The Highland Council’s Magazine Summer 2018 Highpoints Issue 11 Sàr Phuingean

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Discover the HighlandAR Legends, innovative app brings augmented realityy to the city Pg14

Award winning Highland beaches Pg7g7 www.highland.gov.uk Contents 3 Highland Archaeology Festival

4 Heading for the Highlands Bill Lobban 6 Way made easier Highland Council Convener

7 Scottish beach awards

8 The truth about toilets Welcome Welcome to the latest edition of Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, 10 New aff ordable homes underway our Highpoints magazine. the Highland Games and the 10 750th new home milestone Never has the Highlands been so Black Isle Show are all going 11 Supporting parenting skills in prison popular as a tourist destination. from strength to strength. The The value of Sterling, the long Archaeology Festival begins in 12 Grow with us spell of great weather and the September and we are delighted 13 Làithean Cultar (Culture Days) safety of the Highlands, together to be welcoming the European with the success of the NC500 Pipe Band Championships to 14 HighlandAR Legends are all contributory factors. Inverness and the Gaelic Media 16 Developing a sustainable waste solution However, the friendly welcome, Awards to Aviemore next year. our rich heritage, breath-taking Our beaches continue to attract 17 Phasing out single use plastic scenery, national parks and major awards and we have (yes) 18 Reducing our waste unique cultural off erings, makes the best public toilet provision in people fall in love with our the UK! 19 Success for Council projects beautiful region and will mean An innovative new app which 20 New role for listed building visitors will keep coming back uses augmented reality to bring 22 Apprentice has her eye on the top job for more. local legends to life in a trail of This issue of Highpoints eight artworks across Inverness 24 High-fi for Highland towns highlights a range of initiatives is already proving to be a major 25 Inside Housing Development Awards underway to support hit with tourists and tour guides. improvements to tourist This is also helped by the free 25 Blas Festival infrastructure and some of the Wi-Fi which we now have in 25 2018 Quality Awards vast range of attractions we have Inverness and all our major on off er. towns across the Highlands 25 Celtic Media Festival Improvements to parking, – a tremendous resource for 27 Adopt an HER Record paths, roads and other facilities visitors, businesses and local are benefi ting both tourists communities. Contact us and locals in many areas. Highland is truly one of the most Successful events such as the attractive places to visit, live and Write to: Mountain Bike World Cup, do business, in the world. Corporate Communications The Highland Council HQ Glenurquhart Road Inverness IV3 5NX Email: corporate.communications @highland.gov.uk Phone: 01463 702020 Highpoints will be published online and some hard copies will be made available in service points and libraries. The magazine is produced in-house by our Corporate Communications Team and printing costs Unveiling of the 8th plaque of HighlandAR Legends at are sponsored by advertising. Falcon Square with Jackie Cuddy and Darroch McNaught Listening ~ Open ~ Valuing ~ Improving ~ Supporting ~ Partnering ~ Delivering 2 3 Heading for the Highlands Things to do in the Highlands www.highland.gov.uk/tourism Colin Simpson, Highland partners can deliver projects. The Storr Council’s Principal Tourism All projects must be able to and Film Offi cer describes a demonstrate community support Thanks to international marketing and must address an existing and social media, the Isle of Skye range of initiatives to address tourism pressure, rather than has seen a vast increase in visitor Highland’s growing tourism developing new tourism facilities. numbers over recent years. First industry. The Highland Council submitted amongst the natural features that The last few tourist seasons have 12 Expressions of Interest in has rocketed in terms of visitor been good ones for Highland the fi rst round, most of which numbers is the Storr, which has tourism with certain destinations progressed to full applications seen a 600% increase in just 10 and some individual sites seeing which will be considered by years. The current infrastructure at marked rises in visitor numbers. the fi rst formal assessment the site was not built to cope with In particular, a number of natural panel in September. this dramatic increase and has led to negative publicity about sites have seen signifi cant The range of projects being increases that have led to Skye in national and international proposed include increased press, with CNN Travel recently pressures on infrastructure such car or coach parking and as single track roads, parking and ranking Skye number 1 in the ‘top related traffi c and parking 12 places to avoid in 2018’ list. toilet facilities. An increase in the management at some key number of motorhomes, some destinations such as Portree, The value of tourism to Skye of which commonly overnight Fort Augustus, Invergordon and is estimated at £133M (2016) informally outside recognised Glenfi nnan, Public convenience however this negative publicity sites has also created a need improvements or improved could be detrimental to this. for further facilities such as for motorhome facilities on Skye and To avoid visitors being deterred waste disposal. In many cases in the Arisaig, Morar and Mallaig from visiting the island any these pressures have created area. further, The Highland Council expectations that the Council has applied for funding to would address the issue, even In some cases the Council will improve the infrastructure at where it is not the site owner. lead a project, for example where several hotspots. The Old Man it relates to the extension of an In Autumn 2017 the Scottish of Storr improvement plan was existing Council car park bit in sent as an application to the Government launched a Rural other cases the local community Tourism Infrastructure Fund - Rural Tourism Infrastructure is taking the lead with the Fund that was announced by totalling £6m of capital over intention of both addressing 2 years to help improve such Scottish government in 2017. The existing pressures while also application has been accepted infrastructure. Only Local creating a community facility that Authorities and National Park for Phase 1 and will see plans go could generate further income for ahead in the very near future, Authorities can bid to the fund wider community projects. although a wider range of with The Highland Council contributing £200K, another

