Politics

A report to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is to recommend support for a proposed Local Electricity Bill which will make it easier for Local Authorities and Community Generators to become licensed Electricity Suppliers.

The SNP and Scottish Labour Party candidates have launched their general election campaign HQs for the Na h-Eileanan an Iar constituency.

The Scottish Conservative candidate fighting for the Western Isles seat in the upcoming General Election on December 12th has been announced as Jennifer Ross.

The battle for your votes in the General Election on December 12th starts in earnest in the Islands this week as the Scottish Liberal Democrats announced their candidate.

Plans for a new integrated health, social care, education and community  facilities hub in Castlebay have been backed by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.

The condition of the Comhairle’s council chamber and its video conference facilities has been described as an “utter disgrace” and “a shambles” by a Harris and South Lochs councillor.

Santa is going to be delivering a new government as well as presents this Christmas with the news that a General Election will be held on Thursday, December 12th.

A new community wind turbine project owned by the Sandwick North township came a step closer to reality this week when Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Planning Applications Board agreed to approve the planning proposal.

NHS Western Isles (NHSWI) has backed an action plan to avoid a projected £663k overspend of its budget.

A new scheme aimed at encouraging young people to stay in the islands will see apprentices in the Western Isles amongst the first in Scotland to be ‘supported in the process of accessing low-cost housing’.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has defended its plan to refurbish the council chamber in Stornoway and other meeting rooms in Harris, Balivanich and Barra, after calls by a group of councillors that the money should instead be used to ‘protect services’.

Western Isles MP Angus Brendan MacNeil has asked the Scottish Government to intervene to protect croft properties and crofting tenure from being used by local authorities as part of the assessment of crofters’ liabilities for care charges.

Plans by NHS Western Isles (NHSWI) to centralise dental services in a new ‘clinical hub’ in Uist and Barra Hospital have been attacked by a local councillor as a “diversionary tactic” and a “flanking move” intended to secure the long-term closure of the hospital’s operating theatre.

The Scottish Parliament’s Rural Economy and Connectivity (REC) Committee is seeking opinions from islanders on the priorities set out in the Scottish Government’s proposed National Islands Plan.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar could be facing a ‘significant’ financial challenge in the coming year, if greater progress on its ‘service redesign’ process is not achieved.

Western Isles MP, Angus B MacNeil has requested a meeting with the UK Energy Minister and Ofgem to discuss the way forward for island renewable projects.

Nominations are now being sought for the vacancies on the Community Councils across the Western Isles.

Stornoway boasts many facilities, groups and assets, but for at least 18 years the town has been without a Community Council of its own - until last week.