The Highland Council’s Magazine Winter 2016 Highpoints Issue 6 Sàr Phuingean INSIDE: City-Region Deal Projects page12
Highland Council celebrateebra staff achievements inn Quality Awards 2016 Photo by Ewen Weatherspoon Ewen by Photo Royal visit to the North Tower
Ness Wif i goes live www.highland.gov.uk Contents 3 Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal 3 Outstanding Business Ambassador 4 River Ness Flood Scheme gets a Royal Overview Welcome 5 Testing the River Ness fl ood gates Welcome to the Winter edition of our magazine Highpoints (Sàr 6 Quality Awards 2016 Phuingean). 10 Archaeology Festival This issue focuses on the outstanding work of Council staff , highlighted 11 Artefacts found along West in the Quality Awards which were held in November. It is always quite Link route humbling to hear about the dedication and commitment of our staff to 12 City-Region Deal Projects their work and the services they provide to communities. 14 Ness Wifi The Highland Council has worked closely with partners over the past 16 West Link two years on the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal City-Deal 18 Digital First and this edition of Highpoints contains an update on the various 19 Apply Once projects within the Deal Programme. 19 myAccount The City-Region Deal aims to position Inverness and the Highlands as a 20 Coach Friendly Status Award region of digital opportunity and economic development, with a skilled for Inverness workforce. HRH, The Earl of Inverness, was very interested, on his recent 21 Dingwall Academy pupils shine visit to the city, to hear about all the exciting developments taking at SCoD Star Awards place in the Highlands and is keen to encourage innovative businesses 22 Winners of the MOD Under 13 to consider the Highlands as an investment opportunity. Folk Group Competition Set against the context of investment in innovation and economic 24 Ardnamurchan High School pupils are Maths Masters growth, the Highland Council Members will have to consider options for signifi cant savings and make very diffi cult decisions in February. It is 25 Are you ready for winter? clear that the Council will need to considerably reduce or cease some 26 New era of education as pupils settle in at Caol Joint Campus services in order to meet a budget gap of over £20 million and this will not be easy for anyone. 27 Electoral Registration What is important is that we focus our eff orts on providing the highest quality services where they are needed most and to ensure the best Contact us value for every pound we spend. Write to: 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 are sponsored by advertising. Isobel McCallum Highland Council Convener Listening ~ Open ~ Valuing ~ Improving ~ Supporting ~ Partnering ~ Delivering Page 2 Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal
The vision behind the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal is to position Inverness and the Highlands as a region of digital opportunity. This vision was turned into reality with the signing in March 2016 of the heads of terms agreement between the UK and Scottish Governments and the Highland Council. This sets out the broad areas where Governments will commit investment of up to £188m which, together with £127m of further investment by the Council and public sector partners, will deliver a step change in digital connectivity, digital healthcare, skills, innovation and infrastructure. The next step is for us to develop a detailed implementation plan for approval by both Scottish and UK Governments. Find out more about the City-Region Deal projects on page 12.
Or visit: www.highland.gov.uk/cityregiondeal
Director Stuart Black receives Outstanding Business Ambassador Award
Director of Development of the need to reintroduce a tremendously popular with and Infrastructure, Stuart Heathrow link with Inverness. tourists and businesses alike, Black, was awarded the SCDI “The Highlands have much to we’re delighted to be playing a part in helping the Highland Heathrow Airport Award off er and with the connection to Heathrow already proving economy fl ourish.” for Outstanding Business Ambassador in September 2016. Heathrow’s Director of External Aff airs Nigel Milton said: “Stuart has been a true leader and played an important part in driving investment and supporting businesses across the Highlands through his roles with Highland Council and previously Highlands and Islands Enterprise. He has been an outstanding ambassador for the region and a great champion on issues such as air connectivity Stuart Black with David Whiteford, Chair of the North Highland Initiative which does the North Coast 500. where he was a strong advocate
Page 3 River Ness Flood Scheme gets a Royal Overview
Photos by Ewen Weatherspoon
