Council And Cromarty Port Authority To Sign Agreement

15th March 2013

Memorandum of Understanding seeks to strengthen economy & bring new jobs in the Cromarty Firth.

The Highland Council and the Cromarty Firth Port Authority are to sign a partnership agreement to promote co-operation and joint working, with the aim of creating good quality employment opportunities and facilitating the development of new and existing port facilities at Invergordon and in the Cromarty Firth.

Members at today�s Planning , Environment and Development Committee gave the green light to the wording for a Memorandum of Understanding that will see both organisations working together to strengthen economic regeneration and employment opportunities within Easter Ross and the Highlands.

Economic Development is a key area within �Working Together for the Highlands�, the Programme for the Council. A draft Economic Recovery & Development Plan was approved at the last PED Committee in January which sets out an ambitious programme for sustainable growth in jobs and investment in Highland over the next 5 year period.

Chairman Councillor Thomas Prag said: �The Cromarty Firth is ideally positioned to become a key hub for offshore wind, wave and tidal energy so the Memorandum of Understanding will help us to forge a good working partnership. It really is all about bringing quality jobs and investment to the Highlands and doing this in a true spirit of co-operation. Inter-agency collaborative working is key if the challenges facing Highland are to be overcome and the opportunities for our people for the future are to be maximised.�

Vice Convener and local Councillor, Maxine Smith added: �I believe the agreement will lead to better liaison with the local community and will allow us to jointly market opportunities and attract investments, which in turn leads to the creation of new jobs. By signing the agreement we are putting out a clear message to potential investors that we are ready for new opportunities which will bring a very welcomed boost to the local economy.�

The draft Economic Recovery & Development Plan approved by the PED Committee in January 2013 sets out a vision of Highland as an innovative, creative and progressive area whose quality of life together with its high quality environment, natural resources, skilled and well educated workforce are key factors to create the conditions for sustainable economic growth and inward investment.

Targets over the five year period include 5,000 jobs to be created and sustained; Business Gateway to create 1,250 new business start-ups and to assist 3,000 existing businesses with advice and support over the term of theplan.
The draft Plan has been forwarded to Highlands & Islands Enterprise (who are the lead agency on economic matters for the Highland Community Planning Partnership) for joint circulation and wider consultation over the coming months with key public and private sector partners prior to finalisation.