Politics

The Highland Council is advising postal voters to read instructions when completing their statement and ballot paper to ensure their vote counts.

A stalwart Merkinch community figure is a true local hero - and that’s official.

They argue rules changes are a bid to ‘further reduce public involvement in Highland Council meetings’.

Despite the meeting’s secrecy we reveal the options presented to councillors include junking the whole project.

But large new pylons marching across the country cannot be ignored, says our new MP.

She says ‘The SNP need to take ownership of their mishandling of the finances and have proven they cannot be trusted with taxpayers’ money’.

The top team wage bill at the local authority now tops £1.5 million in salaries alone.

With the SNP cutting £500 million from budgets I doubt many readers will worry too much about the cancellation of advertising and marketing campaigns.

Building a Local Scotland campaigners say the country is ‘one of the least locally governed countries in the world’.

Our columnist also relives some insurance company woes.

A Highland MSP has urged the Scottish Government to invest money into making use of buildings already built.

MSP Edward Mountain tells council leader Raymond Bremner it ‘brings the council into direct competition with local businesses’.

Some parents say additional support is not available where it should be.

“This slashing of the fuel payment looked a harsh decision in mid-summer and it will look even more so as the days shorten and the temperatures fall.”

He argued for five per cent of revenue to be held locally as he was keen to “set down a marker’ in his first speech.

The move paves the way for the local authority to ban fireworks in misuse hotspots.

A local MSP is voicing concern over data which he says shows Highlanders face the longest wait for ambulances in Scotland.

Legislation is due to come into effect in the Autumn and could pave the way to introducing a visitor levy.

Fears for the project emerged yesterday when the finance secretary warned ‘we cannot afford all of our capital commitments’.

He says the council can’t ‘carve up the city centre like this and expect everyone else to swallow it without proper consultation’.