disruptive event occurred in incorporate enhanced footways 1989 when the railway viaduct and cycleways. was swept away with the fl oods. Public art opportunities also More recent fl ood events were exist and are being progressed in encountered in 2005, 2007, 2008 parallel. and 2011, and indeed two fl ood The Scheme was entered and events were encountered during won a Saltire Award in 2015 for the construction of the works, the quality of the project. that whilst contained, did cause localised fl ooding. The Provost of Inverness welcomed HRH The Earl of The scheme off ers a 1 in 100 year Inverness to the Town House to level of protection and alleviates unveil a special plaque to mark fl ooding to some 800 houses and his visit. 200 businesses. The River Ness Flood Scheme She said: “I am delighted to The Highland Council submitted welcome His Royal Highness, received a Royal Overview by st a grant application on the 21 The Earl of Inverness to Inverness. HRH The Earl of Inverness on December 2011, making an Tuesday 13th December, when I hope he enjoyed his visit this application for 80% funding morning to the castle hill viewing he visited the view point of for the River Ness (Tidal) Flood platform in the North Tower, with the North Tower to get an Alleviation Scheme. Scottish such splendid views over the city. eagle’s eye view of the award Government confi rmed funding He will certainly have had a bird’s winning fl ood scheme and support in February 2012. eye view of the award winning the city of Inverness. Due to the major construction fl ood scheme and the beautiful works to be undertaken, new surroundings of the River The River Ness has burst its banks the scheme also off ered the Ness as well as views over the numerous times throughout opportunity to upgrade the whole of Inverness.” history often with devastating streetscape environment and consequences. The most Page 4 Testing the River Ness fl ood gates Photos by Phil Downie
The fl ood gates for the River Ness Flood Scheme were closed for around 2 hours on 28th September 2016 as part of a joint training exercise between The Highland Council and SEPA, to demonstrate operating procedures for responding to coastal and river fl ood events and how they trigger activation of Inverness Flood Alleviation Scheme. The award winning River Ness fl ood alleviation scheme was completed in 2015 and includes fl ood walls, embankments and 12 Richard Brown, Head of You can sign up to Floodline to fl ood gates which are normally Hydrology at the Scottish receive free notifi cations of fl ood kept open to maintain access at Environment Protection Agency warning messages direct to your key locations. (SEPA) said: choice of mobile or landline The River Ness has burst its banks “This joint training exercise is numbers at: numerous times throughout an excellent example of strong www.sepa.org.uk/fl oodingsignup history, often with devastating partnership working. Using our or by calling: 0345 988 1188 consequences. The most state-of-the-art fl ood forecasting disruptive event occurred in 1989 systems along the Moray Firth and when the railway viaduct was River Ness enables SEPA to work swept away with the fl oods. The closely with local authorities and new River Ness fl ood scheme not emergency responders during only protects 1000 properties fl ood events to ensure people are from such devastation, but the informed and protected. scheme has really transformed our lovely riverside and has made “It is never too early for people it a really attractive place to be. and businesses to take action and protect themselves, and their SEPA is responsible for providing properties, against the disruption a fl ood warning and forecasting and damage which fl ooding can service (FLOODLINE) within cause. In addition to the well- Scotland, and The Highland established River Ness fl ood Council, Emergency Services and warning system, a coastal fl ood the general public can receive warning service for the Moray Firth fl ood alerts and warnings direct. was launched in 2014 and we hope that as many people as possible who live and work in, or travel through, the area will sign up to our Floodline service to receive up to 24 hours advance notice when fl ooding is predicted.”
Page 5 Cover Quality Awards 2016 Story
Sponsored by
Encouraging Improvement, Recognising Achievement Employee of the year 2016 Housing Policy offi cer Gail “She genuinely cares about the diffi cult process of arriving Ward has been named as our the impact welfare reform has and settling into a strange Employee of the Year for the on individuals and has worked environment after the trauma of tirelessly to help tenants with surviving the civil war and fl eeing care and compassion she has their problems and cope with their country. shown in welcoming Syrian fundamental changes to the way David adds: “Gail has shown refugees to the Highlands and they receive their income.” great compassion and gone well her work to ease the impact As well as this role, Gail has beyond her normal work remit to Welfare Reform has had on also played an important make this project a success. She individuals. part in the Syrian Refugee has dealt with many obstacles, Resettlement programme. This unexpected events and personal As the fi rst Local Authority work has required considerable problems experienced by the to undertake the roll-out of planning using her excellent families with the perfect balance of Universal Credit, Gail has been at organisational and motivational calm professionalism and genuine the forefront of what is a national skills to ensure the Council was empathy.” policy issue and provided able to welcome the fi rst Syrian experience based advice to the Runners up for their outstanding families to Highland earlier this UK Government, Department contributions were Wanda Mackay, year. As well as closely working of Work and Pensions, COSLA a Youth Worker with High Life with colleagues and partners, and other social landlords, Highland based on the Black Isle Gail has had a very hands on including Councils and Housing role in building relationships Associations nationally. Head with the individual families and of Housing David Goldie who supporting them through nominated Gail said:
Wanda Mackay and Shirley Jack, Manager of The Orchard, the Council’s Respite Centre in Inverness for children with disabilities.
