Figure it out – this is why Caithness needs to go it alone
We are told that the Highland Council proposes to increase council tax by an astonishing 7 per cent per annum over each of the next five financial years. There has (rightly) been considerable media coverage of this plan, coming as it does when the headline CPI rate of inflation is sitting at only 2.6 per cent as at November 2024.
We are also told that the total increase “amounts to 35 per cent over the five year period”, on the basis of 5 times 7 equals 35. Not in this case it doesn’t. There has been no mention by HC of the effect of compounding. The actual, true total increase over the current rate, at the end of the five years, will not be “35 per cent”, bad though that is. It will be considerably more.
If your current bill is, say, £1000, then the first increase will take it to £1070; the second rise will take it to £1144.90; the third rise will take it to £1225.04; the fourth will increase it to £1310.80, and the fifth will bring it to £1402.55. That is in fact just over 40 per cent, not 35 per cent.
The Office for Budget Responsibility figures for projected CPI inflation over the next five years are 2.6 per cent in 2025; 2.3 per cent in 2026; 2.1 per cent in 2027; 2.1 per cent in 2028, and 2 per cent in 2029, so a non-compounded figure of 11.1 per cent, (approximately 11.59 per cent compounded) or marginally over one quarter of the level of the planned HC increases.
Whilst I am aware that mathematics – or economics or business management skills for that matter – may not be a regular topic of conversation in the council chambers (the Academy Street fiasco is clear evidence of that) I would have thought that someone should have already worked this out. Perhaps it would be helpful, in a spirit of openness and transparency, to make the facts clear.
Even more so when the same council is looking to increase house rents by up to 10 per cent in 2025/26 – again approximately four times the rate of inflation.
To add insult to injury, the council’s planned “Tourist Levy” will not apply to the “wild camping” motorhomes which plague the Highlands, but will apply to mums-to-be, their unborn babies, and other NHS patients, who require to stay in accommodation near Raigmore, and will also be levied upon all local people who wish to have a night or two away in a hotel or B&B in the Highlands, at a rate of 5 per cent plus VAT on top of your accommodation bill.
This is not a “Tourist Levy.” It is, quite simply, yet another tax imposed upon local people already struggling to recover from an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis.
The recent motion, seeking to break up the HC, only failed by five votes. Perhaps those “independent” councillors across Highland who voted against the motion should look to their consciences and consider the wellbeing of their constituents, rather than propping up the council administration in return for a few seats on committees?
The only truly democratic decision is one which is made by the people – maybe it is time for a Highland-wide referendum on the future of local government in the region? I have a pretty fair idea of how Caithness would vote, and I suspect that many other “rural and remote” areas would follow suit.
And in Thurso, following the recent publication of the document entitled “Thurso Parking Proposals 2024” (and for “proposals” read “this is what we intend to do”) I suspect that the vast majority of citizens would very happily support independence for Caithness from the colonial-style rule of what many now refer to as the “Inverness City Council”.
It is time for the county to take back control of her own affairs, run by councillors not concerned with party politics, but with the wellbeing of the people, local businesses, and our long-term future as their sole objective.
Iain Gregory
Co-founder CRR
Weydale
Thurso
Heartfelt thanks for support during 2024
It has been another successful year for Caithness Heart Support Group. During 2024, the group financed – among other items – two ECG machines, one for Caithness General Hospital, the other for Dunbar Hospital, at a total cost of £15,250.
Two defibrillators were purchased, one for Thurso West Church, the second for the town’s Weigh Inn Hotel.
The group was only able to purchase these items through the continuing support from the public, not least the collections from funeral services. Despite the sadness of their bereavements, families have nominated CHSG as recipients and these donations have made it possible to fund the more expensive pieces of medical tech.
Other substantial donations received, were as follows:
Bower Young Farmers, £1200; Wick Gala Committee, £500; Andrew Bruce and Willie Macdonald, £500; Weigh Inn Bowlers, £434; Dounreay Section D1203, £1360.
All monies raised are spent in Caithness providing equipment for the local hospitals and GP surgeries which they might otherwise not been able to afford.
The group welcomes requests for equipment, the only condition being that the items must be heart related.
Requests for items should be made in writing or by e-mail to Marjorie Donaldson, secretary, 11 Ackergill Crescent, Wick; email donalm49@btinternet.com
The requests will be considered by my committee.
One of the group’s fundraising highlights was its annual Christmas coffee morning at the Norseman Hotel, on December 7. The popular event again proved to be a success, raising the excellent net sum of £1267.
My thanks are also due to my hardworking committee for their commitment to our charity.
Not for the first time has one of our members, Elaine Rosie, undertaken a triple fundraising challenge for our charity this time swimming three lochs – Tay, Lomond and Morlich – accompanied by Basia Sendecka. The demanding, sponsored event raised over £1200.
I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and I wish you a Happy and Healthy New Year.
Noel Donaldson
Ackergill Crescent, Wick
Chairman, Caithness Heart Support Group
Parking plan is not yet agreed
With a strong and long-standing personal interest in placemaking policies such as Active Travel and traffic management, I recall coming across a press release in November 2023 about a public consultation on Thurso traffic management.
It can be found at: https://www.highland.gov.uk/news/article/15674/public_consultation_on_thurso_traffic_management
I promptly submitted my own suggestions.
At last, we were being offered a consultation on parking at the request of Thurso councillors, similar to Wick’s consultation the year previously. This initiative has proven lucrative, with features like invitation-to-pay meters at the Riverside car park generating substantial revenue for the community.
A list of proposals has been presented to councillors. According to the relevant officer, it is important to clarify these are not being imposed as a bloc but rather represent a collection of all implementable suggestions over the past 12 months from respondents linked to the burgh.
Communications received by Thurso Community Council in November were discussed at the publicly-held meeting on the 26th. A full statutory consultation with the general public will follow.
Despite this, there has been some misinterpretation, with claims that the proposals are already being enforced. On December 19, Struan Mackie stated on his Facebook channel he had called for a publicly-held meeting, presumably aware of the upcoming consultation process.
It is worth noting that this is only the second stage; the next stage is where final decisions will be made.
Highland Council officers have not imposed these measures but provided advice. Councillors are responsible for decision-making, and officers follow through.
It should be clear that all representatives were aware of and involved in the process regardless. Thurso councillors will have full governance over these developments, and are not being presented with an all-or-nothing binary choice.
There remain up to eight weeks for the general public to respond.
Any suggestions to the contrary could be seen as either a misunderstanding or political manoeuvring. If there is doubt about a Highland Council document, surely a quick question to officers can dispel it rather than causing unnecessary concern amongst the general public?
Alexander Glasgow
Tower Hill Road
Thurso