4 £300K from LEADER funding, and Hotel investment including the Glebe Street site £300K from the Rural Tourism soon to be developed, there has Infrastructure Fund. The last few years have seen quite been interest in the Inverness signifi cant levels of hotel building The plan involves expansion Campus and Inverness airport in some of the UK’s bigger cities to the car park and to improve for further hotel developments. including Glasgow and Edinburgh facilities by adding things such as Council offi cers have also taken but more recently the level of public toilets and litter disposal the opportunity at such events interest in Inverness has picked points. A number of designs have to promote other areas of up. This interest was boosted been produced with the preferred Highland, including Lochaber and in 2017 when international option costing £750,000, if the Caithness, where the increased commercial property experts funding can be found. To ensure numbers of visitors coming to Colliers International ranked future sustainability the Council tour the North Coast 500 have Inverness as the most attractive proposes charging visitors for infl uenced demand. market for investors in their use of the carpark which would inaugural Scottish Hotel Index. A allow investment in the parking Mountain Bike mix of strong levels of demand, facilities and other related rising rates and occupancy World Cup infrastructure such as paths. levels as well as relatively low Fort William, the multi-award The improvements will vastly development costs has increased winning stage of the mountain reduce the congestion in the area Inverness’s profi le as a ‘hot spot’ biking world cup welcomed at peak times, and have benefi ts for hotel development. 250 riders from 25 nations to for visitors by car, coach, bus, on Through attendance at a number tackle this year’s course, bringing foot, by bike and incorporate of investment events in locations 22,000 spectators to the area. accessibility needs for all. including Edinburgh and London, The Highland Council’s contractor By tackling the safety and the Council has promoted Rapier supplied free wifi for the congestion issues we hope the city as well to potential Mountain Bike World Cup in Fort that visitors and local residents investors and operators. As well William in June as Fort William’s will have much more positive as interest in city centre sites free wifi “High-Fi” went live. experiences. By improving facilities at the Old Man of Storr the value of tourism to Skye will not only increase from income generated from the parking spaces having an economic impact, but also from the eff ects that will diff use visitor tension and provide a better attraction, which in turn, impact positively on visitor satisfaction surveys which help boost the value of tourism for the island. 5 National Park, over Rannoch Moor, into Glen Coe Paving the way and ends up in Fort William. The route brings in an estimated £16Million each Anyone tackling the popular West Highland year to businesses along its route. Way will fi nd the going underfoot a bit easier The Council and Scottish Natural Heritage have thanks to the council funding improvement part-funded the project which cost £40,000 and a works to a section along the old military road second phase is due to start in the autumn. south of Kinlochleven.

Before After

What was a long, rough and tiring part of the Experienced mountain path builders Highland Way that was eroding, is now clear and smoother Conservation Limited carried out the work using with better drainage. This is the fi rst phase of locally sourced stone material from under the improvements from the north side of the infamous vegetation, which was then carefully placed back. Devil’s Staircase to where the old Military Road The construction was both sensitive to the local meets the hydro track to the Blackwater Reservoir. environment and prevented the need of bringing The West Highland Way is Scotland’s most popular in quarried material by helicopter at greater long distance path with over 35,000 people fi nancial and environmental cost walking the whole length last year. It is 96 miles This improved section should be a welcome relief (154 km) long and starts at Milngavie, outside to walkers on what is usually their forth or fi fth day Glasgow, passes through Loch Lomond & Trossachs of the Way.

The Highland Council teamed up with Keep Scotland Beautiful and NC500 this year in a litter campaign

6 12 Highland beaches scoop in Scottish beach awards

Achmelvich Beach in Sutherland

Environmental charity, The Award Winning Highland beaches are: Keep Scotland Beautiful, Achmelvich Bay Loch Morlich has awarded 12 beaches in the Highlands top Beach Brora Beach Melvich Awards. Focusing on local Dornoch Beach Nairn Central environmental quality, Durness, Sango Bay Portmahomack the awards are designed to complement the work Embo Beach Shandwick Bay undertaken by the Scottish Golspie Strathy Bay Environment Protection Agency on bathing Loch Morlich Beach near Aviemore water quality. The Highland Council has been “fl ying the fl ag” for 25 consecutive years and this year came second across the whole of Scotland for its number of award winning beaches.

