Today the Commons Delegated Legislative Committee will review Government proposals to double the stake and the prize money for pub gambling machines.  For the first time ever, this would increase the levels of prize money available to casual gamblers to above the level of weekly benefits.   ... [more]

Tomorrow (Wednesday 1st April) sees the launch of this years National Spring Clean month.  This event, organised by Keep Scotland Beautiful, encourages groups of volunteers who have an interest in their locality to get out and undertake a spring clean.   ... [more]

Enquiries Rise At Engineering Council UK as recession tightens job market.   The Engineering Council UK (ECUK) has recently noticed a marked increase in the number of engineering professionals enquiring about registration for Chartered Engineer (CEng), Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and Engineering Technician (EngTech) status.   ... [more]

Lochaber High School and a local dyslexia charity have joined forces to create an on-line bank of audio revision materials for pupils.  Believed to be a first for Scotland, this venture blends the latest technologies with traditional methods effectively delivering revision opportunities across the curriculum.   ... [more]

The credit crunch may be biting but Highland Council has cash grants available to assist with home improvements.   Home improvement and repairs grants are available to help people living in owner-occupied or privately rented housing to meet the costs of having their homes improved, repaired or adapted.   ... [more]

Calling all Early Birds - get your discounted tickets for this unique event - the Scotland's Global Impact conference.   Organisers of the flagship Homecoming Scotland event, Scotland's Global Impact - how one small nation changed the world! Buaidh Chruinneil na h-Alba - mar a dh'atharraich aon dùthaich bheag an saoghal! are calling everyone interested in our nation's history to take advantage of the fantastic Early Bird discount announced today for this international conference celebrating Scotland's Year of Homecoming.   ... [more]

A new partnership agreement between The Highland Council and VisitScotland for 2009/10 could see the Council contributing up to £445,000 to be used to promote the Highlands as a top tourism destination.   Last May Members agreed to support a review of the existing agreement with VisitScotland and although the final report will not be available until the end of the Month at last week's Planning, Environment and Development Committee the Council confirmed its commitment to develop Highland Tourism in partnership with the business sector, VisitScotland, EventScotland and HIE.   ... [more]

Since the launch of the Highland LEADER Programme in excess of £400,000 of funding has already been allocated to 27 successful local projects and plans across the Highlands.   Thanks to funding of £3,280 from both the Skye, and the Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh LEADER Area Partnerships the Skye & Lochalsh Council for Voluntary Organisations is now able to organise, deliver and evaluate a capacity building event aimed at benefiting community groups in Skye and Wester Ross.   ... [more]

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts, (March, 25th) sold 3,355 store lambs, breeding & feeding sheep.   Lambs (1,706) averaged £52.60 and sold to £93 gross for Beltex crosses from Upperton, Glenurquhart.   ... [more]

Consulting engineers Cruden Associates are carrying out a structural survey of the 16th century Dounreay Castle.   The castle, which forms part of the estate inherited by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, is in a ruinous condition.   ... [more]

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (March, 24th) sold 82 prime cattle.  Prime bullocks (51) averaged 163.9p (+2.1p) and sold to 184p per kg and £1,217.20 gross.   ... [more]

Two senior social care workers at Highland Council's Bayview House Resource Centre in Thurso have recently successfully completed a training course to develop their skills in palliative care with older people and older people with dementia.   The course which was titled 'Beyond Barriers' was a project funded by the Scottish Government, and run in partnership with the Care Commission and Alzheimer Scotland.   ... [more]

Approval for the construction of Dounreay's low level waste disposal facility has secured £4M for a community fund package.   A working group, set up by the Dounreay Stakeholder Group (DSG), has helped to pave the way to secure the funding which is envisaged will be used to develop social infrastructure project in the Dounreay Travel to Work area.   ... [more]

The deadline for Highland Council staff to submit appeals against their job evaluation outcomes has been extended for one month until 8 May, 2009 by the Council's Modernising Employment Sub Committee.   Members of the committee heard that there had been requests from some staff and the trade unions to extend the appeal date of 10 April 2009.   ... [more]

An improved protocol to manage the opening times for the Canal swing bridges at Tomnahurich and Muirtown, Inverness was approved at The Highland Council's TEC Services Committee (19 March).  The protocol will be implemented by British Waterways Scotland this Spring.   ... [more]

Motorists are being advised that a 20's Plenty Advisory speed limit has been introduced on the roads near Helmsdale Primary School for children's' safety.   Roundels depicting the 20 advisory speed limits are also soon to be painted on the carriageway by The Highland Council.   ... [more]

Proposals for a joint waste management strategy between Highland and Moray Councils have been given the green light by members of The Highland Council's TEC Services Committee.   Members approved a development option providing locally based solutions for dealing with waste.   ... [more]

Research by Highland Council lighting experts has shown that potential energy savings could be achieved over time by converting street lighting in the Highlands from existing sodium lanterns to white light lanterns with dimming facilities.   A desk top exercise was carried out by the Council's TEC Services on a typical residential housing area with 160, 6 metre high lighting columns fitted with 100w high pressure sodium lanterns.   ... [more]

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (March, 18th) sold 451 store cattle, 12 adult head of breeding cattle and 52 OTM cattle.  Bullocks (225) averaged 178.3p and sold to 213.5p per kg and £880 gross.   ... [more]

A report published by The Highland Council shows that a progressive fall in the number of housing completions in 2008 highlights the increasing impact of the current recession on the housing market.   In 2008, 1,471 new houses were completed; a 19% decrease on the 2007 figure of 1,806 new homes.   ... [more]