Council heads out to discuss budget challenges

HIGHLAND Council’s new engagement policy with locals and staff has been given a warm reception at the latest public event in Inverness.

Council leader Margaret Davidson and budget leader Alister Mackinnon were joined by the new chief executive Donna Manson at the Victorian Market.

Councillor Mackinnon said: “One thing that we have totally underestimated in the past is our staff – our staff are fantastic, they have fantastic ideas, we have to utilise that talent.

“There have been open and frank in discussions. I am the first to admit that we don’t always get things right.

“We have to look at better ways of delivering our services. Budgets are getting cut but we have got £660 million coming into the council and we employ 9500 people so there is lot of scope to work with.”

Mrs Manson said: “I genuinely think the public are very fair.

“What the public are saying to us is just be honest with us.

“The difference is that they want to see us being visible, they want a face-to-face – not everybody wants to engage online.

Inverness resident David Brown, an IT specialist, said: “I support this engagement 100 per cent – it has been fantastic to have the chance to discuss things.

“Even just three years ago the list of accounts on the council’s website was very challenging to understand but in the last few years, particularly this year, it is much more graphical.”