7 The truth about toilets

“Spending a penny” has never been so topical The Facts: in the Highlands. • The Highland Council maintains most Looking after the pennies is what the Council public toilets in the UK, followed by really needs to do to continue provide Gwynedd (73); and Pembrokeshire (73). essential services and provide value for money • Highland has 96 council managed public in these times of shrinking budgets. toilets. With a need to make budget savings for this year, members agreed that nearly £0.7m could be saved • 29 of these are under review. through rationalising some of its public toilet provision and increasing charges for their use. • There are 28 Comfort schemes across Highland (Of the Comfort Schemes, Looking at the map of the Highland toilets you could 7 are provided by the Private Sector, be forgiven for thinking there is actually an excellent 21 are provided by Community Groups). provision across the region, especially if you have just driven up the A9 looking for somewhere to • 6 toilets are High Life Highland run spend your penny! Indeed The Highland Council has (Invergordon, Torridon campsite, Glen the highest number of public toilets in the UK. There is no statutory obligation for Councils to have public Nevis visitor centre, Peff erside Park, toilets and many councils don’t have any. Bellfi eld Park & Thurso swimming pool). There are 96 Council managed public toilets in the • There is no statutory obligation for Highlands, some of which are open on a seasonal councils to have public toilets. basis, and 28 comfort schemes in addition to public toilets at High Life Highland’s facilities (libraries and • 37 Local Authorities in the UK no longer swimming pools etc). run any public conveniences. The Comfort Scheme allows the public to use toilets in pubs, hotels and community services without being paying customers. The scheme provides clean and safe public toilets in convenient places for residents and visitors. Local providers that join the scheme are paid an annual fee by the Council to open up their toilets for public use. Dunvegan toilets The Council is looking at alternative options for 29 of the 96 council managed public toilets. This could be fi nding a local business willing to provide a service through the comfort scheme or transfering a facility to a local community group. They could be closed if rarely used or there are other facilities nearby.

There are areas which could really benefi t from a Kylesku toilets new comfort scheme and this will all be taken into under review account in the review. A review of the rationalisation programme will be completed by 31st October 2018 and we will consult with communities before any decisions are made and no toilets will be closed in the meantime.

Latheron toilets 8 See below a map of all the public toilets across the Highlands including those being reviewed.

9 New affordable homes underway

The Highland Council remains on track to deliver much-needed aff ordable homes across the Highlands as recent fi gures produced show all new home completions in Highland are on the up. The Scottish Government announced in 2016 that they were going to invest £3billion to deliver 50,000 new aff ordable units over a fi ve year period. The Highland Council area’s share of this investment for 2018/19 is £40.1million. In its Strategic Housing Plan 2018-2023 the Council has a pledge to approve a minimum of 500 units each year, of which 70% will be for aff ordable rent View of new homes at and 30% for low cost home ownership, and aims Upper Achintore in Fort William. to deliver 2,500 new aff ordable homes across the Highlands between 2016 and 2021. last decade in Highland are on the rise. Between In order to meet these challenging targets council 2007 and 2017 a total of 10403 new homes were offi cers work closely with a range of partners to completed. Last calendar year 881 new homes were drive forward delivery, in particular the Highland completed, a 13.5% rise compared to 2016. These Housing Development HUB which includes housing fi gures are produced through analysis of accepted association partners and the Scottish Government Completion Certifi cates and Temporary Occupation who meet regularly to monitor the investment Certifi cates. programme and agree site priorities. There has been signifi cant increases in annual Figures produced by the Council’s Planning Service completions when compared with recent years, in show that the number of all new homes built in the Fort William, Eilean a’ Cheò and the Black Isle.

