New Joint Committee For Roads Collaboration Receives Cross-party Council Support

3rd July 2017

Members of The Highland Council have unanimously agreed to the establishment of a joint Committee with Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Angus Council, Argyll and Bute Council, Comharlie nan Eilean Siar and Moray Council to be known as ‘The Northern Roads Collaboration Joint Committee'.

Cllr Allan Henderson, Chair of the Council's Places Committee commended the formation of the new Joint Committee, he said: "I commend this initiative which will help Highland Council and our partner Northern Authorities address the ‘big ticket' roads' issues that affect us all. By working together and sharing best practices and efficiencies, I am convinced that our areas will all benefit from the next five years of the Joint Committee."

Councillors endorsed proposed functions and a scheme of delegation for the new Joint Committee and gave authority for Highland Council’s Head of Corporate Governance to enter into an inter-authority legal agreement with the other member Councils.

Members agreed that Aberdeenshire Council will take the role of Lead Authority for the first year of the Joint Committee.

William Gilfillan, Director of Community Services said: "I think this is a very positive step forward. There is an opportunity here for us to improve services to the public and to do a lot more together in collaboration. We could see improved resilience in the delivery of specialist services such as design and procurement which can be shared across authorities and we hope that the joint working will aid the retention of skilled staff and expand on joint working arrangements that we already have in place."

Mr Gilfillan assured Members that the Highland Council’s Places Committee will receive an annual report on the performance, activities and achievements of the Joint Committee and he explained that it was anticipated that the new Joint Committee could start meeting at the end of the summer.