High Life Highland Independent Directors Appointed

23rd June 2011

The Highland Council has appointed eight independent directors to serve on the board of its new arms length company, High Life Highland, which will deliver community learning and leisure services on behalf of the Council.

They are: -

Craig Ewan
Douglas Graham
Linda Kirkland
Elizabeth McArdle
Donald McLachlan
Kenneth Nicol
John Watt
Laurence Young

They will join four Highland Councillors on the board. They 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' Che� 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.

When the deadline closed on Friday 3 June, the Council had received 35 applications. A total of 77 individuals had expressed an interest.

Councillor Carolyn Wilson, Chairman of the Resources Committee, who served on the interview panel, paid tribute to the marvellous response from the public in seeking to serve on the Board of High Life Highland. The positions were unpaid and would involve a significant commitment of time.

She said: "The number of applications and expressions of interest exceeded our expectations and the calibre of the candidates we interviewed was exceptional. This demonstrates clearly that people in the Highlands are concerned about their culture and leisure services and are keen to be involved to ensure they retain the high level of service they enjoy at present."

Councillor Drew Millar, Vice-Chairman of the Education Culture and Sport Committee, said: "We are absolutely thrilled at the calibre of the directors we have appointed. We could have filled the places three times over. This augurs well for the future of our new company."

Councillor Bill Fernie, chairman of Education Culture and Sport Commitee said: "I am pleased that we have appointed the new board and that we are moving to establish the new company which will allow for new ways of working and also contribute nmajor savings for the council in the rates bill already eastimated at around �1million per annum. "

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.