Councillors vote "no" to Highland Council break-up

Nine representatives, including Fort William and Ardnamurchan councillor Andrew Baxter and John Grafton (Caol and Mallaig) had signed a motion asking Highland Council to write to the Scottish Government about holding a review.

They said communities in Scotland’s largest local authority by area could be better served by a smaller number of new authorities.

But at last week’s meeting, an amendment suggesting strengthening the powers of existing local area committees won by just five votes: For the motion  31; For the amendment  37; Abstained  2.

Lochaber Councillor Kate Willis, who tabled the amendment, said: "I agree with the motion proposers that a review of governance arrangements is required to better address the regions diverse needs, and that this should be done by exploring council structures and governance systems so they may better serve the unique characteristics of each area.

"I agree we must have change and make local government local, but I do not agree that breaking up Highland Council will achieve this.

"Across Highland, communities face different challenges requiring different solutions, and these could be effectively delivered at Area Committee level by councillors elected to represent their local areas.

"Instead of creating division, my amendment will build local empowerment.

"My amendment commits Highland Council to establish a workshop and a working group to explore Area Committee governance and funding, and to capture the views of elected members on how reform can deliver better outcomes for local communities.

"I look forward to working with my fellow members and our communities to deliver this."

Councillor Willis’ amendment read: "This council acknowledges that Highland is geographically very large.

"It is important that Council recognises the importance of devolved governance to Area Committees in order to fully represent our diverse local communities and to deliver the support and services that people of the Highlands, quite rightly, demand.

"Therefore, this council agrees to review the governance and funding arrangements of Area Committees so that they may better serve the needs of their local communities.

"The first step being to capture member views in more detail with the establishment of a workshop and working group for the delivery of local democracy."

Councillor Willis proposed that the first step in the process to review the governance of, and funding for, Area Committees should be a members workshop and the establishment of a working group.