Highland Council to discuss Community Wealth Building
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Highland Council is set to discuss how best to use its economic power to generate and maintain wealth in the Highlands and to ensure more people and businesses benefit.
The subject is on the agenda for Thursday.
When buying goods and services, the authority already spends some 50 per cent with Highland-based companies – the second highest in Scotland. By building on the investment and all 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.
"We know more work is required," said convenor Bill Lobban. "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 economy and infrastructure 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 takes place in the autumn to progress engagement on the development of the strategy. Following that, a draft strategy will be developed, with a view to a wider consultation taking place towards the end of the year.