750th new home milestone

The completion of the 750th new council home built in Highland since the re-introduction of the Council House Build Programme in 2010 was marked by a visit from Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning, Kevin Stewart on 20th August. The Kirk Brae development in Inverness is made up of 27 new 2 and 1 bedroom fl ats, built on a gap site above the Smithton and Culloden Free Church. 750 milestone and 6 are for the low-cost initiative for The development, commissioned by The Highland fi rst time buyers. Council’s Development and Infrastructure Service, The Highland Council is committed to providing was designed by Bracewell Stirling (Architects) and high quality, energy effi cient aff ordable homes so local company Compass Building and Construction people can live and work in their communities and carried out the construction works. 21 of the all ages, from the younger generations to older properties are for rent, helping the council reach the residents with specifi c housing needs. 10 Supporting parenting skills in prison

Written by Freya Povlsen (Youth Trainee) A new learning and bonding programme “It has been a great achievement to be able to recently delivered by The Highland Council in deliver the fi rst pathway not only in the Inverness Prison has led to two fathers gaining Highlands, but the fi rst pathway group within a prison in the UK.” their SCQF level 4 qualifi cations. ‘Peep Progression Pathway’ (Parenting Early says Gillian Forbes, the councils Peep co-ordinator. Education Programme) within the prison, is the “Our main focus is to support and empower fi rst to be delivered in the whole of the UK to help parents and extend everyday learning strengthen adult-child relationships with families opportunities. It’s been lovely to watch the fathers who have a member in prison. we’ve been working with grow in confi dence over The Peep Learning Together programme has the last 12 weeks and a real privilege to support reached 400 families in the last year across the them in achieving their recent qualifi cations.” Highlands in order to help parents gain confi dence in their abilities and be the best parent they can. The dads now plan to continue their qualifi cations at Through this, parents/carers have the chance to SCQF level 5 in Early Child Development. progress and gain an SCQF qualifi cation at level 3, 4 or 5 in a variety of Early Child Development topics, as well as being able to learn about the importance of positive play and the impact this has on their child’s education and growth. Photo (L to R): Gillian Forbes (Peep co-ordinator for Highland Council), Mairanne Nairn (family support project co-ordinator), with parents Scott Grant and Conor Bennet.

11 things that this team covered such as poverty, Grow with us community engagement, and local democracy. A year later, Stephen’s contract came to an end with Written by Freya Povlsen (Youth Trainee) no possibility of an extension. Nevertheless another Learn more about career opportunities with placement became available and Stephen became a the Council if you have a fl exible outlook. Waste Strategy Offi cer in Dingwall. Stephen applied for his current role, as Corporate Stephen Carr started at The Highland Council in Performance Manager, in 2017 - his fi rst permanent August 2012 in a twelve week intern position. He contract. Through this role, he gathers a wide was living in Edinburgh and had just graduated range of data and information about the Council’s with a PhD in Environmental Chemistry from the performance and presenting this so that councillors University of Edinburgh when he saw a position and the public can understand how the Council is as an Environmental Researcher come up with the performing and be assured that they are getting Council on ‘myjobscotland’. Despite having never good value for money. considered working for a council, in the public sector, or living so far north, he decided to make Stephen would encourage others to consider application and see what happened. Six years on careers with the Council He feels that the and Stephen is still working at The Highland Council. opportunities for change and variety make it a really He is currently the Corporate Performance Manager exciting place to work. He added: happily living in the Highlands and loving what he “The Council is actively trying to do good for the does. people of the Highlands and make people’s lives Stephen really enjoys investigating an issue, fi guring better. So if that is something that resonates with out why something is happening, and considering you I would encourage you to consider a career at what can be done to make it better. His internship the Council.” allowed him to discover that working with the He revealed that he has had to sometimes push Council really aligned with his values. Through his himself up some steep learning curves in his career career with the Council he has been able to work to get up to speed, but being willing to step forward in positions that he genuinely cares about and therefore enjoys. He said: ”the key thing is fi nding work you enjoy or care about. There are a lot of really hard jobs in the Council, but if you care about what you are doing you will always get fulfi lment, and as a result working hard will feel easy or natural.” While he was doing his internship, another position came up as maternity cover for the Policy Offi cer (Climate Change) in his team. He decided to apply and was fortunate enough to get the fi fteen month role. He felt it was a really exciting time to be involved in climate change at the Council as it was one of their main priorities. During this time he was working with many people across the Council, including the political leadership, so that he could understand what their aspirations were. A year later, the climate change team was expanded and he was able to get a two year contract as the Principal Policy Offi cer. In 2016, when the climate team was reduced, his post was removed. He made what he calls a ‘sideways move’ into the Council’s Policy team on 12 month contract and his career took a diff erent direction. He enjoyed the large variety of interesting Stephen Carr by Freya Povlsen 12 and assist with exciting strategic projects has given Stephen a huge amount of experience and he has been able to meet and work with many diff erent people. Overall, Stephen has had a very eventful and exciting career at The Highland Council and still has a lot more good things to come. From starting as an intern to becoming the Corporate Performance Manager, Stephen feels that: “the Council has been really good to me. I have been able to work in a number of really interesting roles; it has a set of values that I really believe in, and I just love the Highlands as a place to live.”

