Highland Council SNP Group - Manifesto 22 FINAL SlideShare.pdf

MANIFESTO 2022
HIGHLAND SNP GROUP

Making Highland Council your Council
A NEW AND EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR THE HIGHLANDS!
Living in the Highlands is a privilege. With its stunning scenery and unique, welcoming hospitality it is not sur-
prising that many people want to visit, live here and call it home. It is one of the safest places to live and be part of
a community. The SNP Group at Highland Council recognise this unique quality and are committed to delivering a
better, brighter and more positive future for all our Highland communities.
We want a greater focus on your local community and its priorities; some shared with other areas of the Highlands,
some unique to your own local area. Each SNP candidate will ensure that your area has a strong voice at Council
and they are all committed to equality throughout the Highlands making sure that no area is disadvantaged in
favour of another.
We are committed to empowering local communities, creating and changing policy where required to assist your
community make its own decisions and strengthen its own local economy.
As the official opposition from 2017 to 2022, the SNP worked with others to limit impacts on your community; to
achieve a better future for the people and communities of the Highlands or opposed if necessary. An SNP Group
led administration will commit to turning the focus of Council round to consider the needs and priorities of local
areas first and foremost. We will also work co-operatively and meaningfully with those who share our vision and
values.
We cannot ignore the impact COVID-19 and Brexit are having on our Highland communities. This manifesto
details how, as we exit an unprecedented time of challenge, we will take forward a new vision for Highland. I urge
you all (your friends, family, community members) to take some time to read it
With sincerest best wishes,
Raymond
Raymond Bremner
SNP Highland Council Group Leader

A VISION OF HOPE - A DESIRE FOR CHANGE
THE SNP GROUP MANIFESTO FOR THE HIGHLANDS
Contents
A Highland Economy for the Future
Strengthening the Infrastructure
Caring for the Highland Environment
Providing Homes and Accommodation in the Highlands
Education in the Highlands
Health and Well-being in the Highlands
Protecting and Supporting Our Highland Society
A Highland Future For Gaelic
An Active Highlands

GOVERNANCE AND REPRESENTATION IN THE HIGHLANDS
The Scottish Government has committed to a review of local government in Scotland
in the current parliamentary term. The geographic size of the Highland Council area
provides challenges in ensuring that each area is represented fairly and equally.
Highland Council has been undergoing a redesign of senior management. We support
seeing a lean, efficient but stable management structure where officers have a clear
purpose and commitment to making the Highland Council an efficient, best value
organisation.
STRENGTHENING THE VOICE OF LOCAL DEMOCRACY
In support of our vision for fairer and more equal opportunities for your community,
we want to strengthen your local democratic voice. As a result of Covid-19 we saw im-
proved partnership working and we support continued development of this.
We’d like to see greater integration of local services within your community, strength-
ening the support for community organisations and community councils. This would
include their ability to influence decisions made by Council so that decision making
processes are reflected in seeing increased levels of devolved service.
We want to see a review of the Council’s budget process to help implement this. Greater
development will also mean greater local accountability and we will ensure that this is
effectively supported.
We want to ensure that Community Planning Partnerships are effective and efficient.
We will work to empower them driving reform through citizens’ panels at open public
meetings.
We are keen to see improved communication with and support for your local communi-
ty councils.
PROVIDING INFORMATION SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY
The Council is a provider of many services that are essential to you and your commu-
nity. As such, the Council needs to ensure it is available at the point where you need it.
The impact of COVID-19 meant that the Council adopted new working methods includ-
ing staff and employees working from home. Whilst this impacted on the physical
access to Service Points and the Council’s service providers, the Council has become
more proficient in the use of technology to facilitate communication.
Considering this, we would like to see a review of Council information services to
ensure that you have the ability to access them when you need them. If you enjoy using
digital technology, we want to help you use that to access services and information. We
also believe that the digital age shouldn’t make you feel excluded. We know that you
may not have access to, or knowledge of, technology. We want to ensure that you can
access the council’s services and information easily by telephone or physically, and as
locally as possible.
In support of a review of local government we are committed to:
• Making sure that your views are fundamental to the planning of your local
services
• Making sure that we review and strengthen the role of the committee in
your area
• Making sure that decisions made by Council give you a fairer, more equal
and more prosperous local community
• Making sure that decisions by the Council consider your representation and
that of your local community and that these decisions are made as openly
and transparently as possible
• Making sure that the Council focuses on investment in core, statutory ser-
vice provision

