How decisions are made
Councillors make decisions about policies that affect the Highlands at committee meetings.
The council also employs thousands of staff who deliver a wide range of services.
Many day-to-day decisions are made by council staff. If a decision is likely to be politically sensitive or affect a specific ward, council officers must consult councillors before making it.
These safeguards, and the list of decisions officers can make, are set out in the Scheme of Delegation.