Culture Days mark Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Phort Rìgh as 'cultural hub' Làithean Cultar (Culture Days)

Làithean Cultar (Culture Days) were organised in June by The Highland Council Gaelic Team and Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Phort Rìgh. Established actors, authors, dancers, story tellers, artists, sports leaders, singers and musicians in the national Gaelic and cultural sector led the Làithean Cultar sessions. Head Teacher Mrs Flora Guidi, said: “The Làithean Cultar were a huge success on many levels, especially as the whole school including the Sgoil Araich participated and every child had the opportunity to take part in the sessions, which included, dance, creative writing, sports, drama, story- telling, art, and Gaelic Rap music.”

All the sessions where held through the medium of Gaelic and the Làithean Cultar were educational, informative and fun. Làithean Cultar, received fi nancial support from Bòrd na Gàidhlig and was also supported by The Highland Council.

13 Map reproduced by Permission of Ordnance Survey on Behalf of HMSO © Crown Copyright and Database Right 2016. All Rights Reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence 100023369. Copyright Getmapping Plc. 14 Augmented reality breathes life into local legends A series of plaques depicting the trail on a map to local legends and historic fi nd the legends. Simply events have been installed point your device at the target picture to bring the market dog new way of telling the stories at various locations across to life or see Nessie swimming and legends of our city which is Inverness. in the river. You can look over rich in culture and history. The The artwork on the plaques acts the shoulder of the Brahan Seer app brings these artworks to life as a trigger for a new exciting app up at the castle and peer into a in such an amazing way and I am which uses augmented reality to prisoners’ cell on the side of the sure people will love it!” steeple or watch a unicorn and bring a story to life in 3D in your The Inverness Common Good fairies play in a magic garden at surroundings. Fund provided funding for the Falcon Square and even see a artworks which were designed The augmented reality trail life-size unicorn at Eden Court.” includes plaques at the Victorian by local artists and the Council’s Market, the Steeple, the Castle, The artworks and the app will Graphic Designer Kirsty Foster. Ness Walk, Huntly Street and Eden provide a rich new experience Darroch McNaught of DeuXality Court. for visitors to Inverness and created the HighlandAR app and also brings wider economic augmented reality experiences. The app “HighlandAR Legends” benefi ts and income generation The app HighlandAR Legends is part of a Council project opportunities to the Council. under the City-Region Deal. can be downloaded from Google Communications and Resilience Provost of Inverness, Helen Play and the Apple App Store. You Manager Ruth Cleland who is Carmichael said: can fi nd out more about the new leading the project said: “I am delighted to see these app and where the artworks are located and the history behind “HighlandAR Legends is a global, stunning artworks installed them at the website above. mobile app which you can around Inverness. It is a download from Playstores. The wonderful and exciting app uses augmented reality to bring the legends and history of Inverness to life. You can follow

Produced by The Highland Council | Designed by KJ Foster | App and AR by DeuXality Legends artworks by Claire Maclean, Hannah Stradling and Catriona Meighan. HighlandAR Trademark UK00003226885