Shirley Jack Employee of the year winner Gail Ward
Photos by Ewen Weatherspoon Page 6 Community and the results of illness like the Her next step is to continue winter vomiting bug. They are her studies and progress to Commendation also called upon to carry out Incorporated Engineer grade. The Community Commendation deep cleaning in social housing Principal Engineer with the Unit, Award went to Eoghan Stewart, a premises and industrial cleaning Garry Smith said: Gaelic Teacher at Alness Academy in schools. “Lucy’s progress has been swift and for his work in organising The William and Mick have been she has shown a real commitment Cupa Iomain na h-Òige - a doing this important specialist and excellent work ethic. A valued national Shinty Competition for role for over 14 years, alongside member of our team, I have no Primary Schools run though the their day jobs. doubt she will excel as she moves medium of Gaelic. forward in her career within the Trainee of the Year Council.” Our 2016 Trainee of the Year is Lucy Melville, a Senior Technician Team of the Year with the Project Design Unit team The Team of the Year Award went based in Golspie. After graduating to the entire staff at Inverness from Inverness College with an Royal Academy who pulled HNC in Civil Engineering, Lucy together and worked with started work in Fort William colleagues in the Council, the where she gained practical constructers and partner agencies Pupils from schools across engineering experience before to ensure that the building was Scotland took part in the joining the Council in 2013 as a ready in time to welcome the 950 tournament which was held Technician within the Traffi c and pupils at the start of the school entirely in Gaelic at Newtonmore. Transport Planning team. year. Eoghan was praised highly for Staff at the school quickly and being the driving force and eff ectively settled pupils in inspiration behind this project and despite a number of issues which brought Gaelic out of involving the gas supply, power the classroom setting and gave outages, and some of the ICT young people the chance to use installations, the team at the their linguistic and sporting skills. school have been resolute Highly Commended and resilient. The staff have worked through the issues and Team found solutions, maintaining A special Highly Commended consistency in learning and Team Award was presented to teaching for pupils and William Aitken and Mick McCann morale across the school. Head Teacher Nigel Engstrand from the Council’s Bio Hazard In November 2014 Lucy joined says: Team. the Project Design Unit and “Without the energy and since then she has relished her Willie and Mick respond to commitment, and the leadership role within a team designing requests to attend “disagreeable” of the school management team, infrastructure to be delivered situations day and night, all year it would not have been possible through the Council’s Capital round. The Bio Hazards they deal to keep the school open. This has spending programme. with include discarded needles been an outstanding, impressive As part of the Unit’s graduate eff ort by everyone”. and technician training scheme, Lucy has combined independent study and learning with on the job training and as a result has More overleaf recently passed the Engineering Technician exam through the Institute of Civil Engineers. Page 7 Enabling a local authority in Scotland to their local community and have create a community grant fund to embraced the chance to learn community led tackle climate change in such a new skills and develop their Highland pioneering way. confi dence. Winning project Delivering for a Well The Carbon CLEVER Community Grant Fund project served Highland This Fund was set up in Winners August 2014 to help Highland “Kinlochlovin” project at communities reduce greenhouse Kinlochleven High School gas emissions - taking leadership “Kinlochlovin” is a social on carbon reduction, raising enterprise providing enhanced awareness and developing local “Kinlochlovin has made me feel extra-curricular activities to pupils projects. a better person as now I know at Kinlochleven High School. With how to do more things. I’ve learnt a roll of just 143, as recently as 4 skills that I might use in life. I have years ago less than 6% of pupils helped make money to help progressed to Higher Education. people in the school and it makes “Kinlochlovin” strives to ensure me feel good. It makes me feel fi nance and rural isolation are more confi dent about doing my not barriers to participation. In its work in school now.” (pupil). fi rst year there has been a marked increase in involvement with 89% of pupils taking part in a wide Achieving a fairer A capital allocation of £200,000 range of outdoor, adventure, Highland has assisted 23 diff erent sporting and enterprising Winners community projects. These activities. range from energy and effi ciency Improving Health and Wellbeing improvements to buildings such These have included entering for Children and Young People who as the Isle of Eigg Community Rock Challenge and taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award, have experienced loss, change and Hall and the swimming pool at bereavement Mallaig, to the setting up of a as well as a number of creative community split-log project on and fund-raising projects such “Seasons for Growth” is an the Isle of Skye which provides as a school up-cycling group, a early intervention prevention people with a sustainable and low craft club and a Friday café run by programme designed to support carbon way to heat their homes. pupils which promotes healthy children and young people eating. Young people have got dealing with loss, bereavement The Highland Council is the fi rst involved in volunteering within and changes in their home life. A multi-agency team from the Nairn Associated School Group have been successfully using it to support vulnerable young children, helping them promote their resilience at a diffi cult time in their young lives and fostering close engagement with school and learning. Delivering Seasons for Growth involves a co-ordinated approach with care professionals, teaching staff , parents and the young people working as a team. It’s based on the belief that change Photos by Ewen Weatherspoon Ewen by Photos Page 8 to meet a gap in the information currently available within schools. Sadly, over the course of a school year in Highland, up to 6 pupils die as a result of illness or accidents. Schools, professionals and families fi nd it diffi