Caithness committee meeting cancelled as Highland Council says there is 'no business' to discuss
The Caithness local committee, due to take place on Monday, November 14, has been cancelled, Highland Council has announced.
It said there was "no business" requiring decisions that could not be made elsewhere.
Highland Council has 11 area committees, set up in a bid to devolve power from Inverness to local communities.
They meet three times a year, but consider a vast range of topics including police and fire reports, housing, roads repair, schools and economic development. It is the only public-facing forum for local decision making and funding.
During the last meeting in August, Caithness members agreed a winter service plan for roads, traffic calming at Noss Primary School and the 20mph speed limit for Thurso. They also discussed progress in establishing a Wick common good fund.
At a recent meeting of Highland Council, Caithness members clashed over a motion to lobby the Scottish Government for roads improvements in the far north.
The county also recently hit the headlines when Thurso High School was forced to partially close due to safety concerns about the ageing building, prompting local calls to invest in the Caithness school estate.
However, Caithness chairman Ron Gunn confirmed that there is no business to discuss this month.
Instead, Caithness members will make decisions at private ward business meetings. Decisions requiring formal validation will come to the next area committee, likely to be held in spring 2023.
A council spokesman said: “There was no business at this time forthcoming for the Caithness area committee requiring decisions that could not otherwise be addressed at area business meetings and then reported back to the next area committee.
“Given the pressure on members’ time and ensuring best use of officer resources, and in consultation with the chair, it was decided to cancel this meeting.”