Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee chair and vice chair appointed

Councillor Bill Lobban has been re-appointed as Chair of Highland Council’s Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee, but only on a short-term basis.

His re-appointment was made earlier today (29 August 2022), at the first Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee held since this year’s local Government election.

Members asked Cllr Lobban to retain his role as chair, citing his experience on the matter of Badenoch and Strathspey becoming Highland’s first short-term lets control area.

Highland Council has submitted a formal request to the Scottish Government to make Badenoch and Strathspey a short-term lets control area, but the matter is not yet concluded.

Members felt Cllr Lobban’s experience and previous support of a short-term lets control area would make him the ideal chair, until that matter is concluded.

After agreeing to take on the role of chair on a short-term basis, Cllr Lobban called for nominations for the position of Vice Chair.

Members agreed that Cllr Russell Jones would take over as Vice Chair, with a view to taking on the Chairmanship following the conclusion of business on short-term lets.

Speaking after his re-appointment, Councillor Lobban said: “I am happy to take on the chairmanship of the Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee on a short-term basis. After the important matter of short-terms lets has been concluded I intend to hand the chairmanship over to Cllr Jones.

“I believe in the positivity of change, and I am confident Cllr Jones will bring a fresh perspective to the chairmanship.”

On the matter of the short-term lets control area, Cllr Lobban said: “I have consistently raised my concerns over the lack of housing in Badenoch and Strathspey and is the main reason behind my support for the area to become Highland’s first short-term lets control area.

“My Area Committee colleagues have shown that they appreciate how important the short-term control area issue is to Badenoch and Strathspey and in terms of continuity I understand why they have asked me to chair Area Committee meetings until the conclusion of the process.”

During the meeting members also had an opportunity to listen to Police Scotland’s latest local performance report.

Cllr Russell Jones who was chosen as Vice Chair of the Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee earlier today.

ends