Dores and Essich Community

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Community Resilience Briefing 07-10-22 Veterans Fund

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Dear Community Resilience Group/Community Council/Colleagues,

Welcome to The Highland Council’s fortnightly briefing for groups with an interest in local community resilience. 

Winter Vaccination Programme

  • Public Health Scotland colleagues have recently translated information on the Covid and Flu vaccinations being offered as part of the Winter Vaccination Programme. This includes 36 community languages and British Sign Language versions, accessible here: Other languages – winter vaccines | NHS inform

Covid related information 

Funding  

SCVO  is a key source of funding information for the third sector. Funds that may be of interest include:

  • The Scottish Hydro Electric Community Trust
    This trust offers help to customers faced with high charges for an electricity connection withing the Scottish Hydro-Electric Distribution area. Applications are considered four times a year.
  • Highlands and Islands Enterprise – Community Asset Ownership 
    Designed to assist communities purchasing land or other fixed assets. Offers financial assistance with capacity building, start-up assistance with early investigations of proposed purchases, and technical assistance in the pre-acquisition stage and bid preparation. Applications can be made at any time.
  • HISEZ – Fusion Young Enterprise Continuation Fund
    provides grants to school groups who have started a school-based business to take it forward as a serious business with the intent of generating income. Apply at any time.
  • Winter Discretionary Payments Scheme – Members of The Highland Council’s City of Inverness Area Committee have agreed to continue the Winter Discretionary Payments Scheme for eligible people in the Inverness area for 2022/23.
  • Employability Challenge Funds – Utilising Scottish Government funding in support of No One Left Behind, Highland Council on behalf of the Highland Employability Partnership has launched two challenge funds designed to help people living in the Highlands who could benefit from employability support services.

Welfare, poverty reduction and resilience

  • Help During the Cost of Living Crisis – The Scottish Government have created this webpage to signpost to support available during this cost-of-living crisis. Support is available for:
    • Energy and bills
    • Benefits and income 
    • Children and families
    • Debt and money
    • Health and wellbeing
    • Older or disabled people
    • Support for businesses 
  • Electrical Safety Fund – The Fund aims to keep people safe in their homes, with a focus on tackling risks associated with electrical products, increasing the public’s awareness of electrical safety, and promoting changes in behaviour.  

Applicants are invited to apply for up to £5,000 per organisation (potentially up to £10k for joint     or larger projects). The grants are available to  consumer safety organisations in the community, such as Fire & Rescue Services, Trading Standards teams and charities, to deliver effective electrical safety initiatives at local level aimed at addressing the problems of misuse and/or lack               of maintenance of electrical products. Deadline 23 October 2022.

  • Cyber Scotland
    • CyberFirst Girls Competition – The CyberFirst Girls’ Competition (S2) provides a fun but challenging environment to inspire the next generation of young women to consider a career in cyber security. Registration is open.
    • Introduction to cyber security for staff – This free online resource provides non-technical advice aimed at individuals looking to improve their cyber security practices.
  • Highland Council Help with the Cost of Living – The Highland Council has created this webpage to provide information and resources to assist with the current cost of living crisis, including mental health and consumer advice.

Mental Health and Wellbeing  

  • NHS Highland Mental Wellbeing – a collection of resources and signposts to help people of all ages to look after their own mental wellbeing.
  • Cost of living crisis and your mental health
    Many people are feeling the strain as the cost of living continues to increase.  This resource provides information on how you can maintain your mental wellbeing at this time, alongside information on how to manage your money as bills rise.

Emergency Planning 

Other

  • The National Counter Terrorism Security Office has published The Blue Book, a handy guide offering advice options around the implementation of a personal security plan. The Blue Book signposts to valuable sources of information, guidance, whilst providing advice on how to stay safe at home, on the move and online.

To access you must be registered to the ProtectUK platform.
Read this practical guide and increase your personal security knowledge: https://matomo.protectuk.police.uk/434b11

Douglas Crawford
Business Analyst

Community Support and Engagement

Highland Council

A veterans support fund is now open to help improve the lives of former service personnel and their families.

A key priority for this year’s Scottish Veterans Fund is to make sure veterans and their families are supported in response to the ongoing cost of living crisis.

The fund will also target support for veterans who have left the Services early, as well as promoting collaboration between both veterans charities and non-veterans organisations.

Since the Scottish Government created the fund in 2008 almost 200 individual projects have been supported, receiving more than £2.3 million. In 2021, the annual funding provided was more than doubled to £500,000, with individual projects now able to bid for up to £50,000 a year.

Cabinet secretary for justice and veterans, Keith Brown, said: “Scotland’s veterans community has given a great deal to society and it is right that we do all we can to provide the best possible care and support when they return to civilian life.

“It is important that the fund responds to issues that veterans are currently facing and this year we are looking to support projects that will help veterans and their families through the cost of living crisis.

“We will continue to target projects that provide new and innovative approaches to aiding our veterans community. In particular, bids that promote collaboration within and between the veterans charity sector and other non-veterans organisations, as well as support for early service leavers, are being prioritised.”

