We are in desperate need of social and “truly affordable” housing for rental with 10,000 people on the Highland Council Housing Waiting List.
Those on local average earnings have little chance of accessing mortgages since the Banking crisis.
Most work locally and need housing in the areas where they work.  Spiralling petrol and diesel costs make it even more difficult for those on lower incomes who live in rural areas, hence my concern on this issue.

Members of the public have made clear their dismay over Labour Government’s failure to control immigration.
Nick Clegg’s Liberal Democrat comments, recently broadcast, have incensed the electorate when stating Inverness and other areas need more migrants! Gordon Brown’s Labour “open borders” policy has been a complete failure. Massive increases in migration have resulted in overstretched Public Services. The increased cost of the Benefits System underpinning the policy could have major economic consequences.

If migrants are to be welcomed, we must ensure crucial infrastructure is in place, including jobs, education, health and housing and naturally the ability to cope with the diversity of languages involved which is particularly difficult in rural areas.

We need to develop Tourism further as it is a principal Highlands industry and vital for local economy creating crucial meaningful jobs and provide the necessary homes for these people.

We need a common sense approach to address Highlands problems.

Jim Ferguson
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Press Release 21^st April 2010

Lib Dem proposal increasing cost of new homes sheer madness

Home building industry body Homes for Scotland, whose membership provides 95% of all homes built for sale in Scotland as well as an increasingly significant proportion of affordable housing, today slammed Liberal Democrat proposals to add VAT to new build homes if elected to Government.

On the day that Tavish Scott launched the party’s manifesto in Scotland, the organisation’s Chief Executive Jonathan Fair said:

“Somehow, the Liberal Democrats seem to be unaware that Scotland, not to mention the UK as a whole, is facing its worst housing crisis since the Second World War.  Not only has our industry lost up to half its workforce, development is touching an all-time low and vital First Time Buyers are struggling to find deposits of up to 25%.  Any measure increasing the cost of new homes, whether in the public or private sector, is sheer madness and will simply exacerbate the problems we as a country already face.”

Ends

Enquiries to:

Jennifer Kennedy, Homes for Scotland – 0131 455 8350

Notes to Editors:

Homes for Scotland (www.homesforscotland.com) represents the country’s home building industry which, prior to the onset of the credit crunch,:

-  was the largest source of private investment in Scotland and the largest user of the planning system

- built 20,000 new homes, contributed £6bn to the economy and directly impacted the employment of 100,000 people (2007 figures)

Half the industry’s directly employed jobs have already been lost and Scottish new build housing output has plummeted, presenting far-reaching and long-term social and economic consequences.

Click here to read Homes for Scotland’s “building for their future” appeal to MPs as they prepare to enter the election season.

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The Conservative Manifesto 2010

A country is at its best when the bonds between people are strong and when the sense of national purpose is clear. Today the challenges facing Britain are immense. Our economy is overwhelmed by debt, our social fabric is frayed and our political system has betrayed the people. But these problems can be overcome if we pull together and work together. If we remember that we are all in this together.

Some politicians say: ‘give us your vote and we will sort out all your problems’. We say: real change comes not from government alone. Real change comes when the people are inspired and mobilised, when millions of us are fired up to play a part in the nation’s future.

Yes this is ambitious. Yes it is optimistic. But in the end all the Acts of Parliament, all the new measures, all the new policy initiatives, are just politicians’ words without you and your involvement.

How will we deal with the debt crisis unless we understand that we are all in this together? How will we raise responsible children unless every adult plays their part? How will we revitalise communities unless people stop asking ‘who will fix this?’ and start asking ‘what can I do?’ Britain will change for the better when we all elect to take part, to take responsibility – if we all come together. Collective strength will overpower our problems.

Only together can we can get rid of this government and, eventually, its debt. Only
Together can we get the economy moving. Only together can we protect the NHS. Improve our schools. Mend our broken society. Together we can even make politics and politicians work better. And if we can do that, we can do anything. Yes, together we can do anything.

