Committee Membership and Office Bearers

The membership of The Highland Council (80 members) is as follows: Independent 35; SNP 21; Liberal Democrat 14; and Labour 8; Independent Nationalist 2.

The administration comprises: The SNP, Liberal Democrat and Labour Groups.

Leadership

• Leader of the Council:  Drew Hendry, Aird and Loch Ness 
• Depute Leader of the Council:  David Alston, Black Isle
   
• Convener:  Jimmy Gray, Inverness Millburn 
• Vice-Convener: Maxine Smith, Cromarty Firth
• Vice-Convener: Hamish Wood, Aird and Loch Ness
   
• Leader of the Opposition:  Carolyn Wilson, Cromarty Firth

Strategic Committees 

Adult and Children's Services Committee:

• Chair:  Alasdair Christie, Inverness Ness-side
• Vice-Chair:  Liz MacDonald, Nairn

Finance, Housing and Resources Committee

• Chair: David Fallows, Badenoch and Strathspey 
• Vice-Chair: David Alston, Black Isle

Planning Environment and Development Committee:

• Chair:  Thomas Prag, Inverness South 
• Vice-Chair: George Farlow, North West and Central Sutherland

Transport Environmental and Community Services Committee:

• Chair: Graham Phillips, East Sutherland Edderton 
• Vice-Chair: Bet McAllister, Inverness Central

Non-Strategic Committees

Audit and Scrutiny Committee

• Chair: Margaret Davidson, Aird and Loch Ness
• Vice Chair: Bill Fernie, Wick

Community Safety, Public Engagement and Equalities Committee

• Chair: Drew Millar, Eilean a Cheò

Gaelic Implementation Group

• Chair: Hamish Fraser, Eilean a Cheò

Pensions Committee

• Chair: David Fallows, Badenoch and Strathspey 

Regulatory Committees

North Planning Applications Committee (Wards 1-11):

• Chair:  Isobel McCallum, Black Isle
• Vice-Chairman: Audrey Sinclair, Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh

South Planning Applications Committee (Wards 12-22):

• Chair: Jimmy Gray, Inverness Millburn 
• Vice-Chair: Colin McAulay, Nairn

Highand Licensing Committee and Highland Licensing Board

• Chair/Convener:  Maxine Smith, Cromarty Firth 
• Vice Chair/ Vice Convener: Drew Millar, Eilean a Cheò

City/Area Committees

Inverness City Committee:

• Chair: Mr I Brown, Inverness Millburn (Leader of the City)
• Provost: Mr A Graham, Inverness West
• Depute Provost: Mrs B McAllister, Inverness Central
• Depute Provost: Mrs G Sinclair, Culloden and Ardersier

Caithness and Sutherland Area Committee

• Chair: Mrs D Mackay, East Sutherland and Edderton (Leader of the Area)

Joint Boards

Highland and Islands Fire Board

• Convener: Andrew Drever (OIC) 
• Vice Convener: Audrey Sinclair (Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh, Highland Council).

Northern Joint Police Board

• Convener:  Mr N M Macleod, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
• Vice Convener: Hamish Fraser, Eilean a Cheò, Highland Council

Highland and Western Isles Joint Valuation Board

• Convener:  Helen Carmichael, Aird and Loch Ness 
• Vice Convener:  John Mackay, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

If you have any comments or enquiries regarding the above or require any further information, please complete our contact form.

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