Council agree new committee structure and office-bearers

The Highland Council has agreed a new committee structure and elected office-bearers.

There will be four strategic committees, namely: Finance, Housing and Resources; Planning Environment and Development; Transport Environmental and Community Services and Adult and Children’s Services. All of these committees will comprise 22 members and will meet 6 times each year.

There will also be a Pensions Committee, comprising 11 members; an Audit and Scrutiny Committee, (22 members); a Community Safety, Public Engagement and Equalities Committee (15 members); and a Gaelic Implementation Group, (11 members and 3 members of Bord na Gaidhlig or their nominees).  All will meet quarterly.

An Inverness City Committee, comprising 26 members, will meet 6 times each year and a Caithness and Sutherland Area Committee, comprising 16 members, will meet quarterly. They will pilot specific responsibilities from the outset with a view to paving the way for the following area committees: - Ross and Cromarty (19 members); Nairn and Badenoch (8 members); and Lochaber and Skye (11 members). All will meet quarterly.

The Leaders of the City/Area Committees will be appointed at the first meetings.
Regulatory committees, overseeing planning and licensing issues, will see the continuation of a Planning Review Body of 9 members, meeting six-weekly; as well as a North Planning Application Committee of 17 members and a South Committee of 19 members, both meeting monthly.

A Highland Licensing Committee of 12 members and a Highland Licensing Board of 10 members will meet six times each year. The chairman is Maxine Smith (Cromarty Firth) and the vice-chairman is Drew Millar (Eilean a Cheo).

Office-bearers appointed are: Vice-Conveners (2) – Maxine Smith (Cromarty Firth);  Hamish Wood (Aird and Loch Ness).  

Chair of Finance, Housing and Resources Committee – David Fallows (Badenoch and Strathspey); Vice Chair  – David Alston (Black Isle).

Chair of Planning, Environment and Development Committee and the Planning Review Body – Thomas Prag (Inverness South); Vice Chair – George Farlow (North West and Central Sutherland).

Chair of Transport, Environmental and Community Services Committee –
Graham Phillips (East Sutherland and Edderton). Vice Chair  – Bet McAllister (Inverness Central). 

Chair of Adult & Children’s Services Committee – Alasdair Christie (Inverness Ness-side); Vice Chair  - Liz MacDonald (Nairn).

Chair of Pensions Committee – David Fallows (Badenoch and Strathspey)

Chair of Community Safety, Public Engagement and Equalities Committee –
Drew Millar (Eilean a Cheo)

Chair of Gaelic Implementation Group – Hamish Fraser (Eilean a Cheo).  

Champions’ Co-ordinator and Children’s Champion – Linda Munro (North West and Central Sutherland).

Leader of the Opposition: Carolyn Wilson (Cromarty Firth)

Chair of Audit & Scrutiny Committee: Margaret Davidson (Aird and Loch Ness)
Vice-Chair: Bill Fernie (Wick).