So my invitation today is this: join us, to form a new kind of government for Britain.

Read the Conservative Manifesto 2010

The Conservative Manifesto 2010 is available to read in the document reader below, or alternatively download as a PDF in both hi-res and low-res versions.

Download the 2010 Conservative manifesto (3.04 megs)
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Copies of the Conservative Manifesto 2010 are available to buy from the Party Shop at a cost of £5.

Audio of the Conservative Manifesto 2010

Download the Conservative Manifesto 2010 in audio (MP3) format using the links below.

01 Invitation to Join the Government of Britain
02 Contents
03 Foreword
04 Chapter 1_Change the Economy_Introduction
05 Benchmarks for Britain
06 Ensure macroeconomic stability
07 Create a more balance economy
08 Get Britain working again
09 Encourage enterprise
10 Ensure the whole country shares in rising prosperity
11 Reform public services to deliver better value for money
12 Create a safer banking system that serves the needs of the economy
13 Build a greener economy
14 Chapter 2_Change Society_Introduction
15 Build the Big Society
16 Make Britain the most family friendly country in Europe
17 Back the NHS
18 Raise standards in schools
19 Fight back against crime
20 Chapter 3_Change Politics_Introduction
21 Make politics more accountable
22 Make politics more transparent
23 Make politics more local
24 Restore our civil liberties
25 Strengthen the union
26 Chapter 4_Protect the environment_Introduction
27 Combat climate change
28 Conserve and enhance the natural environment
29 Chapter 5_Promote our national interest_Introduction
30 Defend our security
31 A liberal Conservative foreign policy
32 An open and democratic Europe
33 One World Conservatism

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A Catholic adoption agency that refuses to place children with homosexual couples has won a key legal victory thanks to a loophole intended to protect gay charities.

Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Catholic Care’s unexpected triumph paves the way for other groups forced to close or dissociate from the church to reopen as Catholic organisations.

Religious campaigners said that the judge’s ruling would galvanise growing resistance to Labour’s gay rights agenda, while secular activists warned of a “tidal wave” of similar legal challenges from Catholic groups.

Catholic Care, which serves the dioceses of Leeds, Middlesbrough, and Hallam in South Yorkshire, launched the legal action saying it would have to give up its work finding homes for children if it had to comply with the 2007 Equality Act

The law banned adoption agencies from discriminating against homosexual prospective parents.

The adoption agency claimed that a clause of the legislation – Regulation 18 – should permit charities to continue to refuse gay couples if the stated aim of the charity was to provide services to people of a particular sexual orientation. The loophole was inserted to ensure that gay charities could not be sued for discrimination by heterosexual couples.

Catholic Care’s application to write an explicit reference to serving heterosexuals into its constitution was rejected by the Charities Commission, but today Mr Justice Briggs ordered the commission to review its decision. He accepted that the adoption agency could still provided a public benefit even if it did not consider homosexual parents.

The Rt Rev Arthur Roche, Bishop of Leeds, said that the judgement would “help in our determination to continue to provide this invaluable service to benefit children, families and communities”.

He added: “We look forward to producing evidence to the Charity Commission to support the position that we have consistently taken through this process: that without being able to use this exemption, children without families would be seriously disadvantaged.”

Catholic Care was the last of Britain’s eleven Catholic adoption agencies to resist the changes. Some charities like the Catholic Children’s Society, Westminster, and the Catholic Children’s Rescue Society in Salford decided to close their adoption services, while others agreed to accept the regulations and cut ties with the church.

Christian campaigners said that the judgement opened the door for other adoption agencies to reopen under a Catholic banner.

Andrea Williams from the Christian Legal Centre said: “This is a great result and a step in the right direction. It’s upsetting that the other adoption agencies have been forced to close, but this ruling will help them reopen if they so wish.