cult to support and advice in these situations as it may be the fi rst and only time they have to deal with such a bereavement. Trying to fi nd the most suitable information at the time of a and loss are part of life and that year. Costs have signifi cantly trauma can add to the stress of grief is a normal response to such reduced while performance, the situation for all involved. losses. including collections and benefi ts The team behind this project Feedback from parents, carers processing times, has greatly have created an easy to use and pupils has highlighted the improved. Eff ective leadership and comprehensive web-based very positive impact it has had has been key to many of the resource for pupils, their families on helping children and young successes this project has had, as and schools facing unforeseen people understand, express was empowering staff to identify traumatic events. The pack is the their feelings and to talk openly and implement change. fi rst of its kind in Scotland and about them. The true power is now being used by charities of the programme can only be and other local authorities as an understood when listening to example of best practice. pupils’ individual stories. One said: “Seasons has helped me cope with diffi cult situations. I go to all my classes now. If things got tough before, I just used to leave. Now I stay. My grades have improved massively.” The “Traditional” responsibilities Delivering effi ciency of Council Tax and Housing and service Benefi t now include Scottish Welfare Fund, School Clothing improvement Grants, Free School Meals, Education Maintenance Winners The team has received very Allowance, Music Tuition Fees, Revenues Redesign project emotional comments from Inverness Winter Fuel Payments parents and schools that have With the council facing signifi cant and Garden Aid. used the guidance and strategies fi nancial challenges it was clear in the pack to grieve together. that any redesign would need Outstanding They have particularly given to focus on making substantial Partnership Award the resources high praise for savings and delivering effi ciencies helping them better understand in revenue collection. Winners what they were experiencing The restructuring, which started Life-limiting Conditions, Palliative and helping them make positive in 2014, is now complete and Care, Loss, Bereavement and memories in their communities of it has delivered £3.3million of Trauma support pack their loved ones. savings in its fi rst year and is This pack has been created by predicted to deliver a further a multi-service group including More overleaf £4.1million in the coming charities and the voluntary sector
Page 9 Convener’s Award to a minimum while work is underway. Winners Archaeology The Spray Injection Permanent Being able to make repairs Patching project quickly and eff ectively in- Festival house, the cost savings mean an Spray injection permanent increased number of permanent The 2016 Archaeology patching of road pavements is a repairs can be delivered within Festival took place from new technique to repair roads, the existing budget. the 1st - 16th October and in particular pot holes, using a was a great success with specialist vehicle. Thank You people of all ages across the Highlands taking part in over 80 activities including walks, talks, workshops, exhibitions, the annual conference and, new for this year, a Museums Trail with 31 participating museums. The festival was an ideal opportunity for people to explore our rich heritage from prehistoric times through to Traditionally, the Council has used the 20th century. inlay patch repairs and temporary cold repairs to deal with pot Speaking at the end of the award To fi nd out more about the holes, but recent technological ceremony, the Leader of the thousands of historic and improvements have brought a Council said: “It really has been archaeological sites across the change. heartening to hear about the Highlands and to tell us about forward-thinking and ground- sites near you, visit the Historic Following trials with breaking projects that are taking Environment Record website: neighbouring Local Authorities, place across all of our services and her.highland.gov.uk the Council purchased a by our partners in NHS Highland Jetpatcher machine which and High Life Highland. Community Services staff have been trained to operate. Over “I strongly believe we are already the last 6 months the Jetpatcher one of the most inventive and has been touring the Highlands effi cient Councils in Scotland and quickly and effi ciently tackling the strength of our performance the scourge of potholes on our lies in the quality of people who roads. work for us. Your commitment, skills, experience and good- will make things happen and our communities are all the better for your hard work and drive. “I am confi dent that we’ll be able to face the challenges head on, and working together, adapt and face changes in how we deliver with a renewed confi dence that is forward thinking and captures the With this system it takes as little essence that makes the Highlands as fi ve minutes to repair a four- a special place to live, work, visit and-a-half by one-and-a-half foot and do business in.” squared pothole. This extremely effi cient method means delays on the road for drivers are kept Photos by Ewen Weatherspoon
Page 10 Artefacts found along West Link route A prehistoric arrowhead, pieces of pottery, clay pipe stems, iron slag and other features including a burnt mound, a kiln, an upstanding kerb cairn and what could be the remains of a roundhouse are just some of the intriguing artefacts and sites of archaeological interest that have been uncovered during fi eldwork carried out along the West Link route. There has been almost no modern archaeological excavation in this part of Inverness, despite antiquarian accounts of signifi cant prehistoric fi ndspots and burials, so the results, from this recent fi eldwork have the potential to improve major gaps in our understanding of this part of the archaeological landscape of the area. The Highland Council’s Archaeologist Kirsty Cameron said: “Results from an Archaeological point of view have certainly extended our knowledge of this area of Inverness. Before this work was carried out we didn’t have any recorded remains from this whole area. The analysis that will be carried out by specialists will give us better dating evidence and wouldn’t it be great if the results could be reported at next year’s Highland Archaeology Festival?”