Scottish veterans commissioner Susie Hamilton, who chairs the independent panel that assesses bids for the Fund, said: “I am delighted to see the continuation of this support to those leaving the Service, veterans and their families. The priorities of supporting vulnerable early service leavers and those most affected by the current cost crisis are particularly welcome and important in the current difficult circumstances. Organisations working together can produce a powerful impact, so I hope to see collaboration and partnerships feature in this year’s applications.

“We all benefit when veterans and their families are able to prosper after military service and I look forward to seeing the range of bids that will be put forward to help make that happen.”

The Scottish Veterans Fund is due to close on 19 November 2022.

Bids received for the Scottish Veterans Fund are assessed by an independent panel which is selected and chaired by the Scottish veterans commissioner.

https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/new-ps500000-fund-opens-to-help-former-armed-forces-personnel

Foyers Substation and Switching Station Works

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Dear Community Council,

Our ref: LT243/Foyers Substation and Switching Station Works/PAN Submission

Proposal of Application Notice: New substation comprising platform area, associated plant and infrastructure, ancillary facilities, laydown area(s), access road and landscape works, and extension to existing Foyers switching station comprising platform area, associated plant and infrastructure, ancillary facilities, laydown area(s), access road and landscape works (National Development) at land to the North East of Foyers Hydro Electric Power Station

Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission plc (the Applicant), operating and known as Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks Transmission (SSEN Transmission), is pleased to submit this Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) and associated site location plan relating to the proposed new substation

and extension of Foyers Switching Station to the north east of Foyers Hydro Electric Power Station.

The proposed development is to be subject to the formal pre-application process (November 2022) and is classified as National Development as defined in Annex A of the National Planning Framework 3 (NPF3), by virtue of it forming part of the high voltage electricity transmission network. The Proposed Development falls under the class of development noted as, “new and /or upgraded onshore substations directly linked to electricity transmission cabling of or in excess of 132 kilovolts”. The redline PAN boundary seeks to include all land required to complete the proposed works

associated with the replacement of the existing transmission transformers at Foyers Hydro Electric Power Station.

Further details on the proposed development will be provided to interested parties at two public consultation events to be held face-to-face.

A public consultation event is proposed for 19th October 2022 between 2pm and 7pm at Stratherrick Public Hall, Gorthleck, Inverness IV2 6YS. An advert for this event will be placed in the Press and Journal at least 7 days in advance of the event. A second in-person public consultation event will be held prior to submission of the planning application (programmed for late Spring 2023).

*Please note the venue for the public consultation event has recently been flooded and is not currently available for use. The venue operator has confirmed remedial works should be completed and the venue available for use by the 19th October 2022. If it becomes apparent the venue will not be ready for use on this date an alternative event venue will be sought. This will be confirmed prior to the advertising and mail drop and to any parties previously contacted.

Copies of this notice will be sent to the parties, as identified on the accompanying PAN. The attached PAN form provides further details of what consultation is being proposed.

In terms of additional consultation and publicity, the Applicant proposes the following:

• Mail Drop of information postcards in the local area;

• Posters in the local area; and

• Updates on the project website.

We trust that the approach as set out above and in the attached PAN is sufficient to meet the terms of the statutory requirements for pre-application consultation, without prejudice to the planning authority’s obligations under the terms of Section 35(B)7 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1997 (as amended). I look forward to receiving confirmation of receipt and validation of this PAN and a response within 21

days.

Should you have any queries or require further information please contact me directly.

Yours sincerely,

Ryan Davidson

Community Liaison Manager

Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission

M: +44(0)7901133919

E: [email protected]

1 Waterloo St, Glasgow, G2 6AY

20220928_Foyers_Substation_PANDownload

20220928-Foyers-Substation-and-Switching-Station-PAN-LetterDownload

Q&A’s With Dores Fish Farm

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  1. How many cages are there, and how many fish are in the cages when at maximum?

There are 18 pens permitted however the pens are not always all stocked with fish – for instance there are currently only 11 pens stocked. We follow the RSPCA welfare standards which have been developed to follow good practice in the care and welfare of commercially farmed Atlantic salmon at all stages of their lives. The maximum stocking density set by the standard is 8kg per cubic metre of water. Dependent on production inputs fish numbers can vary but are generally around 90,000 – 100,000 per pen.

  1. How long is the cycle from arrival to departure? – i.e., until they are big enough to have to be moved on.

Commonly, the cycle lasts from June to December, on occasion we have been stocked to February depending on the overall production needs of Mowi so approx. 6 – 8 months a year.

  1. How long is the fallow period between the fish leaving and a new cycle starting?

4 – 6 months depending on production.

  1. Do all of the cages follow the same cycle at the same time?

Yes, all pens follow same cycle.

