Badenoch and Strathspey area committee chairman steps down after seven years in role
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The chairman of Highland Council's Badenoch and Strathspey area committee has stepped down after seven years in the position.
Councillor Bill Lobban, who is also convener of Highland Council, agreed to remain in the role on an interim basis following the local government elections in May, last year.
He did so in order to allow continuity of leadership while the short term lets control area for Badenoch and Strathspey business had been concluded.
Councillor Lobban has been the leading local advocate for the introduction of the control zone in the strath and committee members all agreed he should remain as chairman during the process.
He strongly believes that the initiative will help free up much needed housing in the area.
Now with just the actual policy to be finalised, Councillor Lobban handed over the reins to Councillor Russell Jones, also an Independent member, at today's area committee held in Grantown Courthouse.
He said: “Well Members, this is nearly but not quite the end of an era, despite the fact that I’ve been the chair of the Badenoch and Strathspey area committee since its inception in 2016.
“I agreed to stay on for a short period following the council elections last May to ensure safe passage of our ultra-important Short Term Let Control Area proposals.
"Now that the control area has been unanimously approved by both the council and the Cairngorms National Park Authority and received approval from Scottish Government it seems appropriate that I now hand the reins over to a new chair.”
He continued: “Area committees play a massively important role in supporting our communities.
“Collectively, members past and present have worked together for the benefit of the people of Badenoch and Strathspey without fear nor favour and without politics ever getting in the way and we will, I am sure, continue to do so under the new chair.
“It has been a privilege to sit in this seat for the last seven years and I sincerely wish Councillor Jones well in his new position.”
Newly appointed chairman, Councillor Jones, said: “Thank you to my fellow councillors for proposing me as chair of the Badenoch and Strathspey area committee.
“I am honoured to accept the role and I look forward to continuing to work in a spirit of good will and co-operation with my colleagues on the committee for the good of all the people in Badenoch and Strathspey.”
He added: “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Councillor Lobban, who has chaired this committee for many years, for his hard work and dedication.”
