Week 15

Meetings, the Games, fuel poverty, Tradespark, and more ...

The busy week I was forecasting in my last blog post came to pass, including a Southern Planning Applications Committee meeting which ran from 10:30am until 6:30pm, which was quite a thing. It also had the added entertainment that we lost Internet access, so the live video feed went down, but we got around that by taking an early lunch while they got us back online (full recording now available here).

I’m also now chair of Highland Opportunity (Investments) Limited and, as promised before, I will be talking about the company some more in a future post as I think some businesses in Nairnshire might find it useful.

Nairn Highland Games

The games took place on Saturday and we were blessed with good weather so it was well attended. I was working on the SNP bottle stall which did brisk business through the day so thank you if you tried your luck with us. We were also visited by our MSP Emma Roddick and our MP Drew Hendry so I was able to have a chat with them when they weren’t busy with constituents.

While this was going on we recruited some new party members, spoke to some party members who wanted to get more actively involved, and I also had lots of conversations with residents about their issues. If you didn’t get to talk to me on the day then remember all my contact details are here.

Cost of Energy Crisis Round Table

I went to a round table meeting this week organised by Drew Hendry and attended by a wide variety of people who are very aware of the impact this is going to have through the coming winter and beyond. Included were representatives from local housing associations, Citizens Advice Bureau, the NHS, charities supporting people in need, and local councillors.

The news is undoubtedly very bad and several people there were predicting a rise in premature deaths this winter which could be avoided if we had some decisive action from Westminster. Sadly all we can do locally is try to mitigate some of the worst of this but it’s going to be a struggle.

Rate your estate

After the success of previous events at Boath Park and Queens Park which have produced some useful outcomes in those areas another event is being held in Tradespark on Tuesday, 6th September.

Housing staff will be meeting with residents of Lochdhu Gate, Glenelg Gardens and Laing Gardens to find out what improvements they would like to see happening in their estate. Meet on the corner by the “1-20 Lochdhu Gate” street sign at 11am or Laing Gardens car park at 11:45am.

If you have any questions on this contact Catriona Sutherland. Sadly I won’t be able to make the event as it clashes with Licensing Committee and Licensing Board but hopefully some of your other ward councillors will be able to attend.

Garden waste collection days changing

New collection days for your Garden Waste Collection Service will take affect from Thursday, 1st September. If you get your waste collected then you should be getting a letter about this soon but for more information please visit www.highland.gov.uk/gardenwaste or call 01349 886660

More funding opportunities

I am trying to alert you to funding opportunities for organisations you may be involved with as they arise and we have one this week.  The Council is inviting communities to apply for a share of the 2022/23 allocation of the Nature Restoration Fund. 

Established by the Scottish Government, the Nature Restoration Fund is a capital fund designed to help support projects that will deliver nature restoration, safeguard wildlife, and tackle the causes of biodiversity loss due to climate change.

In previous rounds grants between the value of £2,500 and £20,000 were awarded to 27 successful organisations throughout Highland.