We don’t want your enquiry to get lost in the Council’s organisation so we will contin-
ue to develop communication between departments so that inquiries are processed
efficiently and effectively. We want you to receive updates in respect of the business of
Council and matters that affect you and your community.
We also want you to continue being able to view, listen to and read the agendas and
minutes of meetings of Full Council, Planning, Licensing and the Strategic committees
allowing you to have access to and knowledge of the Council’s decision making.
We want the Council’s website to be easy to navigate, up-to-date and well maintained
so that all the information you receive online is reliable.
EMPLOYMENT IN THE HIGHLAND COUNCIL
Council is one of the biggest employers in the Highlands providing jobs for around
10,000 full-time and part-time employees. This contributes towards and helps sustain
local communities and local economies by providing jobs, career opportunities and
apprenticeships maintaining and growing skill levels.
IMPROVING THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT
It is important that we provide safe, comfortable and healthy working environments for
all the Council’s staff and employees. Covid-19 has challenged the ability to effectively
provide this and the Council has had to find new ways of working for many employees.
We will ensure that Council continues to regularly review the working environment for
all and ensure that there is sufficient support to provide this.
We will work with employees, management and Trade Unions to improve accident pre-
vention in the workplace.
SUPPORTING STAFF AND EMPLOYEES
As part of the new ways of working and as a result of the changes implemented due to
Covid-19, many employees have been working from home.
We want to continue to support employees working at home and to find ways that make
sure all employees have a better quality of work-life balance.
Holidays are important for the well being of staff and employees. We will ensure that
management of human resources actively includes ensuring that all employees have
the ability to take holidays as a planned part of the Council’s operations. We don’t want
staff and employees to feel pressured or obliged not to take holidays because of staffing
shortages or work pressure.
We want to see continuity of service that considers planned holidays and where
services, by their nature, require holidays to be taken seasonally, any changes in ser-
vice provision because of this, are communicated to you and your community.
It is important that the Council actively supports employees and their families and we
will review Council policies to ensure they are family-friendly.
Trade Unions are key to supporting good working relations and we recognise the im-
portance of their role in individual and corporate employee representation and their
contribution and input to Council operations.
We will seek to support employees who are unable to attend their work through ill
health as fairly as possible and to considerately support them in their aim of returning
to their employment.
Our commitment to employment and the employees at Highland Council:
• Providing a qualified, resourceful workforce delivering best quality, respon-
sive public services that help meet your needs and those of your community
• Protecting as many jobs as possible and treating all employees fairly and
equally
• Providing equal pay and equal opportunity regardless of race, gender, sexu-
al orientation, age or ability
• Ensuring employment opportunities comply with the Living Wage and that
Council continues to meet this obligation
• Ensuring opportunities are in place for employees to contribute to the shap-
ing of the services that Council delivers for you