Kirsty at work on the West Link road site
Page 11 City-Region Deal Projects Digital
The ambition for the Highlands to be the most digitally connected rural region in Europe will include superfast broadband, mobile connectivity, business adoption and digital access across the Highlands. Northern An early component of the Digital Skills Programme is the City Centre Innovation Hub To enable the Highland economy Wifi project, led by Highland to grow and prosper, businesses The Northern Innovation Hub will Council, which is piloting free need a skills set to meet current be delivered by HIE in partnership Wifi in Inverness beginning in and future needs. A step change with The Highland Council. It December, with an aim to roll out in how public sector bodies at will deliver a range of targeted across the city centre (see page national and local level work initiatives over a 7 year period, 14). The wider programme will together requires local and principally across the food and learn from the pilot with a view to national partners to align and drink, life sciences, creative providing Wifi in the main towns deliver services better and new industry and tourism sectors. The throughout The Highlands. services to be aligned with programmes will include: Deal Funding: existing provision. • Graduate placement £20m UK Government Deal Funding: programmes Digital Programme Lead: Non funded • Intensive support to young Highlands & Islands Enterprise Project Lead: and new businesses The Highland Council • Digital skills programmes Science Skills • Adoption of competitive digital practices for highland Academy Land Remediation businesses - Longman Deal Funding: £11m UK Government The Science Skills Academy (SSA) will transform the uptake of This initiative is to carry out land Project Lead: Science Technology Engineering remediation and site servicing Highlands & Islands Enterprise Maths and Digital subjects in works to release a former landfi ll schools across the Highlands. It site for development. This would will increase the proportion of address lack of availability of Innovative Assisted indigenous young people who appropriate land to meet the are able to take advantage of needs of both small and medium Living Scheme the growing opportunities in life size businesses and the needs sciences, renewable energy and of larger inward investment The aim is to establish innovative digital technologies. companies, to ensure the assisted living schemes using The main deliverables are a SSA continued economic growth and the latest IT healthcare to enable Hub and “Newton Rooms”, in success of Inverness. elderly people to live in their various sites in the Highlands. Deal Funding: communities and avoid the need for them to be in hospitals or care Deal Funding: £10m UK Government homes. A cluster will also be built £3m Scottish Government Project Lead: The Highland Council in Inverness to suit the needs of Project Lead: veterans. The deliverables will be: Highlands & Islands Enterprise Page 12 • Monitoring technology Aff ordable • Adaptable carbon construction modular homes Air Access Housing • Data capture and monitoring This initiative will create a key The initiative will off er young systems stakeholder group to ensure the people attractive, aff ordable • Support packages importance of eff ective regional housing in the Highlands to enable air access to the Highland • Clinically led evaluation them to stay in the region, retaining economy is recognised by policy programmes a young and vibrant workforce for makers and industry and which the Highlands. This would be high Deal Funding: will work with the Highland quality housing, initially for rent £3m Scottish Government Council to consider how to at aff ordable levels, but with an Project Lead: promote improved regional opportunity to purchase. access. Allbyn Housing The outline Business Case is being Deal Funding: N/A developed in conjunction with Project Lead: the Scottish Government Housing School of Health, HITRANS Offi cials. Social Care and Deal Funding: Life Sciences £5m Scottish Government Road Project Lead: The Highland Council This project will establish a centre Infrastructure of excellence in innovation and commercialisation in health East Link and Inverness Castle and life sciences, based on the This initiative will use the campus. It will work closely with Longman opportunity of the Scottish the NHS to support emerging and Interchange Courts and Tribunals Service attract new businesses. relocating from Inverness Castle It will deliver: The A9/A96 Link Road & Longman to create a sustainable, viable • A state of the art Interchange are key strategic road and “must-see” centre to attract research, development improvement projects which will visitors to the area. It will include: and commercialisation provide signifi cant improvements • the castle viewpoint (the centre (including product to connectivity within the city North Tower) currently being development small and open up considerable areas refurbished; manufacturing capability) for economic development. • the wider redeveloped castle as • A space for clinical research These projects together with a tourist and heritage centre; directly linked to applied the West Link road are of critical • information and exhibits and health, and life science importance to enabling Inverness interpretive programmes; and • A professional to grow and act as an economic commercialisation resource catalyst for the region. • innovative digital and multimedia exhibits. • Product development Transport Scotland is progressing An outline business case has technical support plans for a single road connecting been submitted to the Scottish • Development pipeline for the Inshes to Smithton in Inverness. Government. Early funding from new products and services, Public exhibitions were held the City-Region Deal has also spin-outs and technology in August 2016. This was with been used to convert the North a view to selecting a preferred Deal Funding: Tower of the castle from offi ces option for the scheme in 2017. £9m UK Government to a viewing platform (The Castle Deal Funding: Project Lead: Viewpoint). This will be open in £107m Scottish Government University of the Highlands and the spring of 2017. Islands Project Lead: Deal Funding: Transport Scotland £15m Scottish Government Project Lead: High Life Highland Page 13 Nesswif i A project of the City-Region Deal
Connected devices and services have become so commonplace that WiFi access is increasingly seen as a utility, similar to electricity or water, rather than a luxury item. Many cities are developing WiFi schemes in order to help provide locals and visitors with real time connection to the internet to access online information and services. Nesswifi project is aligned to the Smart Cities Strategic Intervention, which aims to use technology to improve health, economic and social outcomes in Connection will be straightforward. There will be a Scotland’s cities. simple login process requiring either a social media account (Facebook or Twitter) or an email address. Roll-out The Nesswifi scheme will have “Friendly Wifi ” Public The Nesswifi project will start in the city centre WiFi accreditation, which means browsing will be around the historic Victorian Market, including safe to use for people of all ages. Queensgate, Union Street, Church Street and Academy Street, as well as Falcon Square. The aim is to roll out across the rest of the city centre in 2017. A number of strategically placed access points will be located throughout the city centre, designed to give the greatest amount of coverage possible. These will off er a marked improvement for anyone wishing to access online services while out and about in the coming years.
