HIE Review To Be Considered By Highland Council
21st October 2010
Highland Councillors are being asked next week to consider potential future governance and operations for Highlands and Islands Enterprise, should the agency be disbanded following a review of enterprise networks in Scotland.
The Council would prefer the status quo with HIE retaining its current status and budget of £84 million. However, members are being advised to adopt a fall back position should the current review by the Scottish Government result in the creation of one enterprise agency for Scotland, with HIE merging with Scottish Enterprise.
The position agreed by the Council at its meeting on Thursday will be presented to the Scottish Parliament's Economy Energy and Tourism Committee, who are conducting the review, at an evidence gathering session in Sabhal Mor Ostaig, Skye on Monday 1 November. Council Leader Michael Foxley and Planning Environment and Development Committee Chairman Ian Ross will be leading evidence for the Council at the hearing.
A report to be considered by the Council recommends the establishment of a new board for Highlands and Islands and Islands Enterprise, drawn from the seven constituent local authorities in the Highlands and Islands, with scope for membership from the business community. It would operate in a similar way to the management of the police and fire services, via joint boards of councillors.
Responsibility for client businesses, community development and local regeneration would be devolved to the local authorities, with the new board assuming responsibility for undertaking HIE's current strategic functions.
The report states: "This would retain the distinctive approach to economic and social development developed over the past 40 years in the Highlands and Islands whilst improving local democratic accountability."
It highlights that there is agreement across local authorities in the Highlands and Islands against any proposal for a single enterprise agency for Scotland. Instead, it is agreed that the economic challenges of the region would be best met by having a separate enterprise agency with local input to decision-making and a focus on what is best for the local/regional economy.
Councillor Ross said: "Over the past 40 years, HIE and its predecessor, Highlands and Islands Development Board, have served the Highlands very well in regenerating the economy. We have formed a strong partnership with HIE to develop services and infrastructure that reflect the needs of Highland businesses and create employment opportunities. Some of the recent changes to HIE have not been positive as the Government has asked them to change their focus.
"If further major change is coming, we need to be ready with a back up plan. A single enterprise agency for Scotland is not in our best interests. That is why we are opting for a joint board along similar lines to the Northern Joint Police Board and the Highland and Islands Fire Board, with far greater democratic accountability."
Related Businesses
Related Articles
The first Highland-wide virtual jobs fair held last month has proved to be a hit with participants and businesses. The week-long virtual event, which was delivered by the Local Employability Partnership for the West - The Highland Council, Skills Development Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Department for Work and Pensions, Developing the Young Workforce and UHI North West and Hebrides was timed to coincide with Scottish Careers Week 2024.
The Service Centre will close at 5pm on Tuesday 24 December, re-opening on Friday 27 December (opening times 8am to 5pm). It will be closed on 1 and 2 January and open 8am to 5pm from Friday 3 January 2025.
Members have considered an update on the Council's medium term financial plan and the impact of the UK and Scottish Governments’ budgets on the coming year’s funding settlement. The position is currently looking more positive than initially planned for, however more detail needs to be worked through.
In November, The Highland Council launched a public statutory consultation to seek views on the proposed introduction of a Visitor Levy scheme across the Highlands. The Council has announced an extension to this consultation period, which will now give businesses, visitors and communities until 31 March 2025, an additional seven weeks, to take part and have their say.
In the light of the financial forecast for 2025-26, Highland Council is inviting you to tell us more in the budget preparation for the coming financial year. The budget engagement builds on extensive budget participation which took place in the winter of 2023-24.
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
Every year Highland Council invites all tenants to have their say on the rent levels for the following year. The Council encourages everyone that lives in a council house to take this chance to have their say.
Communities and Place Committee met yesterday (Wednesday 27 November 2024) and Members agreed the Highland Local Child Poverty Action Report which includes actions for delivery in 2024/25. Reducing child poverty is a priority for the Council and its partners.
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
Members of the Highland Council's Community and Place Committee have given their support to an action plan focusing on the operating of public conveniences over the next 10 years. Whilst not a statutory function, the Council is the main provider of public conveniences located throughout Highland, operating 74 sites.