IMPROVING SKILL BASE AND FLEXIBILITY
In order to ensure that we have a highly skilled, flexible and motivated workforce, we
will ensure the appropriate training opportunities have purpose, are meaningful and
provide for a higher skilled workforce.
We will work with partners to develop training programmes and apprenticeships with a
particular focus on areas of skills shortages.
IMPROVING EFFICIENCY
By making the Council more efficient, you should see improved services and services
that cost less. Those savings will help protect against future cuts to other services and
protect jobs. Those savings can also support increased or additional services in other
areas.
We want to look at how we can improve measurement and monitoring of all Council
services using improved technology and system processes. We want you to see a contin-
ual review of services that ensure you receive the key services that Council is obligated
to provide as efficiently and effectively as possible.
We want to continue reviewing the Council’s procurement policies. It is important that
Highland Council supports the economy, local businesses and social enterprise in your
area. It is also important that Council’s procurement policies provide for as much local
business opportunity as possible in your area. At the same time we want to ensure that
procurement policies provide value for money and comply with legislation.
We will also work in partnership with Trade Unions to redesign council services that
improve those services and better meet the needs of your community.
PARTNERSHIP WORKING
Public services are built around people and communities, their needs, aspirations, ca-
pacities and skills, and public service providers need to work together to build up their
resilience. They also need to work together effectively to achieve outcomes, prioritise
prevention, reduce inequality and promote equality.
Where we can, we will create cohesive Highland-wide and local workforce plans with
partner organisations with a view to constantly improving service performance and
reducing costs whilst being open, transparent and accountable. Everything the Coun-
cil and its partners do needs to be focussed on delivering equality, fairness and social
justice.
We want Highland Council to continue working with the Scottish Government to in-
crease the number of Living Wage accredited employers.
We want to see the Council continue to work with its partners to maximise the use of
collective resources to achieve best outcomes, demonstrating a commitment to the
prevention of and the re-allocation of resources between Community Planning Partners
where this represents best value.
A commitment to anti-poverty strategies will focus on the needs of the most vulnerable
within our communities and help community planning partnerships meet their legal
duty to reduce socio economic inequality in specific localities.
We want Highland Council and its partners to commit to maximising incomes, address-
ing fuel poverty, improving digital access and capability as well as helping to equip
people with the skills to manage their own money.
NON-STATUTORY SERVICE PROVISION AND COMMUNITY EXPECTATION
A number of services that can be provided by Council are not statutory and there is
often an expectation by communities for these additional services to be provided by
Council.
We believe that every employee should be able to have career aspirations
within the Council and a training plan that provides for their continual
personal development and the opportunity to progress.
With the Council’s partners, we want to focus on developing anti-poverty
strategies with a keen focus on fuel poverty, particularly in rural areas.

We want Highland Council to work with local communities to identify the services that
are currently provided which are not statutory and to implement strategies that sup-
port their continued delivery with sustainable sources of income and revenue.

A HIGHLAND ECONOMY FOR THE FUTURE
The Highland Economy is vibrant. We will focus on supporting economic recovery
across the entire Highland Council area. Communities and entrepreneurs are aware
that opportunities exist Highland-wide, both urban and rural. It is of vital importance
that we develop economic strategies to support local communities in each and every
part of the local authority area.
BOOSTING LOCAL INVESTMENT
Creating, attracting and sustaining investment in your local area has to be a key focus
of Highland Council. A sustainable investment strategy that provides for economic
growth and employment is fundamental to rebuilding and sustaining our communities.
We will review the Council’s role and contribution as a key partner with enterprise
agencies, attracting as much investment as possible to continue to identify key markets
and sectors for investment and how best we can seek to support investment in these
areas.
SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF LAND & SEA
We are committed to the principles of the sustainable development and protection of
our natural resources.
We recognise the Flow Country as a unique asset and are committed to seeing it re-
stored and designated as a World Heritage site.
We are committed to projects and initiatives that will see Climate Change further con-
strained by coastal capture of Blue Carbon.
We want to work with businesses, partners, agencies and communities to
make the Highlands attractive for investors. This means ensuring that the
right support is available:
• Digital connectivity
• Starter units wherever the location
• Supportive planners keen to help you set-up and grow
• Skilled workforce
• Business communication support
• Support for enterprise
• Physical connectivity
* access to airports
* infrastructure for business and leisure
* well maintained roads and
* expanding sustainable bus and rail transport networks

