SNP Unhappy After Succession Of Defeats At Highland Council

2nd June 2017

On Thursday 1st June 2017 the Council agreed plans to set up Policy Development Groups, who will meet behind closed doors and discuss strategy and major changes for the Highlands.

Speaking in the chamber today, the Leader of the Opposition, SNP Cllr. Maxine Smith said, "In the past we have always purported to be an open and transparent Council. If you exclude the public from these meetings and refuse to publish minutes, then it is like having a secret society within the realms of the Council making major decisions."

The Independent-led Administration refuted these claims, saying that the policy group would include people from across different sectors in order to provide expertise.

After the meeting Cllr. Smith added, "I don't have a problem with providing expertise to inform these group discussions, but they should not be held in private. Surely discussion on new policies should be presented on an agenda, discussed in public at the relevant strategic committee, so that the people who voted for us can see what is going on and being said in their name.

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Maxine Smith