The Highland City-Region Deal is a joint initiative supported by up to £315M investment from the UK and Scottish governments, The Highland Council, HIE and University of the Highland and Islands, aimed at stimulating sustainable regional economic growth. 15 will also reduce the amount of Developing a sustainable methane being produced by landfi ll sites. Failure to address the ban on landfi lling waste is a waste solution for Highland signifi cant risk for the Council. Urgent action is now required, The Longman Landfi ll site in Inverness has now been approved and doing nothing is not an as the preferred location to construct a new centralised option.” waste management facility (Materials Recovery Facility), as an Councillor Jimmy Gray, the alternative to sending our waste to landfi ll, to recover recyclates Administration’s Environmental and produce Refuse Derived Fuel. This is the Council’s preferred Spokesperson, added: interim arrangement for meeting the requirements of the ban “Highland needs an overall on landfi lling which commences in January 2021. This facility waste strategy that is will process all of the Highland’s 83,000 tonnes of residual (non- sustainable, aff ordable, friendly recyclable) waste from 2021 onwards. to the environment and effi cient (SAFE). Our waste strategy The Materials Recovery Facility Development and Infrastructure needs to go beyond fi nding will be designed to process mixed Committee says: a clean and effi cient way of residual waste and recover value “I strongly believe that waste dealing with our waste. We also from the material by removing produced in the Highlands need to promote a massive items such as metals and plastics, should be dealt with in the culture change – to change but in the main, producing a Highlands and the Longman people’s behaviour and attitudes refuse derived fuel in readiness site provides the best strategic to waste and litter. We need for sending to Energy from Waste location with excellent the support of everyone, as facilities elsewhere. transport links. individuals, families, schools, businesses and communities, to A team of offi cers across the “Long gone are the days when ensure that we in the Highlands council have been preparing an it was ok to just bury our set an example for the rest of external design of the facility waste out of sight and allow Scotland to follow.” and a planning application, for future generations to deal submission later in the autumn. with the consequences. The The Council will also carry out national legislation changes Ban on Landfill further work to look at the coming in mean that councils Big changes to the way that all feasibility of constructing an will not be allowed to landfi ll Councils in Scotland manage Energy-from-Waste (EfW) facility our biodegradable municipal their waste were introduced by co-located on the site in the waste. The aims of this ban are the Scottish Government in 2012, future as a long term option if to treat waste as a commodity with a ban of biodegradable resources can be identifi ed. or resource, maximise reuse municipal waste from landfi ll The Council handles some and recycling, and stimulate a from January 2021. 140,000 tonnes of waste per circular economy. The ban annum, and around 57,000 tonnes of this material is currently re-used, recycled or recovered from kerbside collections from households and businesses, as well as from Recycling Centres and Points. However, around 83,000 tonnes of biodegradable municipal waste is sent to landfi ll at a cost of approximately £11 million a year. Councillor Allan Henderson who chairs the Council’s Environment, 16 What is a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF)? Phasing out single These can fall into two main categories, those that are designed to process large use plastics volumes of mixed recyclables (e.g from the blue bins) into Within the UK, there is now widespread understanding and their individual material streams acceptance that single use plastics have a detrimental impact and prepare them for sale in on our wider environment. the commodity markets; or , The majority of plastic currently produced can be recycled. However, as in this case, others that deal the extent to which plastics are recycled depends upon various with mixed residual waste and technical, economic and logistical factors. Single Use Plastics make up look to recover value from the a signifi cant proportion of waste ending up in landfi ll or in the natural material by removing amounts of environment and can take hundreds of years or more to degrade. recyclable streams such as metals The Highland Council recognises that discarded plastics, including and plastics, but in the main, non-recyclable cups, bottles and straws, are a major environmental producing a refuse derived fuel in pollutant and of detrimental impact to the Highland region and readiness for sending to Energy its communities. Highland, as the local authority with the longest from Waste facilities elsewhere. coastline in Scotland (at 4,905 kilometres), has a key role to play in What is Refuse Derived reducing plastic waste. Fuel (RDF)? The Council is committed to phasing out the use of single use plastics Fuel that is produced from waste and we are supportive of initiatives led by local communities, such as: that cannot currently be recycled. • Pupils from Ullapool Primary campaigned successfully for all 14 Refuse derived fuel is used in cafes, bars and restaurants in Ullapool to be offi cially free of plastic thermal treatment facilities such straws from December 2017. The local supermarket plans to follow as Energy from Waste plants and suit during 2018. can generate electricity and hot water for communal heating • A pilot in Lochaber High School is testing the use of biodegradable systems in the local area. Vegware products for take away meal options to replace polystyrene alternatives. What is Energy from • An initiative, led by a sixth Waste? year pupil at Glen Urquhart Energy from waste is the High School, has removed the process of creating energy, use of plastic bottles on site. in the form of electricity and/ The pupil secured a grant to or heat, from treating waste at buy all 200 pupils reusable high temperature. Energy from drinks bottles. The grant waste facilities can be designed was provided by Aird and to provide power (electricity) Loch Ness Ward discretionary and/or heat. Benefi ts of this funding, chosen through approach include providing our participatory budgeting employment opportunities, approach there titled ‘Your reducing vehicle movements by Cash, Your Choice’. eliminating haulage of waste to • A team of volunteer Eco central Scotland, and providing a Offi cers to help support focus for future ‘green’ industrial and implement low carbon development (through provision behaviour change initiatives of low cost, low carbon process throughout the council estate. heat). Modern Energy from Waste technology is well regulated and minimises harm to the environment. reduce | re-use | recycle 17 Reducing our waste - How can you help?

Over 59,000 tonnes of material was collected to landfi ll. Consequently, contaminated recycling and recycled by The Highland Council during bins cannot be emptied by our collection crews. 2017 which equates to a household recycling Less contamination in recycling bins ensures that we can off er better quality material, which can be rate of 44.6%. reprocessed more effi ciently and reduces disposal This is a really positive step towards meeting the and transportation costs. targets set out in Scotland’s Zero Waste Plan to Items which still have some food waste on them or reduce the amount of waste we send to landfi ll each are not dry when placed in the bin are considered year. Reduction of waste and reuse (by ourselves as contamination. Placing the wrong items in or others) as alternatives to landfi lling, often have recycling bins can also present problems at the MRF. the most positive impact economically, socially and Common problematic contaminants include: plastic environmentally. However, improving both the bags and wrappers, glass and black plastic. quantity and the quality of our recycling is also of Plastic bags, for example, may get caught in critical importance. mechanisms and damage machinery. “Contamination” is the term used for incorrect items To ensure that the material in your recycling bin is presented for collection in recycling bins. Once of good quality and not contaminated, please make our recycling is collected it is transported to a sure that items are clean, dry and loose. For more Material Recovery Facility (MRF) to be sorted prior information about what to put in your recycling bin to reprocessing. Heavily contaminated loads of visit: www.highland.gov.uk/recycle or contact our recycling may be rejected by reprocessors and sent Waste Aware Team ([email protected]).

