Directors Sought For High Life Highland Board

12th May 2011

An opportunity has arisen for people with an interest in community learning and leisure services in Highland communities to become involved as Directors of the board of High Life Highland and its trading subsidiary to deliver these services on behalf of The Highland Council.

The Council has agreed to establish High Life Highland as a company limited by guarantee (with charitable status) with the Council as the sole member and with a wholly owned trading subsidiary. High Life Highland will deliver community learning and leisure services on behalf of the Council, with the aim of enhancing the quality of life in the Highlands by developing, delivering and promoting leisure and learning opportunities.

High Life Highland (Trading) CIC will be established as its trading subsidiary and will take the form of a community interest company limited by shares with the whole share capital being held by the main charitable company. The trading subsidiary is designed to enable the non primary activities of the parent charity, such as retailing and merchandising, to support of the charitable objects of the company.

Community learning and leisure comprises six specialist areas of service delivery. The six delivery areas will include: adult and youth services; cultural services; health and wellbeing; leisure facilities; libraries; and sport.

The company's board of directors will be made up of four Highland Councillors and eight independent (non-Councillor) representatives. The positions are not open to employees of The Highland Council. The four Highland Councillors elected to the board are
•Councillor Peter Corbett (Independent) - Inverness Central Ward;
•Councillor Jaci Douglas (Independent) - Badenoch and Strathspey Ward;
•Councillor Dave Fallows (SNP) - Badenoch and Strathspey Ward; and
•Councillor Drew Millar (Liberal Democrats) - Eilean a' Cheò Ward.

Directors to the board of both High Life Highland and its trading subsidiary will provide strategic direction and governance to the company and expert advice and support to its management team.

The Council particularly welcomes applications from individuals with:
•a good track record in business or community management;
•experience of working as part of a board or senior management team;
•experience of leading a team within a company or community organisation;
•knowledge of the cultural, learning and/or leisure sector in the Highlands; and
•relevant business skills that could contribute to the development of the company; including financial, legal, property, personnel, marketing, ICT and general management skills.

Preference will be given to applicants who are resident within the Scottish Highlands.
All positions will be unpaid but reasonable expenses will be payable.

For an application pack please contact Donna Macdonald on 01463 702048 or at donna.macdonald[AT]highland.gov.uk.

The closing date for submissions is Friday 3rd June 2011.

Appointments will be made at the Council meeting of 23rd June and board induction and training will happen on the 28th and 29th of July. For further information regarding High Life Highland, please contact: Ian Murray on 01463 702048.

High Life Highland aims to provide new focus for community learning and leisure services

At its meeting on 10 March, The Highland Council's Education Culture and Sport Committee agreed to deliver its Community Learning and Leisure Services through an Arms Length Company.

On Thursday (12 May), the full Council greed to take forward the initiative by establishing a new company to run the business.

It is proposed to call the company High Life Highland, which would be responsible for the delivery of a range of services on behalf of the Council, including Adult Learning, Youth Work, Leisure Centres, Libraries, Art Galleries, Museums, Archive Centres and Sports Development.

The transfer, scheduled for October this year, is being proposed to not only save the Council £1 million per year but to enable the company to become more focused on customer and user needs under the direction of a Board of Directors with business and community expertise.

Councillor Michael Foxley, Leader of the Council's Administration, said: "By establishing this company to deliver these services on our behalf, we will be able to find £1 million savings, expand provision and avoid any further reduction in Community Learning and Leisure Service delivery or closure of facilities."

The new organisation would have potential opportunities to:
•secure alternative sources of funding not available to local authorities;
•expand its business activities through increased provision of commercial sevices such as catering and merchandising; and
•create greater community identity with facilities and activities which are operated by the charity.

Councillor Bill Fernie, Chairman of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee, said,: "Recent budget consultations have shown that the public have a high regard for the facilities and services provided by Community Learning and Leisure. By protecting facilities from closure and avoiding reductions in services we will also be able to protect jobs in our communities."

A report being presented to a meeting of The Highland Council on Thursday (12 May) asks Councillors to agree that the company be known as High Life Highland and that it would be limited by guarantee with charitable status. A wholly-owned trading subsidiary would be known as High Life Highland (Trading) Community Interest Company

The report states: "The name High Life Highland has a distinct association with the region, shows separation from the Council, is clear in its connection with the key services to be delivered by the company, presents good opportunities for marketing and will be unique to this company."

The company's Board of Directors will be made up of four Highland Councillors and eight independent (non-Councillor) representatives.

Legal documentation for the transfer will be brought to the Council's Education, Culture and Sport Committee in August 2011 and various reports on the process of transfer affecting staff, properties and establishing the company and service delivery contracts will be reported to future meetings of the Resources and Full Council committees over the coming months.