Highland Council to discuss Community Wealth building

At the meeting of the Highland Council on Thursday (29 June) Members will have the opportunity to discuss how to best use the Council’s economic power to generate and maintain wealth within the Highlands and to ensure more people and businesses benefit.

The Council, when buying goods and services, already spends some 50% with Highland based companies – the 2nd highest in Scotland. By building on this investment and all the other work already underway to promote economic growth, the Council aims to progress a new Community Wealth Building strategy. The strategy will create new employment opportunities, help more local businesses to set-up and to expand, and place more economic assets in the hands of local people and communities.

The Convener of the Highland Council who will chair the meeting on Thursday said: “There are a range of actions the Council is already taking to deliver Community Wealth Building, but we know more work is required. As a large employer we have an important role when it comes to ensuring the economic power that we have directly benefits the Highlands as much as possible and is not “leaked” away. The strategy that is proposed includes setting out a vision with outcomes that are in line with our priorities, so I look forward to our discussions.”

Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Cllr Ken Gowans added: “We face a range of social, economic and environmental challenges and this new practical people-centred approach is all about retaining wealth and thus, supporting people in the Highlands.”

Following discussions, Members will be asked to agree the approach for developing a Community Wealth Building strategy for Highland. If approved, it is proposed that a Members’ Workshop is held in the autumn to progress engagement on the development of the Strategy. Following this, a draft Strategy will be developed, with a view to a wider consultation taking place towards the end of the year.