochaber pupils vie for triathlon trophy
Over 50 children recently took part in Lochaber Primary Schools triathlon organised by Highland Council’s Education Culture and Sport staff and sponsored by No Fuss Events.
Talks about Conon railway station
Members of the Conon Bridge Community Council, along with representatives from the Highland Council and HITRANS met with Stewart Stevenson, the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change, on Friday 10 September to express their support for proposals to re-open Conon Railway Station.
Kirking of the Council
The public are being invited to view the pageantry and colour of the Kirking of The Council on Sunday 12 September 2010 in Inverness.
Blas international artistes play for thousands of Highland pupils
Over 5000 Highland pupils are taking part in the Blas Festival’s Schools programme that has top Scottish music acts and international artistes from Cape Breton performing for three to eighteen year olds.
New Licensing Committee/Board membership
The Chairman of the new Highland Licensing Committee and Highland Licensing Board is Councillor Peter Corbett, Inverness Central. Vice-Chairman is Councillor Margaret Paterson, Dingwall and Seaforth.
Wick High School update
The Highland Council and the Scottish Government have committed to building a new high school in Wick. The Scottish Government will provide a substantial element of the funding over the next three financial years and the Council has already committed to matching this funding over this period.
Employers thanked for supporting pupils
Businesses in the Skye and Lochalsh area are being invited to attend an award ceremony to receive thanks from The Highland Council for the ongoing and valuable contributions they make in supporting pupils through skills for work; work experience; and enterprise projects.
Great opportunity for young guitarists
The quest is on to find the Highland’s most talented young guitarists with an exciting opportunity to perform during the Ullapool Guitar Festival.
Update on Town House clean-up
The public are advised that essential maintenance works to the guttering and turrets on the roof of Inverness Town House which were previously planned for 8 and 9 September will now take place on Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 September.
Increased level of LEADER grants available
Recent changes to the Highland LEADER programme have included an increase to the rates of grants available which could now mean rates of up to 90% funding for community projects until December 2010.
West Highland tartan goes all the way
When crowds gather at the weekend in Fort William to celebrate the formal launch of the new end of the West Highland Way, they will also be treated to the unveiling of the first official tartan for the route.
Success for Highland Swimmers at National Event
At the weekend members of The Highland Swim Team attended the UK School Games in Sunderland with two young swimmers from Tain and Thurso coming home with awards.
Ward business to be highlighted
People living in the Eilean a’ Cheò ward of The Highland Council will now be able to read a summary of topics covered and decisions made by their local councillors at Ward Meetings.
Skye Trail proves popular with walkers
A long-distance guided walk route on the Isle of Skye has proven a great hit with walkers throughout the summer this year.
Bàideanach agus Srath Spè a’ gleidheadh na treas duais airson Coimhearsnachd Ghàidhlig na Bliadhna
Tha pròiseact coimhearsnachd a’ riochdachadh Bhàideanach is Srath Spè air an treas duais a ghleidheadh mar Choimhearsnachd Ghàidhlig na Bliadhna airson 2010.
Battle of Culloden original plan comes to Inverness
The original plan of the Battle of Culloden will go on display at Inverness Library Monday 13 to Wednesday 15 September.
Badenoch and Strathspey is runner-up Gaelic Community of the Year
A community project representing Badenoch and Strathspey has received third prize as Gaelic Community of the Year for 2010.
Young readers to receive space hop reading challenge awards
Enthusiastic young readers who used Dingwall Library and Dingwall Mobile throughout the summer have been invited to The Highland Council’s annual reading challenge award ceremony in their area.
Top Professionals to coach Highland Swimmers
Highland Swim Team to welcome six of Great Britain’s leading specialist in sports physiotherapy, nutrition, psychology as well as competitive swimming coaches Andy Manley and Mark Rose, who coach with GB Beacon Programme in Manchester, to Inverness Leisure for a special All Stars training event.
Highland’s new Youth Convener
Gemma Mackintosh from Ardersier this week took up her new full-time role as the Highland’s Youth Convener.
1 in 200 Scots are trained to help people at risk of suicide
1 in 200 people in Scotland now have the skills to recognise the warning signs of suicidal thoughts and the confidence to offer assistance.
Council appeals for help to catch dog fouling offenders
The Highland Council’s Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross Education and Enforcement officer James Sanderson is appealing to members of the public in Brora, Golspie and Helmsdale to help provide information which will help him identify persistent dog fouling offenders.
Town House hosts civic reception to celebrate Northern Meeting Piping Competitions
The Provost and members of The Highland Council’s City of Inverness Committee are hosting a civic reception at Inverness Town House this evening (1 September) for members of the Northern Meeting Piping Competition organising committee.
Early talk awards help Highland nurseries improve children’s communications skills
Children from 11 nurseries will celebrate in Alness this week (Wednesday 1 September) as they mark their success in gaining accreditation in the I CAN’s Early Talk programme.
West Highland Way
A large crowd of walkers is expected to descend on Fort William on Saturday 11 September to celebrate the launch of the new end of the West Highland Way.
Pilot refuse collection scheme begins in Skye and Lochalsh
In a move to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill by households and commercial businesses, The Highland Council begins a 6 month trial of an alternate weekly waste collection scheme in Skye and Lochalsh on Monday (6 September).
Fungi and wild food walk at Farr
An introduction to fungi and wild food under the watchful eye of Highland Council’s Countryside Rangers is on offer this weekend in Farr woods near Inverness.