18 Success for Council projects at national awards

Pictured with the Awards are L to R: Karen Maclean – Project Co-ordinator and The Highland Council has been awarded two Beatriz Fraga de Cal – Energy Engineer commendations and a fi rst place at the 2018 across the Highland area. The Council have delivered Scottish Regional Energy Effi ciency Awards a range of insulation improvements in partnership for the Highland Home Energy Effi ciency with E-On and the current programme will continue Programme. through to 2019. These awards recognise the eff orts made to The Highland Home Energy Effi ciency Programme eliminate fuel poverty and improve the energy is a Scottish Government programme that is led by effi ciency of homes in the UK. The awards, Councils to target homes that are vulnerable to fuel presented in Glasgow in June, recognise the poverty. It provides improvements to the fabric by Council’s work to improve energy use in homes provision of insulation leading to a healthier and across the Highlands and to help to tackle the high more effi cient home. The Highland programme levels of fuel poverty, particularly in rural areas. has run for 5 years and delivered savings to The Council has received recognition in the householders helping to reduce fuel poverty. following categories; Shortlist for Energy Institute Awards 2018 • Large Scale Project of the year – Winner The Highland Council have been shortlisted for 2 high • Local Authority of the year – Commended profi le Energy Institute Awards, and are representing • Working with vulnerable customers – The Highland Council amongst quite promenent Commended nominees. The EI Awards 2018 award categories are for Public Engagement (The Highland Climate This is the third year that the Highland scheme Challenge) and Energy Champion (Eddie Boyd). has been recognised for structural improvements 19 New role for listed building

A Council project has breathed new life into the listed building which had lain empty for twenty fi ve years, transforming it into new offi ces to serve the whole of Lochaber. The new Council offi ces at Charles Kennedy Building, transforms a former secondary school opposite West End car park on Achintore Road. The move consolidates staff from 3 town centre sites. The offi ces include an extension that accommodates the Department of Work and Pensions and Job Centre Plus on the ground fl oor. The adjacent former Fort William Primary School has also been redeveloped and provides accommodation for As well as re-using furniture and fi ttings throughout Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Changeworks and the new building, the Council gave away substantial The Highland Council’s Archive and Records Store. amounts of surplus furniture, fi ling cabinets and offi ce supplies to over 93 sites operated by the Staff worked hard to ensure any disruption during voluntary sector, partner services, schools and the move was kept to a minimum. Lochaber House other council offi ces. A public auction sale of all closed its doors for the last time at the end of the the remaining furniture and general items from day on Tuesday 22nd May. Lochaber House also took place to ensure that the move had taken every step possible to minimise landfi ll and encourage the reuse/recycle ethos.

The new offi ce will allow the Council to deliver services more cost-eff ectively and effi ciently with the net annual revenue saving to the Council expected to be around £100,000 after meeting the capital fi nancing costs.

20 21 Apprentice has her eye on the top job

One of The Highland Council’s apprentices has her eye on the top job. Bryony McDiarmid (18) from Cawdor, started The Highland Council’s Modern Apprenticeship her two year apprenticeship in Business and Programme currently provides employment Administration in ePlanning in November 2017 and training for over 80 apprentices. Off ering after a short spell in the retail sector. opportunities for new and existing employees in a wide range of occupations, the programme includes Commenting in our Spring “Highpoints” article Graduate Apprenticeships as well as Modern on Apprentices, to a question about her future Apprenticeships over 2 to 4 years, utilising the very ambitions, Bryony said: best training provision locally and across Scotland. “I am going for the Chief Executive’s job – you may Working in partnership with Service managers as well aim for the highest.” throughout the Council opportunities are being developed all the time across the Highlands and Well - word travels fast and Bryony was given the in a wide range of occupations to support service opportunity to work alongside Steve Barron for a delivery. day in May to see for herself what the role involves. Apprentices are employed in Business Bryony said: Administration, Civil Engineering, Early Years Child “What a great opportunity it was to get to work Care, Painting and Decorating, Carpentry and alongside Mr Steve Barron CEO for the day! He Joinery, Plumbing, Electricals, Mechanics, Roads, was kind and inclusive in his meetings, which Horticulture and Information Technology. These there were many of during the day. I did get a very apprenticeships are provided in Dingwall, Inverness, good insight into what goes on in the average day Fort William, Golspie, Alness, Wick, Thurso, Dornoch for Mr Barron. It was tough, following topics and and Portree. All apprentices in The Highland Council giving my input, where I was not ‘educated’ on are paid a minimum of Scottish Living Wage. the discussion. I feel with the correct training and knowledge further into The Highland Council, I would feel more confi dent. For now, I’ll stay put, however Mr Barron knows where to fi nd me if he ever needs a day off or decides to pass the job on!”

