Area committee to meet in Wick for first time
WICK is set to host the Caithness and North Sutherland Area committee for the first time since its was formed as it aims to tackle economic issues within the region.
The Assembly Rooms will welcome 16 councillors from the five wards in the North Highlands on Monday morning in the second meeting since it was established by the Highland Council in May.
The group who are scheduled to meet four times a year, met for the first time at Drummuie House in Golspie in August and is part of a pilot scheme being run by the Highland Council in an attempt to return decision making powers at a local level.
Chairwoman Deirdre Mackay said that she has been pleased with how the committee has been run so far and looks forward to holding meaningful discussions and making decisions that will benefit the region.
“The agenda is a full one stretching across the breadth of services and reflects some of the raft of new powers decentralised from Inverness to the two counties,” she said.
“It is a breath of fresh air to be in a position where we have a wealth of detailed local information at our fingertips which helps us be better informed in our decision making on behalf of the communities we represent and to take meaningful actions that will make things happen.”
The economy of the North Highlands will form the basis of discussions throughout the day within updates on marine and on-shore energy, broadband, regeneration and tourism.
The meeting is open to the public and is scheduled to begin at 10.30am, but will also be broadcast on the Highland Council website.