Second full Highland Council meeting since the election determines who gets the plum jobs on the various committees amid surprises such as cutting the roles of deputy leader and budget leader
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Highland Council’s second full meeting since the election was all about appointments – who gets on what when it comes to the big roles on the big committees.
The local authority has 12 committees in all, of which six are considered strategic committees dealing with the most important issues that come before the council.
They include areas such as education, health, social care, housing, infrastructure and the local economy.
There was also the council’s representation on an additional 18 boards of organisations like High Life Highland, Eden Court and NHS Highland.
Confirmation of who would chair the committees and boards came with the revelation the administration is cutting the role of deputy leader.
That is a financial saving and it is likely to increase the political prominence of convener Bill Lobban who will deputise if leader Raymond Bremner is unavailable.
The appointments were are as follows:
Strategic Committees
Communities and Place Committee – Chair Cllr Graham Mackenzie (SNP) and Vice Chair Cllr Hugh Morrison (Independent)
This committee deals with everything from amenities and public conveniences; to bereavement and crematorium services; environmental health; the council’s stores, logistics, fleet and plant; and waste strategy, operations and street cleaning.
Corporate Resources Committee - Chair Cllr Derek Louden (SNP) and Vice Chair Cllr Calum Munro (Independent)
The main purpose of this committee can be summed up in one word – budgets. Members of corporate resources scrutinise the management of the revenue and capital budgets and control these budgets including dealing with over-expenditure.
Economy and Infrastructure Committee – Chair Cllr Ken Gowans (SNP) and Vice Chair Cllr Michael Green (Independent)
The defining remit of this committee has got to be road maintenance but it also has an endless series of responsibilities from supporting all infrastructure projects involving the council as well as the economy.
Education Committee - Chair Cllr John Finlayson (Independent) and Vice Chair Cllr Drew Millar (SNP)
The biggest and most expensive committee of all. It also has a huge task not just setting education policy for the region but dealing with Scotland’s worst literacy and numeracy rates as well as an ageing and out of date school estate.
Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Committee – Chair Cllr David Fraser (Independent) and Vice Chair Cllr Muriel Cockburn (SNP)
One of the most challenging briefs in the local authority with health, social care and wellbeing all in crisis in the north amid soaring waiting times, overworked and under-staffed services and inaccessible mental health care.
Housing and Property Committee – Chair Cllr Glynis Campbell-Sinclair (SNP) and Vice Chair Cllr Laurie Fraser (Independent)
Another area that is a major headache for the local authority is provision of sufficient housing for locals amid the increasingly voiced concerns of a new Highland Clearances, including by the new leader of the local authority.
Other Committees
Audit and Scrutiny – Chair Cllr Trish Robertson (Liberal Demorat) and Vice Chair Cllr Andrew Jarvie (Conservatives)
Basically marks the council’s homework to keep the local authority honest and ensure that the due processes are followed and as such the committee is led by opposition councillors.
Gaelic Committee – Chair Cllr Calum Munro (Independent) and Vice Chair Cllr Raymond Bremner (SNP)
Designed to promote and develop the use of Gaelic.
Pensions Committee – Chair Cllr Thomas MacLennan (Independent) and Vice Chair Cllr Derek Louden (SNP)
Oversees the investments and administration of the council’s multi-million pound pension pot and has recently come under pressure for what some activists claim are unethical investments.
Council Climate Change Committee – Chair Cllr Karl Rosie (SNP) and Vice Chair Cllr Kate Willis (Greens)
A brand new committee that was established to after the dissolution of of the Tourism Committee was agreed in a bid to ramp up and have more of a focus on the local authority’s efforts to tackle climate change. The tourism remit will now be absorbed by the Environment and Infrastructure Committee.
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