Highland Council
Full council met a week ago last Thursday. It was a long meeting where the Highland Investment Plan was progressed and it was agreed the allocation of capital funding to the first group of Phase 1 projects at Beauly, Charleston, Dingwall (including St Clement’s), Dunvegan, Fortrose, Inverness High, and Thurso and the proposed project delivery timescales. The Plan will also ensure continued additional investment in our roads.
Also agreed was the setting up of Poverty & Equalities Commission which had been agreed in our budget in February.
Following legal advice the Council also unanimously decided to challenge the Scottish Government via a judicial review over their decision to grant permission for a wind farm at Strath Oykel despite the North Planning Applications Committee moving to refuse and then the reporter also proposing refusal. This will have significant cost for the council, especially if we lose, but if we don’t challenge this then what is the point of us coming to any decision on energy applications?
Youth Convener wanted
The Highland Youth Convener role is now open for applications. The twelve month contract has a bursary of £23,332.
The Youth Convener will attend council’s Education Committee, they will also work with council’s Youth Service team in shaping the work of the Highland Youth Parliament as well as contributing to other initiatives that increase youth involvement, and influence decisions which may impact young people.
Current Youth Convener, Lauren McKittrick explains:
The Highland Youth Convener role is as important as it is unique. It creates a vital and direct relationship between young people in the Highlands and those who have the ability to make change. To engage with the Highlands’ young people and represent their interests to senior officials and community planning partners offers a great deal of satisfaction, and I would encourage any enthusiastic young person who seeks to champion the voice of young people to take up this opportunity.
The job allows working from home (laptop and smartphone provided) and the post requires some evening and weekend work and travel to attend and represent the views of young people at meetings and events as appropriate.
Community Councils consultation
I was reminded by various threads on Facebook over the last couple of weeks that the consultation on changes to community councils concludes this Wednesday, 9th April.
I’ve spoken about this here before so I won’t go through it again in detail but the issue which seems to be causing most comment is a proposal to merge the two Nairn community councils.
Both councils now oppose the idea but I know some Nairn residents favour a merger. I confess I’m in two minds about this so I’d be interested to see what you all have to say via the consultation.
Planning applications
The following new applications were logged since I last posted.
25/00472/FUL - Daless Farmhouse, Drynachan, Nairn, IV12 5RQ - Use of property as short term letting unit
25/00633/FUL - 6 Montgomerie Drive, Nairn, IV12 5RW - Erection of garage and garden room (Retrospective)
25/00825/FUL - Land 60M West Of Cruachan, Wester Lochloy, Nairn - Erection of house and garage/annexe
To find details search on the reference number on the planning portal where you can also find details on how to comment.