“The ruling supports Christian groups which want to operate freely and according to traditional values with regard to the nature of family.”

Philippa Gitlin, director of the Caritas Social Action Network, an umbrella group of Catholic charities, said that the trustees of charities that had adapted to comply with the legislation would “carefully consider” the ruling.

She said: “It is entirely a matter for specific consideration by the trustees of each charity what action, if any, they decide is feasible and appropriate in the light of today’s judgement. ”

Secular campaigners condemned the judge’s decision as “alarming” and “a major setback” for gay rights.

Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society, said: “It is unfortunate that the court has enabled Catholic Care to exploit what was obviously an error in the drafting of the equality legislation. The loophole this created was never intended to be used this way.

“If the Charity Commission reverses its previous decision – as the court is asking it to – we can look forward to a tidal wave of similar challenges from bigoted Catholic organisations who are determined not to accord any rights to gay people at all.”

Interesting to see this development. It would seem the Church is likely to start to exert its influence further in light of unhappiness about the way Labour have conducted themselves to matters that are of great importance to the Church and wider community.

Jim Ferguson

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I am disapointed to see that the Highland Council who now have to make £12 million pounds of savings are cutting front line services in areas such as care workers who are a lifeline to many families across this region.

The SNP, Labour and LibDems have all had an opportunity at running the Highland Council but have failed to achieve the outcomes that the people need. Their in-fighting and petty politics have caused inaction and a failure to properly provide for the elderly community which is growing at an incredible rate.

There really does have to be some common sense introduced so that we don’t end up with a situation where we simply dont have the resources to cope.

Add to this the fact that we have had huge numbers of Eastern Europeans migrating to the Highlands who have not being paying contributions to the country but who quickly claim all their entitlements and we see a recipe for disaster due to not having the care provision and infrastructure to cope. The Labour Government were warned that this would happen but neither they nor the LibDems were prepared to listen and simply used political correctness as a weapon to silence their critics.

The SNP are faring no better and despite thousands of Scottish jobs being lost on a weekly basis they still adopt an insane policy of trying to bring huge numbers of immigrants to Scotland when there is simply no jobs for them.

An already overburdoned NHS is now creaking at the seams and the recent case of having 54 beds at Raigmore hospital blocked is tragic. Almost an entire floor is now taken up with people who have no other place to go because the Highland Council did not make the proper provision when they had the opportunity to do so. The bed blocking situation at Raigmore hospital has seen a 50% increase in just one year and may increase further next year unless a soloution can be found.

Local people who require hospital treatment will likely find that waiting lists will grow and with cutbacks in funding this will conspire to bring greater pressure to bear on local people.

Our elderly deserve better and after a lifetime of paying contributions into the NHS and their taxes they should not be worrying about healthcare provision at a time of life when they should be able to relax and take life at a slower pace.

I hope that people across the Highlands quickly wake up to the failures of those we trusted to lead and prepare this region for the future.

Immediate action must now be taken before it really is too late.

Jim Ferguson

Thought you should see (if you have not already seen), the areas that Highland Council are looking to achieve budget cuts and reduce level of service delivery at front end.

Looks to me as if everything possible is being done to protect the non-performing layers of management earning salaries  in excess of £40,000 per annum.

One example detailed below demonstrates how management level salaries have got completely out of control:

“Schools General Reduce the number of Quality Improvement Officers by 2″ – Saving 0.140 = £140,000 simply staggering, given the average level of earnings across the Highlands of those employed outside of the Public Sector

The areas that appear to be under the knife are the very areas community leaders feel should be strengthened. particularly in relation to Education and Care of the Elderly!

Please click the link to download the Highland Council document concerned:

http://www.highland.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/FD04B6BA-B0E6-4CC5-B3D6-A10FCA5CE352/0/Item9HC4809.pdf

This is the document listing the potential cutbacks for the next two or three financial years within Highland Council and highlights the years of gross mis-management  of public finances by  successive political parties and elected councillors

Large sums of money have been wasted on flights of fancy, such as the Kessock Bridge fireworks display, with no thought as to how the mooey could have been better utilised for public benefit.