URBAN ECONOMY
There are some distinct differences between the support needed in an urban economy
and more rural settings. In the Highland Council area, a number of urban centres act
as service hubs for rural areas. We want to make sure that there is an effective relation-
ship between town hubs in your area and the support they offer to your surrounding
rural area.
We recognise that urban area support can require different thinking – town transport
services, service provision, safety of built up areas, housing demand and provision. We
will review the Council’s support strategy for the urban economy and we would like to
see urban economies benefit from offering greater choice.
THE EXPANDING CAPITAL OF THE HIGHLANDS
The City of Inverness has a growing population and makes up over 20% of the Highland
Council’s residents.
We recognise the importance of Inverness, not just to the townspeople, but to the near-
by communities and all of the Highlands & Islands. We also consider it important that
the relationship between the City and the rural areas of the Highlands is one of shared
wealth and prosperity and equality of opportunity.
We will plan for the continuing expansion of Inverness by ensuring that infrastructure
meets the needs of the ever growing population.
RURAL ECONOMY
The Highlands of Scotland is resource rich with an abundance of world renowned nat-
ural features, heritage and vibrant, diverse communities. The Highland rural economy
is not just crucial to Scotland’s national brand, it is crucial to national prosperity. We
want to see a Rural Highlands Strategy that will compliment the Scottish Government’s
“blueprint” for Scotland’s Rural Economy.
We will further embed Rural Impact Assessment across the Council and share our best
knowledge with the Scottish Government with the aim of ensuring this best practice
approach is a key consideration during the formation of Government policy.
AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY & COMMUNITY LAND MANAGEMENT
The Council will work with the Scottish Government on the full devolution of to maxim-
ise the benefits to local communities. The Council will also seek to work with Forestry
& Land Scotland to review land management and partnership arrangements on forestry
land.
Wind Power developments on forest land in Scotland are supposed to allow community
participation at a significant scale. We will seek to empower communities across the
Highlands to take advantage of these opportunities as and when they become available.
Rural Development and Direct Support for Agriculture were key components of the
Common Agricultural Policy. This programme is of huge importance to consumers
and to the rural economy. £28m was provided in Rural Development funding and
over £43m was given in Direct Support for agricultural production and environmental
schemes.
So far the “Shared Prosperity Fund” has made no mention of any support for the rural
economy since our Hard Brexit. Our farmers and crofters have demonstrated what we
always knew. They’ve worked very hard to find new markets for their produce.
There is a pronounced Multiplier Effect from the injection of cash into agriculture.
Farmers in receipt of grants will get out there and spend it building sheds; with
machinery suppliers; with contractors for harvesting; with garages; with hotels and
restaurants who in turn will pay this out in wages, rent, interest and dividends. This
income has been lost. There will be a multiplier in reverse. The loss of £71m in EU farm
support will lead to a decline in the rural economy by a multiple of that amount.
The loss of grants can be replaced by the UK Government if it chooses to do so. This
looks likely to be more in the form of agri-environmental schemes in the years ahead.
Direct Support benefited farmers and crofters – but Consumers also gained. Common
Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments held down the cost of food production and kept
food prices in the shops low. Their removal and rising costs of fuel and fertiliser has
forced farmers to raise their prices and forced supermarkets to raise their prices in
shops. We will lobby to support farmers and crofters.
Forestry has a clear opportunity to grow in importance in the years ahead. We won’t get
our CO2 down to absolute zero so planting trees can go a long way to help absorb the
carbon remaining.