  1. What are the elements of the feedstuff?

We tailor our feed ingredients throughout a salmon’s lifecycle to ensure we are meeting the nutritional needs of our fish. Generally, fish feed includes about 20% fish meal and fish oil, 20% vegetable oil, 20% wheat, 15% soya, and the remainder a mix of beans, peas, corn and vitamin supplements that includes astaxanthin (a naturally produced antioxidant). For full information see – Mowi’s 2021 Annual Report page 68. Link – Mowi_Annual_Report_2021.pdf

  1. Which medicines are used and what is an average quantity per cycle per cage?

As per our SEPA licence the site is permitted to use veterinary approved medicines containing Bronopol, Chloramine-T and Formaldehyde-based solutions. The limits and controls on use of medicines are set by SEPA to ensure environmental standards are maintained thus protecting water quality and ecology, and all use is audited by SEPA. For an example, formaldehyde, which is a naturally occurring compound in many biological systems, breakdowns rapidly in freshwater to harmless by-products. We are presently undertaking a scientific monitoring study examining the environmental fate and behaviour of formaldehyde solutions which is confirming the rapid breakdown of the product and compliance with environmental standards. Medicinal treatments are only carried out if there is a fish health reason and under veterinary supervision and often growth cycles can complete without the need for treatments. During 2022 the site has carried out six site treatments with Bronopol (10 litres is used per pen) and with Formaldehyde solution (50 litres is used per pen) to treat infections such as saprolegnia, a naturally occurring fungal infection found in wild fish in freshwater loch environments. Quantities of medicines used at our Loch Ness site are reported to SEPA on a quarterly basis, as per the standard reporting requirements in place for all fish farms.

  1. What other chemicals are used and what is an average quantity per cycle per cage?

SEPA permits a range of licensed substances such as anaesthetics, disinfectants, and detergents to be used at fish farms. As these substances are low in use and have very low environmental risk there are no specific controls or limits set regarding their use. Substances are used only if needed and more commonly applied at a site level as opposed to pen level, e.g. disinfectant footbaths used for site biosecurity or anaesthetics used to safely immobilise fish so they can be handled more easily during health checks. Quantities used are generally very low, as an example disinfectant use <15 litres per year.

  1. What is the cage cleaning regime, and is this when they are empty and what chemicals are used for this cleaning?

The site has a defined cleaning schedule, and this is carried out during fallow periods following guidance from Marine Scotland. Products used for cleaning and disinfection – Fat Solve and AquaDes – are on SEPA’s approved list for use at fish farms.

Best regards

Stephen

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Stephen MacIntyre
Head of Environment
Mowi Scotland Limited

Community Resilience Briefing 23-09-22

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Dear Community Resilience Group/Community Council/Colleagues,

Welcome to The Highland Council’s fortnightly briefing for groups with an interest in local community resilience. 

Covid related information 

Funding  

SCVO is a key source of funding information for the third sector https://scvo.scot/funding. Funds that may be of interest include: 

  • Scottish Sea Farms – Heart of the Community Trust 
    Provides financial grants to projects which deliver lasting change within their communities. Included areas of support are family-oriented activities, opportunities for young people, mental wellbeing, isolation, and lifeline services. Applications can be made at any time.  
  • North Highlands & Islands Climate Action Hub Funding
    Offers grants to community groups for community engagement events or seed funding for projects focused on climate action themes such as reducing waste, food growing, or recycling. Next deadline is 31 March 2023.
  • Bauer Radio’s Cash for Kids Charities  
    Grants are given to charities and organisations to help them undertake projects to ensure care and support can continue to be provided to disabled and disadvantaged children aged 0-18. Deadlines vary by scheme.
  • Community Regeneration Funding
    Over £5 million is available in funding for projects responding to the needs of their local areas. Full details are available in the attachment and the deadline for expressions of interest is 7 October.

Welfare, poverty reduction and resilience

  • CyberScotland – Attached is the September 2022 Bulletin. Topics this month include the latest NCSC Threat Report and keeping students secure online.

Mental Health and Wellbeing  

  • NHS Highland Mental Wellbeing – a collection of resources and signposts to help people of all ages to look after their own mental wellbeing.
  • Cost of living crisis and your mental health
    Many people are feeling the strain as the cost of living continues to increase.  This resource provides information on how you can maintain your mental wellbeing at this time, alongside information on how to manage your money as bills rise.
  • Mental Health Delivery Group – Attached is the Autumn 2022 newsletter which includes topics such as poverty, money, alcohol and drugs, and training for a helping role.

Emergency Planning 

Other

  • Five Highland Community Councils did not form following the recent interim election due to failing to attract half the maximum membership required. These were:
  • Boat of Garten
  • Conon Bridge
  • Culloden
  • East Nairnshire
  • Shiedaig 

               An additional three were put in a state of abeyance following resignations. These were:

  • Acharacle 
  • Cradlehall and Westhill 
  • Melvich

Additional interim elections are going to be held for these eight community councils. Attached is a document with further information regarding this election and how to get involved.

  • Local Housing Strategy Survey – The Highland Council are seeking local community feedback to help steer the new Local Housing Strategy 2023-28.  All Highland residents are urged to participate to share their views on housing issues and how they feel resources, investment, and services should be targeted to tackle these challenges.


The survey should take no more than 5 minutes and is open until 30 September 2022. 

Douglas Crawford
Business Analyst

Community Support and Engagement

Highland Council