The huge external debt running into hundreds of £Millions, run up by successive administrations has never rung any alarm bells, whilst job protectionism has always been exhibited at the highest level of management – this simply cannot be allowed to continue.

Best wishes

Barrie Haycock
Chair Planning Watch UK

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Documentation extract (NOT Edited):

Highland Council Agenda

Item – 4 March 2010 Report

Budget Consultation
Report by Depute Chief Executive & Director of Finance

Summary

Highland Council, on 11 February, noted that budget consultation proposals would be considered by the Council in March. This report sets out the proposed approach to the
budget consultation exercise.

1. Introduction

1.1 The revenue budget for 2010/11 was agreed by the Council on 11 February. While that report set out a range of savings now agreed for 2011/12 and 2012/13, it
highlighted a considerable budget gap remained across those two years, estimated at £36m.

1.2 Recent comments by the Accounts Commission on the 2009 Audit Overview Report, sets in context the challenges faced by Council’s in the wake of the
economic downturn.

“…the scale of the budget challenge they face means councils need to take urgent
action. It is essential that they continue to develop and implement plans to cope
with the tough times ahead, including thinking radically about service design and
delivery.”

1.3 Given the difficult financial prospects for local government over the next few years, and the level of savings the Council is likely to be faced with, the Council agreed to
consult on budget proposals for 2011/12 and 2012/13, prior to the proposals being considered by the Council in the Autumn of 2010.

1.4 This report sets out the proposed approach to the budget consultation exercise.

1.5 This report is produced in support of the Council’s corporate governance process, which in turn is designed to support/augment the Council’s overall/corporate
delivery of all of its obligations in terms of the Single Outcome Agreement.

2. Purpose of Consultation

2.1 The purpose of the budget consultation exercise will be to:-

? Seeks views from the public and other stakeholders, on a range of specific budget proposals the Council may be asked to consider in Autumn 2010.

? Seek views on the more strategic matters the Council is considering in relation to the budget, for example the education provision/school estate review and the
waste collection strategy.

? Ask the consultees for any areas where they feel budget savings could or should be made.

? Raise awareness of the financial challenges facing the Council and actions that may be necessary to address that.

3. Format of Consultation

3.1 A consultation document will be produced to support the exercise. This document will set out:-

? The financial context facing the Council, including the level of savings the Council thinks will have to be made over the next two years.

? Information on what the Council currently spends its budget on.

? The types of strategic review the Council is conducting or considering in major service areas e.g.

? Corporate Improvement Programme to improve efficiency and effectiveness (including procurement, asset management and business support along with other projects).

? Review of management costs.

? Reduction in travel and subsistence costs.

? Business case review for 5 new care homes.

? Review of education provision/school estate.

? Review of waste collection strategy.

? A range of specific saving proposals the Council may be asked to consider in Autumn 2010.

? Any other relevant supporting information.

? The format of response sought, including questions to be asked of consultees.

3.2 As a working draft, the enclosed annex 1 sets out a list of saving proposals that may feature in the consultation document. This list represents those savings identified by Services as part of the 2010/11 budget exercise, over and above those agreed by the Council to date. Some further refinement to proposals, and incorporate of further information where appropriate, will take place before finalised.

3.3 The consultation document will be hosted on the Council website, with consideration given to availability/distribution through other mediums where appropriate. It is not intended to print mass copies of the document, or utilise newspaper advertising or supplements, to minimise the costs of the consultation.

3.4 Consultees will be asked to provide comments via email, or in writing. Consideration will be given to a dedicated email address for responses. Ward
Forum meetings will also be used to discuss the consultation and receive feedback.