Chief Executive Steve Barron, soon to be retiring in November, said: “It is very inspiring to see the level of ambition and promise our young apprentices have and Bryony has lots of potential to achieve her goals in life. It is good to aim high. Our apprentices are our future and I wish them all the very best.”

Bryony added her thanks for the opportunity. She said: “I like to think I got on well and hopefully Mr Barron isn’t too worried for his job haha!”

Bryony with Steve Barron 22 23 High-Fi for Highland towns - Free WiFi is rolled out to towns across the Highlands

Many towns across the Highlands now have The City-Region Deal sets out the areas where the access to free WiFi thanks to a project led Scottish Government will commit investment of by the Highland Council and funded by the up to £135m and the UK Government will commit investment of up to £53.1m, which, together Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal. with £127m of further investment by the Council The free WiFi, called “High-Fi”, is and partners, will deliver a step change in digital aimed at stimulating economic connectivity, digital healthcare, skills, innovation growth and will increase digital and infrastructure. inclusion across the Highlands. Easy access to digital connectivity www.highland.gov.uk/site/high-fi /index.html is seen as essential if the Highland region is to be innovative and keep its competitive place in the tourism market. Allied to this, WiFi also off ers the opportunity to gather data to support tourism and the creation of a wireless infrastructure in a town centre allows smart traffi c management technology to be utilised. The fi rst phase of the free WiFi project was a Pilot in part of Inverness City Centre which was later rolled out to the wider city in early 2017 as Phase 2. The 3rd Phase is seeing the roll-out of free WiFi to 14 towns across Highland. The free wifi covers: Aviemore, Alness, Leader of The Highland Council Margaret Davidson Dingwall, launching High-fi at Drumnadrochit and Fort Augustus Dornoch, Drumnadrochit, Fort Augustus, Fort William, Aviemore Invergordon, Nairn, Portree; and Tain; with Thurso, Ullapool and Wick Fort William due to go live any day now.

Portree 24 Inside Housing Development Awards 2018 The shortlists for the Inside Housing Development Awards 2018 have just been published. I’m pleased to confi rm that The Raining’s Stairs project has been selected for the shortlist in three categories: Best Residential Development (under 70 homes) Best Aff ordable Housing Development (under 25 homes) Best Development Team

This will culminate in a largescale showcase of Blas Festival young talent - Òran Mòr on Saturday 15th September when over 500 young musicians and singers are Blas Festival will expected to perform alongside Skipinnish and showcase young Trail West, among others. This year young people’s musicians and their involvement will be even more widespread as they choice of bands for Year of Young People 2018 will take on key roles in creating, organising and running events which will off er them a range of new Hundreds of young people will be performing experiences. traditional music and song as the fi nale to this year’s Blas Festival in a special event to mark Scotland’s Year of Young People 2018. The festival is providing a platform to showcase the amazing talents of young people and provide them with various opportunities to express themselves through culture. 2018 Highland Council Celtic Media Festival 'coup' Quality Awards for Badenoch & Strathspey Our annual Quality Awards celebrate The prestigious international Celtic Media excellence and recognises the contribution Festival will spend its 40th year in the Highlands teams of staff and individual employees make. after a successful bid for it to take place in The event is funded by sponsorship and entries are Aviemore in June 2019. assessed by an independent judging panel who The Festival is an annual three day event that select the winning projects. Many of the winning is a celebration of broadcasting, fi lm talent and teams go on to represent the Highlands at the excellence from Scotland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Wales, national COSLA Awards. Cornwall and Brittany, One of the Awards is a community nominated promoting the languages award. Community councils, voluntary groups and and cultures of these Celtic local organisations are encouraged to nominate Nations and Regions. an individual or a team from any service within The It is supported by Highland Council that they feel has provided the broadcast, fi lm, community with a high quality service and who cultural and economic deserves special recognition for their work. development To make a nomination please email: performance@ organisations throughout highland.gov.uk or contact your local Ward Manager. the Celtic countries. 25 26 27