COMMENT: Who will be the next Provost and city leader of Inverness?
After last week's Highland Council elections, no clear decisions on who will run any of the committees or be leader have been revealed yet... and another big question is who will be the next Provost and city leader of Inverness?
Two plumb roles are up for grabs for the 23 councillors who will sit on the Inverness Area Committee.
The first is the most public, ancient and prestigious civic position in the city – that of Provost of Inverness.
The role has existed for centuries and involves participating in a great number of public events, many designed to attract investment to the city.
The second is that of city leader and that is where the politics of the notoriously argumentative Inverness committee is a little tougher with millions of pounds of investment on the line.
Sometimes, as in the case of Helen Carmichael, who has just retired as the first female Provost in the city’s history, the roles can be combined.
The decision will be made based on who puts themselves forward for either or both roles and that is potentially a very political decision.
What is needed?
Electing a Provost is perhaps the easier job as it would likely go to someone with the energy and dedication to take it on as well as the city’s best interests at heart but it is more than simply wearing the chain of office.
The former Provost, Helen Carmichael, spoke about how she would meet diplomats and other foreign representatives and would offer a point of contact for those interested in investing in the area.
A Provost is also the council’s representative at official occasions and with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this year there would be no shortage of those, so the appropriate councillor would need to be chosen.
So who might be interested in that?
Sources spoke privately saying that Inverness South Councillor Duncan Macpherson might be a good choice but he would need to be persuaded that the job is substantive enough and that could mean combining the roles.
When it comes to events, he is certainly not work-shy and last term he sought to improve the celebrations around the anniversary of the UK cabinet meeting being held at Inverness Town House, which was the first time it took place outside London. Covid saw to it that the plans were not advanced.
Other experienced candidates for the role include Bet McAllister who has already been Deputy Provost or Alex Graham who was Provost from 2012 to 2015 – but would they want to return to the role?
Then there is Isabelle MacKenzie who after one term at council has seen her fair share of battles over things like the Gathering Place yet also represents a respect for tradition that is in keeping with the office.
Could a newcomer be in contention?
Though usually it would go to one of the senior councillors it might be that the committee wants to present a newer or more vibrant face to the world which means that any of the 10 new councillors could be in with a shout.
Some of those who fit that bill would be Morven Reid or Jackie Hendry but as first-term councillors they might prefer to get straight to the work rather than be sidetracked by ceremonial duties.
The role effectively puts the councillor at the heart of decision-making and the public face of the council for Inverness – the capital of the region. This may include being in charge of steering unpopular projects through the committee, even though they are by no means obliged to support everything themselves.
Despite that, it is a role that will almost certainly be sought after.
Finding the right person may prove difficult and is likely to be discussed behind closed doors well in advance of the first meeting on June 10.
So who would want this important but occasionally challenging job?
From the SNP, the largest group on the committee, there is quite a crop of those who, with a combination of long political experience and open to co-operation with others, might be persuaded to stand.
They include Ken Gowans and Ian Brown who are both able to work with other parties or groups, yet have the experience both politically and in the council to take up the role.
Glynis Campbell-Sinclair is another name being mentioned by insiders. She is known as one of the most strident members at council, striving to cut through slow-moving issues.
From the Liberal Democrats the two stand-out candidates would be Alasdair Christie and Trish Robertson. Critics of the former council leader said that Cllr Christie was the de facto leader in the latter days of the previous term.
He was the main mover behind the last two budgets which were seen as more positive and responsive to the needs of local communities across the region.
But he remains the leader of the Liberal Democrats group and may not seek to burden himself with the role of steering the Inverness committee on top of working at the Citizens Advice Bureau.
Cllr Robertson previously held high-ranking positions as the chairwoman of the strategic economy and infrastructure committee.
But, like her ward colleague, Cllr Campbell-Sinclair, though her decisive approach may be highly valued by those sitting on the same benches those sitting opposite may not welcome the idea of her leading the committee.
Councillors will decide based on party, reputation and character. Ultimately, the winning candidate or candidates will have an unbelievable opportunity to forge a positive future for our exciting and developing city.
