New Committee structures agreed for Highland Council

2nd June 2017

The Highland Council has agreed a new strategic committee structure at its meeting on 1 June 2017.

No top positions for Caithness on new committee structure. With less committees in the new council there was bound to be less chance of seeing Caithness councillors get top places as the tendency is for experienced councillors to be selected by the administration.

The Redesign Board made proposals regarding the future governance arrangements for Highland Council. The new governance arrangements are based on 3 Strategic Committees, reducing from 5, dealing with People, Places and Corporate Resources, each with a Policy Development Group. New Policy Development Groups would comprise Members, Officers and Trade Union representatives, working together informally and in workshop format to develop policy proposals for Committee consideration and approval.

The three committees will be for People, Places and Resources. It was agreed that the names of the committees will be considered and agreed at a later date.

Leader of the Council, Margaret Davidson said:"This is an opportunity to renew and reenergise the Council and seek a new direction. Review is always necessary to ensure an organisation is fit for purpose. We have had substantial reductions in our revenue and therefore it is imperative for us to redesign the council to address and manage a greatly reduced budget.

"People have told us that they want decisions affecting communities made closer to those communities. There will need to be a substantial change in how we do business, with far more decisions going to local committees."

Depute Leader of the Council, Alasdair Christie added:

"Localism is the way forward. Things are going to be very different and will evolve and change as time goes on."

Chairs of the strategic committees were elected as follows:

People Committee

Chair: Cllr Alasdair Christie

Vice Chairs: Cllr John Finlayson and Cllr Kate Stephen

Places Committee

Chair: Cllr Allan Henderson

Vice Chairs: Cllr Hugh Morrison and Cllr Trish Robertson

Resources Committee

Chair: Cllr Alister Mackinnon

Vice Chair: Cllr Andrew Baxter

Cllr Richard Laird was elected as the Chair of Audit and Scrutiny and Cllr Peter Saggers as Vice Chair.

Cllr Margaret Davidson was agreed as the Council nomination for the Vice-President of CoSLA which is to be elected on 30 June 2017.

Cllr Deirdre Mackay was elected to serve as the council representative on the NHS Board. (There is no director on the NHS highland board from Caithness)

Cllr Jimmy Gray was elected to the Highlands and Islands European Partnership which comprises Highlands & Islands Enterprise, the University of the Highlands & Islands and all 7 Local Authorities in the Highlands & Islands.

Councillors were appointed to other Committees and Boards and these appointments will be published on the council website.