TOWN CENTRE ECONOMY AND PLACE BASED RE-GENERATION
In 2020, the Scottish Government launched an independent collaborative review of
the progress and scope of the 2013 Town Centre Action Plan. Town Centres are funda-
mental to the prosperity and well-being of our local Highland communities. We would
like to see a “bottom-up” strategy within the Highland Council actively supporting
community proposals for the regeneration of town centres. We want Highland Council
to clearly set out the contribution that it will actively make to the regeneration of our
town centres. We want local town residents to see their ideas flourish.
The Council has a footprint and presence in many of our town centres and has a num-
ber of responsibilities including keeping town centres clean and contributing to their
appeal both for locals and for visitors. A town centre strategy would set out the level of
commitment you can expect from your Council in support of your local community’s
goals.
A town centre strategy would also consider how we can support the administration of
partnership working and co-ordination of development of our town centres and town
centre works’ programmes.
BUSINESS SUPPORT
Many businesses have been adversely impacted by Covid-19 over past months. Whilst
many have been supported by Scottish Government financial assistance distributed by
Highland Council we want to ensure that Council is focused on providing ongoing busi-
ness support. A Town Centre strategy would set out additional opportunities to help
address economic decline in town centres sign posting where businesses can receive
help and support – for instance the Scottish Government’s Small Business Bonus.
ENERGY, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND LOCAL INVESTMENT
The Highlands of Scotland is one of the largest per-capita producers of renewable
energy contributing to the Highland economy. Whilst this contributes to creating and
sustaining employment, we believe that our communities should see a greater benefit
for the contribution our area makes in respect of the national benefit for all.
We will work with the Scottish Government to lobby the UK Government and OFGEM to
reduce grid access charges which impact negatively on renewable energy production in
the Highlands.
We will actively investigate ways of creating and investing in a Highland-based electric-
ity generation company, in order to produce affordable energy for our communities.
The Highlands of Scotland can deploy an array of Renewable Energy technologies. The
Highlands are one of the best locations globally to demonstrate how Climate Change
can be tackled.
We will work towards the Highlands becoming a participatory democracy ensuring that
communities and people share in the wealth produced by energy initiatives.
We want to have discussions with wind-farm developers in respect of their voluntarily
paying community benefit, encouraging shared community ownership in order to make
this much more successful.
We aspire to see every community sharing in the income and capital gains generated by
wind-farm developers. We believe that your Highland Council should assist every com-
munity to make this happen. We also believe decisions regarding enterprise projects
and investment should be made locally.
Pumped Storage Hydro Power can help balance the National Grid. We will encourage
this and other technologies e.g. battery storage and hydrogen production to help bal-
ance the grid and reduce constraint payments.
Offshore Wind can help deliver low-cost Green Hydrogen on a considerable scale. Tidal
Power in the Pentland Firth produces “Base Load” Green Electricity; we would like to
see this being scaled up.
The Highlands is going to produce a lot more power than we can currently use and
more than can be delivered south by power lines. We want Council to work with High-
lands & Islands Enterprise to attract inward investment from power users.
The Highlands meets companies ESG goals with 100% Renewable Energy from a variety
of sources, we want to attract businesses to build their Data Centres here creating high
paid jobs.

OUR VISION FOR VARIOUS ENERGY INVESTMENT OPTIONS MAY
INCLUDE:
Hydro Power
There are a large number of Hydro schemes in the Highlands developed by Tom Johnston’s
Hydro Board from the late 1940’s onwards. We must seek to maintain and enhance this bril-
liant source of green electricity in the years ahead
Hydro Pumped Storage
A number of schemes in the Highlands are operational or under development and others
could be developed. We will seek to do more to invest in Hydro Pumped Storage to support
the Council’s Climate Change agenda.
Offshore Wind
The recent ScotWind auction will generate a steady flow of work for the foreseeable future.
We want to ensure that offshore wind brings as much opportunity for local employment as
possible and will work with developers and the supply chain to ensure this happens.
Onshore Wind
The Highlands contribute greatly to renewable power generation yet are subject to the high-
est electricity prices in the UK. A concentration of developments in some locations is causing
concern with some local residents. We want to see local communities being able to take a
share in the ownership of these schemes to boost community income and share in the capital
gains.
Tidal Power
Tidal Power is a guaranteed source of energy providing a constant source of power. We will
support the development of Tidal Energy in the Pentland Firth and the potential to be a
world-leading exemplar of Tidal Power at scale.
Hydrogen Engergy
We’ll seek to work with others to produce hydrogen in the Highlands to de-carbonise trans-
port and heating
Wave Energy
We will support Wave Energy in the Highlands, including current interest in The Pentland
Firth.
Solar Thermal Energy
We want to see investment in Solar Thermal Energy Technology which delivers heat, in
particular, and hot water for domestic use. Solar Thermal Energy is durable and requires
minimal maintenance and will cut carbon emissions and fuel bills for a considerable part of
the year.

