High Life Highland aims to provide new focus for community learning and leisure services
At its meeting on 10 March, The Highland Council’s Education Culture and Sport Committee agreed to deliver its Community Learning and Leisure Services through an Arms Length Company.
On Thursday (12 May), the full Council is being asked to take forward the initiative by establishing a new company to run the business.
It is proposed to call the company High Life Highland, which would be responsible for the delivery of a range of services on behalf of the Council, including Adult Learning, Youth Work, Leisure Centres, Libraries, Art Galleries, Museums, Archive Centres and Sports Development.
The transfer, scheduled for October this year, is being proposed to not only save the Council £1 million per year but to enable the company to become more focused on customer and user needs under the direction of a Board of Directors with business and community expertise.
Councillor Michael Foxley, Leader of the Council’s Administration, said: “By establishing this company to deliver these services on our behalf, we will be able to find £1 million savings, expand provision and avoid any further reduction in Community Learning and Leisure Service delivery or closure of facilities.”
The new organisation would have potential opportunities to:
Councillor Bill Fernie, Chairman of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee, said,: “Recent budget consultations have shown that the public have a high regard for the facilities and services provided by Community Learning and Leisure. By protecting facilities from closure and avoiding reductions in services we will also be able to protect jobs in our communities.”
A report being presented to a meeting of The Highland Council on Thursday (12 May) asks Councillors to agree that the company be known as High Life Highland and that it would be limited by guarantee with charitable status. A wholly-owned trading subsidiary would be known as High Life Highland (Trading) Community Interest Company
The report states: “The name High Life Highland has a distinct association with the region, shows separation from the Council, is clear in its connection with the key services to be delivered by the company, presents good opportunities for marketing and will be unique to this company.”
The company’s Board of Directors will be made up of four Highland Councillors and eight independent (non-Councillor) representatives.
Legal documentation for the transfer will be brought to the Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Committee in August 2011 and various reports on the process of transfer affecting staff, properties and establishing the company and service delivery contracts will be reported to future meetings of the Resources and Full Council committees over the coming months.