www.nesswif i.co.uk
Page 14 Key Ness Wifi Free Taxi ranks Pilot Area
Bus stops Places of worship Coach Roads © Crown Copyright and Database Right 2016. All Rights Reserved 100023369 2016 parking Pedestrianised Inverness areas City-Region Deal railway station Nesswifi is a project undertaken as a part of the Inverness and Buildings Highland City-Region Deal, and will be the beginning of a number of exciting projects set to help turn the Highlands into the “most digitally capable rural region in Europe”. Logging on Once the Inverness scheme is up and running, our aim is to roll out to the free free public WiFi to other communities in the Highlands. WiFi is simple: • Turn on WiFi on your mobile phone or other device • Look for NESS_WiFi_Free in your list of available WiFi networks • Select NESS_WiFi_Free and wait for the pop-up window • Log-on with either your social media details or by entering your email address • Start enjoying the free WiFi!
Page 15 Work on the West Link road and bridge over the River Ness is progressing well. The new bridge over the River Ness is a composite Fabrication of each half will occur on each side and, bridge with steel beams and a reinforced concrete when fabrication is complete in February, a large deck and parapets. crane will be mobilised so that pairs of bridge beams Wills Brothers, the main contractor, has procured the can be lifted into place onto the new abutments bridge beams and these have been fabricated and and bridge piers. Works will then commence on the painted in Belgium. construction of the reinforced concrete works. The bridge beams were delivered in sections, and This work is currently progressing well and the fabrication of the complete beams is currently bridge construction - critical to the delivery of the ongoing on site, where the sections are welded Stage 1 works, is on programme. together and then braced into pairs of beams.
Construction of the new bridge underway
Aerial view of West Link construction
Page 16 Aerial photos courtesy of Scotavia Images www.scotaviaimages.co.uk
Artist impressions of new swing bridge Photos courtesy of Capita www.capita.com
Page 17 also compatible with all mobile Digital First devices, in fact our pothole reporting form works better on a The aim of the Digital First project is to have 40% of smartphone than other devices, transactions with customers carried out online by April 2017, using the camera and gps providing customers with an additional choice of how to location to improve the accuracy of the report. interact with the council. User-friendly processes and As you will see from this graph, we currently have 31% of forms transactions carried out online. As well as providing a choice of where and how you engage with the council, the usability and functionality of the forms also supports the needs of our customers. We design all our forms with your customer experience in mind. Immediate acknowledgement that applications are received The forms and payments send automated emails to customers, providing you with confi rmation that your form or payment has been received. Integrations with back offi ce systems We are increasing the amount of integration, putting data from customer forms straight into back offi ce systems. This cuts out the need for manual data entry and improves the time for processing the request. Saving time and resources Our online forms are reducing This is a really positive milestone than presented face to face the workload required to process and we now need to maintain or posted, but we are the fi rst customer transactions, by sending that momentum in order to head council in Scotland to accept the information directly to the towards our 40% target in April of photographed and electronic appropriate team, collecting next year. evidence, as well as scanned. This all necessary information from To date, we have 91 forms helps customers who do not have customers fi rst time in a legible available for customers online, access to a scanner at home. format, gathering all necessary up from 34 forms 18 months ago. Access to council services evidence and presenting that These forms range from reporting anytime, anywhere, on any for staff in a way that helps them street lights that are out, to device. to process it more effi ciently. As paying rent and applying for a With 24/7 availability, our online well as making savings in terms of council house. services allow you to complete staff time, evidence is starting to Another success for our project your business with the council emerge that this is speeding up is the ability not only to accept at a time that suits you. Our processing times for customers evidence uploaded online rather website and online forms are too. Page 18 Apply Once
The Highland Council has recently launched electronic evidence, meaning customers no longer Apply Once, a new online form designed to have to post their originals, or visit service points to help customers to work out which council complete their applications. benefi ts they may be entitled to. Apply Once is available at www.highland.gov.uk/ applyonce. The online form asks customers • On average, 10,000 online transactions take place for some basic each month with Highland Council. personal details, • 31% of customer transactions are now carried out before assessing online, compared to face to face and telephone what that customer may be entitled to • 91 Online forms are available through the council and giving an indication of how much they website. Everything from reporting potholes might receive. The customer can then choose and broken streetlights to applying for council what benefi ts they want to include in their housing or benefi ts. application, and complete the single online form to apply for all the benefi ts they choose. • 17,649 Customers have signed up to myaccount, Highland Council’s customer portal The Apply Once form helps customers make sure they are receiving all the benefi ts they are entitled • £750,000 worth of payments to the council are to, at the same time reducing the number of made online each month, forms they need to complete and the amount of • 1st council in Scotland to off er Apply Once, access evidence they need to provide. The online form to a wide range of council benefi ts through a is immediately received by the council, speeding single online form. up the turnaround time for customers. And the online form accepts scanned, photographed and myAccount
We are approaching our 18,000th customer account on our customer portal, myAccount.
