Overview of committee membership and office bearers

The Highland Council is represented by 74 elected members serving 11 four-member wards and 10 three-member wards.

The Highland Council is led by a coalition administration of the SNP and Highland Independent Groups. The opposition group is Scottish Liberal Democrats.

Leadership

  • Leader of the Council: Raymond Bremner, Wick and East Caithness
  • Convener: Bill Lobban, Badenoch and Strathspey
  • Vice Convener: Biz Campbell, Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh
  • Vice Convener: Ken Gowans, Inverness South
  • Leader of the Opposition: Alasdair Christie, Inverness Ness-side
  • Senior Strategic Chair: John Finlayson, Eilean a' Cheò
  • Senior Strategic Chair: Ken Gowans, Inverness South 

Strategic Committees

Communities and Place Committee:
  • Chair: Graham MacKenzie, Dingwall and Seaforth
  • Vice Chair: Hugh Morrison, North, West and Central Sutherland
Corporate Resources Committee:
  • Chair: Derek Louden, Tain and Easter Ross
  • Vice Chair: Calum Munro, Eilean a' Cheò

Economy and Infrastructure Committee:

  • Chair: Ken Gowans, Inverness South
  • Vice Chair: Michael Green, Nairn and Cawdor
Education Committee:
  • Chair: John Finlayson, Eilean a' Cheò
  • Vice Chair: Drew Millar, Eilean a' Cheò

Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Committee:

  • Chair: David Fraser, Aird and Loch Ness
  • Vice Chair: Muriel Cockburn, Badenoch and Strathspey

Housing and Property Committee:

  • Chair: Glynis Campbell Sinclair, Culloden and Ardersier
  • Vice Chair: Laurie Fraser, Nairn and Cawdor

Additional Committees and Boards

Audit Committee:
  • Chair: Trish Robertson, Culloden and Ardersier
  • Vice Chair: Ruraidh Stewart, Eilean a' Cheò
Climate Change Committee: 
  • Chair: Karl Rosie, Thurso and Northwest Caithness
  • Vice Chair: Kate Willis, Fort William and Ardnamurchan

Gaelic Committee:

  • Chair: Calum Munro, Eilean a' Cheò
  • Vice Chair: Raymond Bremner, Wick and East Caithness

Highland and Western Isles Valuation Joint Board:

  • Convener: Laurie Fraser, Highland Council 
  • Depute Convener: Donald Crichton, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Highland Council/NHS Highland Joint Monitoring Committee

Co-Chair:-

  • Prof Boyd Robertson, NHS Highland
  • David Fraser, Aird and Loch Ness

Pensions Committee

  • Chair: Thomas MacLennan, Fort William and Ardnamurchan
  • Vice Chair: Derek Louden, Tain and Easter Ross

Pensions Board

  • Chair: 

Regulatory Committees

North Planning Applications Committee (Wards 1-10):
  • Chair: Drew Millar, Eilean a' Cheò
  • Vice Chair: Karl Rosie, Thurso and Northwest Caithness

South Planning Applications Committee (Wards 11-21):

  • Chair: Thomas MacLennan, Fort William and Ardnamurchan
  • Vice Chair: Paul Oldham, Nairn and Cawdor

Planning Review Body:

  • Chair: Thomas MacLennan, Fort William and Ardnamurchan
  • Vice Chair: Drew Millar, Eilean a' Cheò
Highland Licensing Committee
  • Chair: Sean Kennedy, Dingwall and Seaforth
  • Vice Chair: Karl Rosie, Thurso and Northwest Caithness
Highland Licensing Board
  • Convener: Jackie Hendry, Inverness Ness-side
  • Vice Convener: Paul Oldham, Nairn and Cawdor

City and Local Committees

Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee:

  • Chair: Russell Jones, Badenoch and Strathspey
  • Vice Chair: vacant

Black Isle Committee 

  • Chair: Lyndsey Johnston, Black Isle
  • Vice Chair: Morven-May MacCallum, Black Isle

Caithness Committee

  • Chair: Ron Gunn, Thurso and Northwest Caithness
  • Vice Chair: Struan Mackie, Thurso and Northwest Caithness and
  • Vice Chair: Jan McEwan, Wick and East Caithness
  • Provost of Thurso: Struan Mackie, Thurso and Northwest Caithness
  • Provost of Wick: Jan McEwan, Wick and East Caithness
City of Inverness Area Committee:
  • Leader of Inverness and Area: Ian Brown, Inverness Millburn 
  • Depute Leader of Inverness and Area: Chris Ballance, Aird and Loch Ness
  • Provost of Inverness and Area: Glynis Campbell Sinclair, Culloden and Ardersier
  • Depute Provost of Inverness and Area: Jackie Hendry, Inverness Ness-side
  • Depute Provost of Inverness and Area: Morven Reid, Culloden and Ardersier

Dingwall and Seaforth Area Committee

  • Chair: Graham MacKenzie, Dingwall and Seaforth 
  • Vice Chair and Civic Lead: Margaret Paterson, Dingwall and Seaforth

Easter Ross Area Committee 

  • Chair: Derek Louden, Tain and Easter Ross
    Vice Chair: Molly Nolan, Cromarty Firth

Isle of Skye and Raasay Committee:

  • Cathraiche: John Finlayson, Eilean a' Cheò
  • Dreuchd Iar-Chathraiche & Ceannard Catharra: Calum Munro, Eilean a' Cheò
Lochaber Committee:
  • Chair: Kate Willis, Fort William and Ardnamurchan
  • Vice Chair: John Grafton, Caol and Mallaig
Nairnshire Committee
  • Chair: Michael Green, Nairn and Cawdor
  • Vice Chair: Paul Oldham, Nairn and Cawdor
  • Provost of Nairn: Laurie Fraser, Nairn and Cawdor

Sutherland County Committee

  • Chair: Richard Gale, East Sutherland and Edderton
  • Vice Chair: Hugh Morrison, North, West and Central Sutherland

Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh Committee 

Co-Chair:-

  • Biz Campbell, Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh 
  • Liz Kraft, Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh

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