Members of the Corporate Resources Committee have welcomed a progress update report on the Council's Future Operating Model (FOM), including confirmation of an additional ÂŁ500,000 investment in the Programme which was approved earlier this month. At the meeting, members also agreed the Programme's next steps as it moves further into delivery.
The latest announcement from Cornwall Insight offers a sobering reminder that the UK's energy crisis, far from being resolved, remains deeply vulnerable to global instability. Once cautiously optimistic forecasts for 2026 have been overtaken by events, with the consultancy now warning that household energy bills could climb sharply in the months ahead.
Industry analysts indicate that car and truck prices are expected to rise as the Gulf conflict continues, though the most significant hikes for consumers may take several months to fully manifest. While immediate "war-risk" surcharges are already impacting logistics, the automotive industry typically has a lag between rising production costs and adjusted showroom prices.
The government is reviewing emergency plans, which include fuel rationing, but only as a last resort. These plans are part of a wider response to global oil supply disruption linked to the Middle East conflict.
There are now several web site showing fuel prices in garages all over UK. these are updating very fast so you can check the prices at garages in your area.
As the Gulf conflict intensifies in March 2026, the global fashion industry is facing a "double-exposure" crisis that is set to significantly raise prices for clothes and shoes. For many years, the sector has relied on cheap energy and seamless logistics—two pillars that are now crumbling.
Oil shocks don't just make filling up the car more expensive. They drain spending power from households, push up business costs, and expose the structural weaknesses of economies that rely on imported energy.
As global tensions rise and the economic outlook grows more uncertain, households are facing a difficult question. Should we keep spending to support the economy or pull back and protect ourselves?.
Moneyfacts' average two-year fix residential mortgage rate has risen from 4.83% at the start of March to 5.35% today. It’s the highest since March 2025.
Fuel prices in the Highlands have always moved to their own rhythm, but the latest surge feels different. With diesel in Wick already sitting at 173.9p per litre, and even Tesco undercutting the town‑centre forecourt, the question is no longer abstract.
The last day has seen coordinated or near‑simultaneous attacks on major refineries in Kuwait, Israel, and across the Gulf region. These are not symbolic targets.
The Scottish Government's new national guidance states clearly that vaping should not be allowed in schools under any circumstances. This applies to: all pupils, including S6 pupils aged 18 who can legally buy vapes all school grounds all school‑related activities off‑site (trips, events, transport) The message is simple: vapes, nicotine products, alcohol, and illegal drugs are all inappropriate in a school setting, regardless of age.
ScotRail has announced plans to replace its high speed trains (HSTs) following a successful procurement process. A contract has been awarded to Beacon for the provision of twenty-two Class 222 trains, and to Alstom for the associated technical support, spares, and maintenance services.
Borrowing: the difference between total public sector spending and income was ÂŁ14.3 billion in February 2026. This was ÂŁ2.2 billion more than in February 2025, largely because of the timing of central government debt interest payable (see Figure 2), and the second highest February borrowing since monthly records began in 1993, behind that of 2021.
At its meeting ending on 18 March 2026, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted unanimously to maintain Bank Rate at 3.75%. Conflict in the Middle East has caused a significant increase in global energy and other commodity prices, which will affect households' fuel and utility prices and have indirect effects via businesses’ costs.
New ONS figures show UK goods exports jumped by ÂŁ2bn in January, with an increase in exports to both EU and non-EU countries. However, US tariff changes and the impact of the Iran conflict mean 2026's strong start may swiftly falter, warns the international delivery specialist Parcelhero.
Scotland's Strategic Role, Ageing Population, and the Future of the UK Armed Forces** For decades, Scotland has lived with the slow withdrawal of anchor employers: the closure of military bases, the shrinking of the oil and gas sector, the centralisation of public services, and the long decline of traditional industries. Rural communities especially in the Highlands have felt this most acutely.
Practical steps for getting through the next wave of rising costs — from fuel to food to heating Life in the Highlands has never been cheap, but the next year is shaping up to be one of the hardest in recent memory. Rising fuel prices, stubborn food inflation, high electricity costs, and slow‑to‑fall mortgage rates are combining into a pressure wave that will hit rural households earlier and harder than the rest of the UK.
No not rises, but fewer cuts than previously expected. Most economic analysts had expected the Bank of England to start cutting rates early in 2026.
British Army begins retiring iconic Land Rover fleet after 70 years of service. British soldiers will use a new fleet of thousands of modern vehicles, following the start of the retirement of the iconic Land Rover fleet.