We will continue to focus on investing in tourism infrastructure including
passing places, public conveniences, waste disposal, increased amenity
services and accommodation.
We will work with partners and organisations to promote and market a
theme of DESTINATION HIGHLANDS.
We will work with partners to submit a bid for the City of Inverness to be the
City of Culture 2028.
CROWN ESTATE
Many areas within the Highland Council are already benefiting from the Coastal Com-
munities Fund which supports economic development and sustainable regeneration
around coastal areas in the Highlands.
We want to continue working with the Scottish Government to develop proposals for the
further devolution of the Crown Estate to ensure local communities gain control and
benefit from the national assets around them.
THE GAELIC ECONOMY
We recognise the valuable contribution that the Gaelic language makes to our com-
munities. Many businesses and enterprises recognise Gaelic as a key element of their
product or service.
We want to support the contribution that Gaelic makes to the Highland economy by
providing increased opportunities for the language to be enjoyed and understood in our
communities through community activity, cultural activity, heritage and media.
TOURISM
Tourism is a vital part of the economy throughout the Highlands. As COVID begins to
recede we need to recover the dynamism of many sectors prior to the pandemic includ-
ing the return of Cruise Liner activity in the Cromarty Firth and other areas around the
Highlands.
We want to continue to pursue the positive impact of tourism on the Highland econ-
omy, working with partners to promote destination management including the North
Coast 500 and The Outdoor Capital of the UK.
During the pandemic we saw increased numbers of visitors to all areas of the High-
lands. The economic boost is very welcome and we want to continue working to support
tourism in our Highland communities whilst reducing the impact and pressure on the
local infrastructure.
We understand that tourists are happy to support our economy financially and will
look at providing ways where they can do so but where such financial initiatives do not
adversely impact on local residents.

STRENGTHENING THE INFRASTRUCTURE
The Highlands is one of the biggest geographical areas in the country with one of the
most widely dispersed populations in Europe. Our sparsity provides a considerable
challenge in being able to provide and maintain the infrastructure our communities
need to live in, work in and be connected. We want to support and invest in the design
and construction of capital funded infrastructure, digital infrastructure and the envi-
ronment.
We know there are a number of opportunities to attract Government investment and
other outside investment. We will ensure that there are a number of ‘shovel ready’
projects in place to attract such investment.
The Scottish Government has invested in our trunk roads including the Berriedale
Braes and A9 south improvements. We will continue to support work on improvements
to the A96 and the A9, the Corran Ferry and the Stromeferry Bypass.
ROADS – RURAL AND URBAN
In 2020, we requested Highland Council to review the roads infrastructure through the
Council’s Redesign Board as part of our budget discussions. That review is underway.
FOOTPATHS
Currently, footpaths and roads are provided for in the same funding provision.
WINTER MAINTENANCE PROVISION
The resource and funding for winter maintenance is currently part of the roads budget.
This limits the flexibility of Council to attend to both winter maintenance and road
maintenance concurrently. We want to review the relationship between winter mainte-
nance and road maintenance in order that Council provides a more efficient service in
each area.
Highland Council areas have different winter maintenance requirements in respect of
their unique climates. We want to review the service to ensure that each area has an
efficient programme in place.
BRIDGES
Highland Council is responsible for hundreds of bridges of varied architectural de-
signs. Many of them provide lifeline connection for communities. We will review the
arrangements for our bridge inspections along with their maintenance and investment
programmes.
We will also review funding requirements and opportunities for bridge building and
maintenance.
In order to recognise the importance that footpaths have in our community and
recognising the increased focus on active travel and carbon reduction, we will:
• Commit to allocate a ring-fenced amount of funding for each area for invest-
ing in footpaths
• Commit to surveying footpaths, identifying clear priorities reflecting the
needs of each area of the Highlands and a maintenance programme that
reflects the priorities identified

