Weekly Update, 29th November 2010

• The adverse weather conditions have disrupted activities this week. The CNSRP Executive Board was due to meet for its quarterly meeting today, but travel chaos further south has forced its postponement. I have now arranged an alternative date before Christmas. Also this week a meeting with North Highland College (retail skills initiative), a Tourism Workshop in Thurso organised by HIE and a visit from Babcock Marine have all been postponed.
• Meanwhile I have continued to work on our delivery programme for the next 3 years, and have been discussing with HIE, Highland Council and NDA/DSRL colleagues the practicalities of how best the Partnership can continue to add value to the process.
• I have also been arranging a meeting of our IT Connectivity Group for early in the New Year to update us on progress with the superfast broadband project being led by HIE.
• Today (Friday 3rd December) is the deadline for responses to the “Proposed Plan” version of the Highland-wide Local Development Plan and I have been discussing issues with local organisations who intend to submit reponses before the deadline. The Highland Council’s development planning team were in Caithness during November to hold pulic consultations, and a number of individuals and organisations took the chance to make their views known. This version of the Plan can be viewed at at http://www.highland.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/9F8A08EC-C927-432F-A320-EACEF607BC76/0/NEW_HWLDPProposedPlanPublishedv2.pdf
• The Scottish Government has this week launched a consultation on “Securing the Benefits of Scotland’s Next Energy Revolution” . Some of the issues for consultation include the idea of a Future Generation Fund, the idea to create a public register of Community Benefit levels and reforms to the Crown Estate Commission. The consultation runs until 18th February 2011, and can be accessed at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/11/26094907/0
• The NDA has just published its draft Business Plan 2011-2014 for consultation. The consultation will run until 26th January 2011 and is available to view at  http://www.nda.gov.uk/documents/upload/NDA-Draft-Business-Plan-2011-2014.pdf
• Those of you who receive local papers in the Highlands (John O’ Groat Journal, Northern Times, Ross-shire Journal, Inverness Courier) will have had the first “Energy North” supplement this week. Caithness & north Sutherland interests are well represented, with coverage of Subsea 7, the ERI’s new Centre for Energy & Environment and MAREE research project, HIE’s funding approval for Scrabster Harbour Trust and the Crown Estate Marine Developer event in Thurso all to the fore.
  Finally, representatives from the Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership’s constituent organisations will be present at the Dounreay.com office in Thurso precinct from 11am til 4pm tomorrow (Saturday 4th December) as part of Thurso’s Christmas Fun Day. We will have information available on our activities over the past 3 years and on our plans for the coming period. If you are in Thurso tomorrow please feel free to drop in!