Tribute paid to retiring councillors

Tribute has been paid to the 13 Highland Councillors who are retiring from local government.

At the end of the final  meeting of this five year Council cycle, Convener Sandy Park presented scrolls to 12 of the outgoing councillors.

Leader Michael Foxley, the longest serving councillor with 26 years service,  presented Councillor Park, retiring after 17 years service,  with his scroll.

There will be no further Council meetings before the election on 3 May. The meeting to elect office-bearers for the new council is scheduled for 17 May.

Those members retiring are: -

Caithness:  David Flear (13 years service), Lady Thurso (Marion) (five years).
Sutherland:  Ian Ross (13 years)
Ross and Cromarty:  Jean Urquhart (9 years)
Skye and Lochalsh:  John Laing (9 years)
Inverness:  Peter Corbett (13 years), David Henderson (6 years), John Finnie (five years), Roy Pederson (five years)
Nairn:  Sandy Park (17 years)
Badenoch and Strathspey:  Stuart Black (17 years).
Lochaber:  Michael Foxley (26 years), Donald Cameron (five years)

Pictured back left to right are:  John Finnie, David Flear, John Laing, Peter Corbett, Donald Cameron, Roy Pedersen.
Front:  Jean Urquhart, Stuart Black, Alistair Dodds (Chief Executive), Sandy Park, Michael Foxley, David Henderson, Ian Ross.