ACCESSIBILITY
The Highlands is a wonderful, welcoming place for all to visit and stay and we want to
make sure that as many areas as possible are accessible by as many modes of transport
as possible.
We will review access arrangements and seek to improve them wherever possible,
including appropriate infrastructure such as parking provision for all types of vehicles,
waste services, public conveniences and disabled access.
We want to ensure that information services at all access areas are up-to-date and at
the suitable level for visitors, local residents and communities.
HARBOURS AND PIERS
Highland Council is responsible for a number of piers and harbours throughout the
area. Many of these are important to local communities and to the local economy.
We want the Council to work with local communities, user groups and the private sec-
tor to improve the sustainability of small piers and harbours. This will include work-
ing with partners to determine how these facilities can best serve their local area and
economy.
We will support local communities that want to manage their own harbours and piers
and will identify specific developments and areas for investment.
ELECTRIC AND HYDROGEN VEHICLE PROVISION
There are international targets for phasing out carbon based fuels over the next few
years. This means an increased focus on renewable forms of fuel including electric
and hydrogen based vehicles. We want to make sure that we provide the infrastructure
to power these vehicles and to plan and facilitate the process of the transformation
required.
In support of the Council’s redesign of the Roads’ Infrastructure review we will:
• Commit to a fair process of funding allocation that aims to restore and ade-
quately maintain the road infrastructure across the Highlands.
• Commit to greater efficiency of road maintenance and repair.
• Ensure that revenue and capital budgets are reviewed and that maintenance
programmes reflect the needs of each area of the Highlands.
• Work to identify funding streams that will provide for an effective and effi-
cient recovery of the road infrastructure in each area across the Highlands.
We will commit to a staged recovery of the Highland Roads’ infrastructure and
aim to have this in place by year-end 2022

We we are committed to delivering rural bus and transport solutions
We aim to improve Highland Council Key Performance Indicators
We will rationalise the Council’s properties and buildings
We will seek to increase recycling and reduce waste to Land-Fill
We will aim to build more houses that will reduce housing waiting
lists
We will work with communities to identify and deliver their local
priorities
We aim to improve pupil attainment in Highland schools
We aim to improve staff to pupil ratios in Highland Schools
We aim to make community planning partnerships work better
We will help Highland residents cope with higher energy and food
bills
We aim to make Highland Council an efficient, best value
organisation
We want to attract inward investment to produce green energy
THE FOCUS FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS..........

CARING FOR THE HIGHLAND ENVIRONMENT
The Highlands have a wealth of natural beauty, biodiversity and eco-systems. We want
Highland Council policies and procedures to effectively seek to protect this environ-
ment, preserving and enhancing the habitats, rural and urban, natural and built.
We want to ensure that Highland Council works in partnership with communities
and organisations to develop sustainable initiatives that enable communities and
businesses to work together to support projects which will protect and improve their
surrounding area.
WASTE SERVICES
As part of our approach to reducing and dealing with our waste, we will explore oppor-
tunities with other Local Authorities for a North of Scotland solution to reduce the cost
of transporting waste over considerable distances.
We will look at appropriate and cost effective ways to dispose of our Highland waste,
in appropriate locations, including considerations to create more Council-owned waste
transfer stations.
We will maximise any commercial opportunities in waste management for the Council
to avoid costs and provide an income.
ABANDONED AND NUISANCE VEHICLES
We believe that communities should not have to withstand the blight of abandoned
and nuisance vehicles. Current legislation does not effectively support councils dealing
with the issue. We will aim to resolve problems with abandoned and nuisance vehicles
within this term of Council and consider ways of adequately funding a programme that
will deal with the issue.
CARBON EMISSIONS
We recognise that every action taken today impacts upon our Environment and the
future. It is essential that everything we do is considered in terms of sustainability
and does not contribute to the destruction of our world. We will act to ensure that the
principle of sustainable development is enshrined within the aims of Council and will
protect our environment from damage, over development and exploitation.
We will work with the Scottish Government on their target of cutting CO2 emissions
getting to 75% of Net Zero by 2030, to 90% of Net Zero in 2040 and 100% of Net Zero
in 2045.
https://www.gov.scot/policies/climate-change/reducing-emissions/
The Highland Council has set a target of Net Zero by 2025. We are committed to setting
out a pathway to Net Zero in that time-frame.
We will ensure that the built environment is managed and maintained in a sustainable

