Community Council Elections Round 2 - Results (Lairn and Raasay) New community councils have been formed at Lairg and at Raasay, Skye, following the count of postal votes cast in elections held on Thursday 2 February.   The turn out at Raasay was 91%, with 117 valid votes counted.   ... [more]

The Highland Council will be asked to agree an additional £2m for road repairs when it meets next Thursday (9 February).   Councillor John Laing, the Chair of TECS Services, said that the extra funding, recommended by the Administration for 2012-13, would be used to address the additional damage to the road network following successive winters when we experienced prolonged periods of very low temperatures, which resulted in damage to roads throughout Scotland.   ... [more]

The Highland Council is being recommended to freeze the Council Tax for a fifth successive year and confirm a budget of £602 million for 2012-13 when it meets on Thursday 9 February.   Through its three-year budget setting process, the Council has already identified savings of £18.6 million for 2012-13.   ... [more]

Scotland's Chief Medical Officer today reiterated advice for people to guard against the risk of vitamin D deficiency.   Sir Harry Burns and Chief Medical Officers from across the UK have sent a joint letter to health professionals, reminding them of the importance of making people at risk of deficiency aware of the importance of getting enough vitamin D and how they can access daily supplements where necessary.   ... [more]

More free insulation and energy advice on offer in the Highlands.   Householders in the Highland Council wards of Nairn, North, West, and Central Sutherland and Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh are being urged to take advantage of a Scottish Government initiative which could make their homes warmer and help save money on energy bills.   ... [more]

The UK Government's Welfare Reform plans will rob Scotland of over £54 million a year, new analysis has confirmed, Housing Minister Keith Brown claimed today.   The Westminster Bill will reduce the amount of housing benefit support that can be given to tenants in the social rented sector by introducing new size criteria for working-age Housing Benefit claimants, who have extra bedrooms.   ... [more]

Youth employment has topped the agenda at Scotland's ninth National Economic Forum, held today at Edinburgh's Corn Exchange.   As part of the focus on getting more of Scotland's young people into work, First Minister Alex Salmond and Youth Employment Minister Angela Constance have met with a number of young people currently working in training positions across central Scotland.   ... [more]

Scotland is well prepared to achieve its ambition of being a world leading hydro nation, Infrastructure Secretary Alex Neil said today.   A consultation on a Hydro Nation Strategy and a Water Resources Bill has been launched aimed at cementing Scotland's global reputation as a country with a dynamic, world class, water industry.   ... [more]

Children across Scotland are now benefitting from a programme designed to improve their oral health.   The £15m Childsmile nursery, school and practice programmes have now been rolled out across the country, and are being delivered in every health board in Scotland.   ... [more]

Income from farming in Scotland in 2011 has risen by £23 million compared with 2010, according to the latest statistics.   Scotland's Chief Statistician has today published Scottish Farm Income Estimates 2011 which gives a national estimate of total income across agricultural holdings, alongside a breakdown of farm outputs, costs and subsidies.   ... [more]

There will be a contest in five of the six constituencies within the Crofting Commission electoral area.   A total of 28 candidates will contest the five constituencies of: · Shetland; · East Highlands (East Sutherland, Easter Ross, East Inverness and Moray); · Western Isles; · West Highlands (West Sutherland, Wester Ross, Skye and Lochalsh); and · South West Highlands (Lochaber, Argyll and Bute, Arran and Cumbrae, Small Isles).   ... [more]

Eligible candidates are reminded that the deadline for returning nomination papers to seek election to the new Crofting Commission is 4 pm on Thursday 26 January.   Six people will be elected by Scotland's crofting community to represent their interests on the Crofting Commission, which will come into effect on 1 April 2012 when it will replace the current Crofters Commission.   ... [more]

More than £5 million was contributed to the Scottish economy as a result of the 2011 Barclays Scottish Open, according to a study released today.  This figure includes £4 million to the economy of the Highlands and Islands.   ... [more]

As a matter of urgency, Highland Council roads officials have been asked to bring forward options for a long term solution that provides a secure transport link between Wester Ross and Lochalsh.   The move came at the Council's Transport Environmental and Community Services Committee today (Thursday) as the result of the closure of the A 890 Stromeferry Bypass - which takes traffic from Lochcarron to Kyle/Plockton and on to Skye - due to landslides and the continuing danger of rock fall.   ... [more]

What can ERI do for you? Our courses allow you to study for a postgraduate certificate, a diploma, an MSc or take individual modules for Continuing Professional Development and can be taken on a full- or part-time basis.   The ERI invites you to a buffet and drinks evening.   ... [more]

All the information to stand in the Crofting Commission Elections can be found at http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/elections/croftingcommission/.   ... [more]

The Highland Council started work earlier this week on a notorious section of sub-standard lifeline road in Moidart - at Drynie Hill.   During the contract, Monday through to Friday there will be a temporary road closure in place between 10am and 12:25pm and 1.10pm to 3:30 pm to safely carry out vital tree felling and blasting works.   ... [more]

Pupils from the Lochcarron area will continue to travel to Plockton High School by train for the rest of this week as their normal route - via the A890 Stromeferry By-pass - remains closed due the threat of rockfall.   On Monday 9 January 2012 46 pupils from the Lochcarron area travelled to Plockton High School by train.   ... [more]

The Scotland-wide series of public meetings about the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) have kicked off again this week.   After a meeting in Stornoway on Monday, the meetings continue tonight in Lerwick and tomorrow (Wednesday) in Kirkwall.   ... [more]

A drive to cut needless bureaucracy for Scottish farmers was launched today by Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead.   A working group is being established to consider how to reduce the red tape associated with farming.   ... [more]