Top Three Elected At The Highland Council

17th May 2012

The Highland Council has elected its three most senior members to lead a new Administration comprising members of the Scottish National Party, the Scottish Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Labour Party.

Leader of the Council is Councillor Drew Hendry (SNP), one of four ward members for Aird and Loch Ness. Elected to The Highland Council in 2007, he is also Leader of the SNP Group on the Council.

Deputy Leader is Councillor David Alston (Liberal Democrat), who is one of four members for Black Isle Ward. He has served on the Council since 1999.

Convener is Councillor Jimmy Gray, (Labour) one of three members representing Inverness Millburn. Councillor Gray will chair meetings of The Highland Council and be the civic head of the Council. He served as Provost of Inverness between 2008-2012.

They were elected on Thursday 17th May 2012 at the first meeting of the 80-strong Council following the elections on 3 May. They will serve for five years. Other office-bearers will be elected at the next Council meeting on Thursday 31 May, when the committee structure is agreed.

Councillor Hendry said: "I am delighted to have been elected to lead The Highland Council and look forward to working with all of those who want to see a better Highlands. This is an historic time, our parties have agreed to put political differences aside to work together on a positive vision for the Highlands and its people. We will work to support jobs and families through the challenges ahead and will seek to make the most of the many opportunities that the future holds for the Highlands."

Councillor Alston said: "I believe that together we will take a business-like approach to the challenges we face and that each group will bring its own qualities to the task of running the Council. Building the future of the Highlands will require determination, vision and creativity - and our team has the range of talent and ability to make that possible."

Councillor Gray said: "There is no doubt that there will be some difficult choices to be made in the years ahead and all elected members of Highland Council will need to be fully committed to deliver the best possible services from the resources available. This administration will have social justice fairness and equity as its core values."

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Left to right - David Alston, Drew Hendry, Jimmy Gray