3.5 The Council has agreed that a Citizen Panel be established to support consultation on a range of matters, including the budget. Given the time necessary to recruit
and establish the panel, it will not be possible to use the panel for this initial budget consultation. It is expected that once up and running, the panel will be used for
future budget consultations.

4. Questions to be asked

4.1 While the Council could use a ‘blank sheet’ approach, i.e. leave the consultees to determine the format and content of their response, there are benefits in providing
a structure to the expected response, to aid analysis and collation.

4.2 A range of questions could be considered, to provide a structure to the response, while still leaving the consultee as much freedom as possible to give their views.
The questions could also provide a useful structure for discussion at Ward Forum meetings.

4.3 Some example questions that could be included are set out below.

(1) Are there any other areas of the Council, not reflected in the enclosed proposals, where you feel the Council could or should make savings? If so please provide details.

(2) Are there any comments you wish to make about the strategic reviews the Council is conducting.

4.4 The final structure of the document and questions will be prepared over the coming weeks, prior to formal launch of the consultation.

5. Next Steps and Timetable

5.1 Following the Council meeting, the consultation document will be prepared and incorporated on the Council website. The target date for this task is mid to end March.

5.2 The Council will then arrange for a press release, media coverage, posters in Service Points, etc as a means of promoting the consultation.

5.3 The first Ward Forum to be asked for views on the consultation will be the North West and Central Sutherland Ward Forum on 27th March.

5.4 Discussion at further Ward Forum meetings during April and May will also take place, with the consultation exercise estimated to conclude June 2010.

Recommendation

Members are asked to consider this report and agree the budget consultation approach and timetable.
Signature:
Designation: Depute Chief Executive & Director of Finance
Date: 24 February 2010

Ref:

Background Papers
Author: Brian Porter, Finance Manager
Author’s Telephone No.: 01463 702424

Savings Proposals for Consultation 2011/12 – 2012/13 Annex 1

Education, Culture & Sport

Ref. Activity Heading Savings Proposal

Indicative Savings £m

1 & 3 Devolved budgets – schools Review Secondary timetabling methods, curriculum delivery methods and review teacher entitlement formulae 1.791

8 Schools General Review delivery of music tuition and region-wide music support 0.559

9 Schools General Reduce the number of Quality Improvement Officers by 2 – 0.140

12 Schools General Reduction in teaching absence cover funding 0.047

13 Schools General Discontinue the peripatetic janitorial function 0.287

14 Schools General Clothing Grant Allowance – Reduce level of award and change to “voucher” system 0.080

19 Additional Support Needs 20% reduction across Psychological Services, a 5% reduction across other specialist ASL budgets held centrally, at area level and in schools, including some reorganisation of management and administrative structures. 1.000

20 School Residences Income generation opportunities in School Residences 0.060

22 Grants to Voluntary Organisations

Further review of support for Voluntary Organisations 0.312

23 Youth Work Reduction in Youth Work 0.573

24 Community Learning Further reduction in Adult Education 0.050

25 Community Facilities,

Inverness and Nairn

Reduce number of Community Centres in Inverness 0.133

26 Archives Focus provision on new Highland Archive Centre 0.183

27 Culture Removal of the Out of Eden drama provision including the Highland wide Higher Drama course 0.195

29 Museums Reduce museum provision by two thirds through closures or alternative provision 0.400

30 Highland Culture Fund Removal of Highland Culture Fund and Lochaber Events budget 0.509

31 Integrated Library Service Reduction in library provision, including ceasing the Bookstart service 0.394

32 Integrated Library Service Library Support Unit – Reduce logistical support for libraries 0.100

33 Integrated Library Service Cease all development of the Am Baile gaelic heritage web resources, and seek alternative resources 0.172

34 Leisure, recreation and sports development

Reduce number of swimming pools 0.380

35 Sports Development and Play

Reduce support for sports development and play through review of Council and Partner provision 0.138