This allows customers to sign up to use some of our more complicated and secure forms, and to have forms prepopulated with all the information we know about them, reducing the time it takes to complete forms and reducing the need for us to check their identity in every form.
Page 19 Coach Friendly
Photo by Ewen Weatherspoon Ewen by Photo Status Award Inverness has been awarded Coach Friendly for Inverness status by the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK (CPT), the trade association representing the UK’s bus and coach industries, for the warm welcome and facilities off ered to coach visitors to the city. pick-up, drop-off and coach parking. CPT, drivers and passengers are delighted with the service provided by The status acknowledges the commitment made by their Coach Ambassadors who off er a true ‘Highland Inverness to meet the needs of coaches, their drivers Welcome’.” and their passengers to the city centre. Mike Smith Manager of Inverness Business The Highland Council put in place a package of Improvement District (BID) said “BID is delighted to measures to develop Inverness as a ‘coach friendly have worked with The Highland Council on delivering city’, including the creation of a coach drop-off a successful coach friendly facility in Ardross Street. and pick-up point on Ardross Street in Inverness. This dedicated drop off and pick up point will be used A Coach Ambassador role was also created with by a fantastic 1900 coaches this season – up 18% from funding from the Common Good Fund which has 2015. The feedback from coach passengers, guides greatly enhanced the coach tourism experience for and drivers is that they all are very pleased with the visitors to Inverness. welcome we have provided for them.” Provost of the city of Inverness, Councillor Helen Carmichael said: “This is great news for our ‘City in the Highlands’ which not only prides itself on our ’Highland Welcome’, but recognises the major economic importance of the tourist Industry and the vital part that the Coach Travel Sector plays in making Inverness the fourth most popular destination in Britain.” Jeremy Tinsley, Manager for CPT Scotland said: “The Highland Council in partnership with Inverness Business Improvement District has worked tirelessly over several years to deliver high quality facilities in Inverness for visiting coaches and their passengers. It has made excellent provisions in terms of passenger
Page 20 Dingwall Academy pupils shine at SCoD Star Awards Photo courtesy on Deafness Photo of Scottish Council
Four pupils from Dingwall Academy came Photo L-R: home with trophies for their school from Janis MacDonald Chief Offi cer SCoD; the SCoD (Scottish Council on Deafness) Molly Munro-Main S3, the runner up certifi cate Star Awards which was held on Tuesday for the Children and Young people Achievement 15th December in the DoubleTree Hilton in award; Glasgow. Niamh Mackay S3; Fraser Owen S3, holding the trophy for Lifelong Dingwall Academy and the pupils won the ‘Lifelong Learning Initiative award; Learning Initiative’ category and were shortlisted in the ‘Children and Young People Achievements’ Angela Bonomy Interim Director NDCS (National category Deaf Children Society); Isla McLean S6; and Winning the Lifelong Learning Initiative award – Dingwall Academy Deafbase was described as: Margaret Kinsman Acting Head of Service “A school with a sense of community – a school (HDES)/ PT Deaf Dingwall Academy. where, by taking a collective responsibility, pupils and staff have the opportunity to achieve extraordinary Margaret Kinsman, Acting Head of Service (HDES) things. The values of the school are Respect, Dingwall Academy said: “It was a pleasure to witness Responsibility, Honesty and Determination.” young people demonstrating their signing and deaf awareness skills learnt in school when they found The other nominations in this category were Tayside themselves seated beside Deaf adults at the awards Deaf Hub and Ann Lavery of Forth Valley Sensory lunch. They engaged in conversation and even Centre. managed to share a joke with one of the ladies who D/deaf Pupils at Dingwall Academy were also had previously visited the school. I cannot think of any runners up in the Children and Young People fi ner ambassadors for the school and their peers.” Achievements award for a new innovative Deaf The term D/deaf is used throughout higher Studies course that was introduced in 2014. This education and research to describe students who is delivered at the Academy enabling the hearing are Deaf (sign language users) and deaf (who are and D/deaf communities to come together giving hard of hearing but who have English as their fi rst equality and empowerment through shared language and may lipread and/or use hearing aids). learning. These young people are encouraged to explore activities and strategies to build their confi dence and self-resilience. Page 21 Photo by Graham Hood
Winners of the MOD Under 13 Folk Group Competition
Sgoil an Rubha, in Lewis have won top prize in the Folk Group Competition for Under 13 year olds at the Royal National Mod in the Western Isles. For the eighth year running The Highland Council has supported this competition, and this year the winning group received a £200 prize. Councillor Hamish Fraser, Chair of the Highland Council’s Gaelic Implementation Group, said: “I had the honour of presenting the prize in this excellent competition. It’s been a delight to be present here today to see the young people perform to such a high standard.” He continued, “The standard keeps improving each year and all the young people taking part should feel very proud of their performances. I’ve every confi dence that they will all progress and become successful ambassadors for Gaelic in the future.”