36 Floral Hall, Inverness Floral Hall – Close or find a social enterprise model to continue the operation 0.115

Total 7.618

ECS

Savings Proposals for Consultation 2011/12 – 2012/13 Annex 1

JCCYP

Ref. Activity Heading Savings Proposal

Indicative Savings £m

9 Review of Teacher input to nurseries

Reduce in line with service rationalisation 0.100

11 Workforce Qualification Standard

Reduction in expenditure to support early years staff qualification standard, as this will largely have been met. 0.050

Total 0.150

JCCYP

Savings Proposals for Consultation 2011/12 – 2012/13 Annex 1

Social Work

Ref. Activity Heading Savings Proposal

Indicative Savings £m

15 Establish Community Health & Social Care Partnerships with NHS Highland

Move towards integrated management of health and care 0.250

16 Community Care Learning

Disability Support Work provision

Review in – house support services for learning disabilities at Cradlehall, Inverness 0.035

18 Learning Disability Day Care Review of day care facility at Beachview, Brora. 0.069

19 Learning Disability Day Care Review learning disability day care service provision at Tigh na Drochaidh 0.020

20 Community Care Establishments

Review Raasay Day Centre 0.014

22 Care at Home Consider tender for all home care (public sector process involving comparator – phased approach) 1.000

23 Orchard Cease providing residential care at Orchard and downsize provision. Restrict the service to short breaks. 0.150

24 Top slice of fostering & adoption budget

Top slice of fostering & adoption budget 0.100

28 Children & Families Overnight provision in Children’s Units 0.100

31 Care Homes Review of all LA care home provision, to ensure best value tbc

35 Day Care Review Older People’s Day Care at Tigh na Drochaid, Portree 0.065

36 Childrens Services Review Staffin respite unit 0.130

Total 1.933

SW

Savings Proposals for Consultation 2011/12 – 2012/13 Annex 1

TECS
Ref. Activity Heading Savings Proposal

Indicative Savings £m

16 Service Review of overall staffing structure 0.075

18 Service Review all income streams. 0.300

20 Roads & Community Works Review standards of cyclic road maintenance. 0.400

21 Roads & Community Works Review standards of grounds maintenance. 0.500

22 Roads & Community Works Use contractors to replace seasonal staff employed on grounds maintenance. 0.050

23 Roads & Community Works Bught Nursery – examine option to procure plant material from external providers. 0.100

24 Roads & Community Works Review standards of street cleaning. 0.500

25 Roads & Community Works Review provision (numbers) of public toilets. 0.200

26 Roads & Community Works Review Pest Control function 0.095

27 Roads & Community Works Remove budget for unadopted roads. 0.050

28 Roads & Community Works

Business Support

Review the burial administration function for Inverness,

Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey Area. 0.020

32 Waste Management Review level of grant to Social Enterprise Groups. 0.050

33 Transport & Infrastructure Review level of service for street lighting. 0.500

34 Transport & Infrastructure Replace external contractors with internal staff (internal transfer from Roads and Community Works to Street Lighting). 0.050

35 Transport & Infrastructure Review levels of subsidies for public transport. 0.500

36 Transport & Infrastructure Review level of grants to Community Transport Schemes 0.050

37 Transport & Infrastructure Review long term arrangements for the Corran Ferry. 0.150

38 Transport & Infrastructure Review Materials Testing Laboratory. 0.050

39 Transport & Infrastructure Review airstrips. 0.026

40A Environmental Health Review staffing level for Environmental Health. 0.060

40B Trading Standards Review staffing level for Trading Standards. 0.060

42 Business Support Review provision of vehicle workshops including options for amalgamation. 0.050

43 Business Support Review provision of materials stores including options for external provision. 0.075

44 Business Support Review business processes. 0.040

TECS
Ref. Activity Heading Savings Proposal

Indicative Savings £m

45 Roads & Community Works Review temporary mortuary facilities at Glen Nevis, Fort William. 0.005

Total 3.956
TECS

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