Page 22 Page 23 Ardnamurchan High School pupils are Maths Masters
On Tuesday 15th November, a day puzzling over mathematical the Ardnamurchan High problems and came thirteenth School Maths team did out of the sixty four schools that were all representing their own the school proud at the areas as top regional fi nalists. Enterprising Maths Team For Ardnamurchan High to win Challenge Scottish fi nal in the Inverness heat was a great Ardnamurchan High School is Glasgow. achievement. To come thirteenth located in Strontian and serves at the fi nal, where all the schools the wider areas of Sunart Morvern Ben Gregg (S3), Alistair Tait who came higher where much and Ardnamurchan and has a roll (S3), Ella Christian (S3) and Kay bigger schools, was a real of 100 pupils. Christian (S4), were the Maths testament to the hard work and squad who, after winning the Ella Christian (S3) said, excellent team eff ort and hard regional fi nals in Inverness, in “It was a really fun experience, we work of Ella, Kay, Ben and Alistair, September, went to the Glasgow met some really cool people and their supportive parents and their Science Centre to compete in the realised that mathematicians are maths teacher, Mr Aitken. National Finals. There they spent really nice people!”
Page 24 Are you ready for winter?
Are you ready at home and on the move for winter? Have you got a winter kit in your car? Are you prepared for all eventualities? Are you looking out for elderly neighbours? Do you know how to fi nd out and what to do if your school is closed?
We’re once again supporting the Scottish School closures Government’s Ready Scotland campaign To fi nd out if Highland schools are closed check www.readyscotland.org and are urging people in the Council’s website: the Highlands to take some time to get prepared www.highland.gov.uk/schoolclosures or call the and ready for winter and all kinds of severe weather school information line on 0800 564 2272 and dial so not to be caught out. in your local school PIN number to get the latest We have 105 gritters, 45 footpath tractors and pre-recorded message from the head teacher. 1 snow cutter ready for action and over 200 staff will The list of school PIN numbers is on the council’s be providing winter maintenance services on the website at: www.highland.gov.uk/schoolclosures 6,744kms of roads for which we have responsibility. Make sure you have the phone number and PIN Trunk roads in Highland are the responsibility number ready in a handy place now. of Transport Scotland and their operators Bear Scotland. FLOODLINE • Did you know 30cm of fl owing water could move Salt Stocks the average family car? Our road salt stocks are currently at 35,000 tonnes • Around 125,000 properties are a risk of fl ooding with another 25,000 tonnes due for delivery shortly in Scotland and arrangements are in place to re-stock during the winter if required. SEPA’S fl oodline provides live fl ooding information and advice on how to prepare for, or cope with, the Gritting policy & priority routes impacts of fl ooding 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Why not sign up and receive free fl ood messages for We grit our roads according to policy and priority. your area direct to your phone? Be prepared. Primary routes are gritted Mondays to Saturdays 6am to 9pm and on Sundays and public holidays from 7am to 9pm. Secondary routes will follow the completion of Primary routes and are gritted Mondays to Saturdays from 6am to 6pm within available resources. ‘Other’ routes are treated as resources permit. In extreme conditions all eff orts will be made to keep Primary routes clear. Grit/salt bins on council roads have a telephone number displayed on them to allow the public to request a refi ll. The Council’s Winter Maintenance Policy and existing local area gritting maps are on the council’s website at: www.highland.gov.uk/gritting
Page 25 New era of education as pupils settle in at Caol Joint Campus The new joint campus building to accommodate Caol Primary School and St Columba’s RC Primary School was handed over to The Highland Council and occupied by pupils prior to the start of the October holidays. This is the latest phase to be completed in the £16m development project in Caol, which has already delivered a building comprising new accommodation for Caol Community Centre, Caol Library, Caol Youth Centre and Room 13. Work is continuing on the project with demolition of the former Caol Primary school building to make way for new car parking, school drop off and public green spaces ongoing. Overall completion is scheduled for early in 2017.
Photo by Highland Council
Page 26 Electoral Registration Every year Electoral Registration Offi cers must issue households in their area with an enquiry form, to know who is eligible to vote at each property. Enquiry forms were issued to properties on 15th August 2016. If you have yet to respond, reminder forms will be issued from Monday 12th September 2016 with fi nal reminders being issued on Monday 10th October 2016. Continued non response will result in a visit from a doorstep canvasser. You can respond by internet, telephone or SMS message – just follow the instructions sent with your form. This is the cheapest way for you to provide us with the information and saves taxpayers’ money. Alternatively, complete the paper form and return to us, postage is free (to the user). So far, over £4,200 of taxpayers’ money has been saved in postages due to responses made by the internet, telephone or SMS. Not already registered? If your name does not appear on your household enquiry form, you will then need to register to vote. The easiest way to register is online at: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote Not being on the electoral register can aff ect your credit rating.
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