manner reducing energy consumption. This will be done through increased LED street
lighting, reducing littering and dog fouling through local community based initiatives.
Community Land ownership has grown in recent years helping to reverse the over-con-
centrated pattern of land ownership much commented upon since the 1970’s. We
should look to improve the quality of the soil on community land. Experiments with
Biochar can help to boost crop production. Planting timber can generate income. Devel-
oping a local supply chain for fruit and veg can do much to reduce food miles and the
carbon intensity of our food supply. Often the right thing to do for the environment is
the right thing for our communities too.
The restoration of the Flow Country and its designation as a World Heritage site con-
tinue to be a key focus for our Council Group. This will be a great store of carbon in the
years ahead.
Blue Carbon is a less well understood method of carbon sequestration and we will sup-
port its development around the Highland coastline.
We must improve the dialogue between the Council and the whole Landward sector. By
working together in partnership we can deliver a much better future for us all.
FLOOD ALLEVIATION
We will raise awareness within our communities and individual householders on how
they can protect themselves from flood incidents.
We will prioritise small flood relief schemes where we can.
We will monitor local events and we will model and prepare for conditions worsening
in the future.
COASTAL EROSION
We will model and monitor communities and households likely to be at risk at present
and in the future.
We’ll seek to provide an early warning for communities and individuals at risk and
help them prepare in advance for adverse outcomes.
WORLD-WIDE ENVIRONMENTAL SUMMIT TO BE HOSTED IN HIGHLAND
We believe that the Highlands provide one of the primary environmental
focuses in the country. We will work with partners to host a World-Wide
Summit on the Environment during the term of this Council.
We are committed to Highland Council providing a Council Bus & Commu-
nity Car Service to provide an available and flexible transport service for
our rural communities.
We intend to have discussions with NHS Highland, UHI and other stake-
holders and partners to see the implementation of a Highlands Medical
School based in the Highlands supporting a vision to “grow our own”
health service skills.

PROVIDING HOMES AND ACCOMMODATION IN HIGHLAND
Highland Council has 1,400 buildings providing for various services and approximate-
ly 14,000 houses in its housing stock.
SOCIAL HOUSING PROVISION
We believe that everyone should have a safe, warm home which they can afford, and we
are committed to ensuring that this becomes a reality. We want Council to pro-actively
work towards this ambition and to ensure that policies and strategies support this.
We want to ensure that Council reviews its house building programme and provide
as many new social houses as possible over the new term of Council with a minimum
target of 2,000 to meet the growing needs and demand of our Highland communities.
FUEL POVERTY IN THE HIGHLANDS
Many of the Council’s tenanted properties have heating systems that need replaced.
With the challenge of rising fuel costs many of the Council’s tenants face fuel poverty.
We will work with the Scottish Government to tackle fuel poverty by improving energy
efficiency in our Council houses.
Fuel poverty affects many other home owners throughout the Highlands and we will
work with partners, agencies, organisations, energy providers and investors to explore
options that will reduce and mitigate the challenges that our residents face.
We aim to ensure that all Highland Council homes are insulated to the highest levels
and installed with efficient green energy heating systems.
HOUSING REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE
We will work to improve housing repairs and maintenance performance and to support
the provision of the Council’s housing teams, maintenance teams and contractors.
We will also support the review of capital maintenance programmes and that it consid-
ers and reflects the views of the Council’s tenants.
ADULT SOCIAL CARE HOUSING SUPPORT
• We will actively review the housing support requirement for Adult Social
Care and the service level that needs to be provided.
• We will work with NHS Highland and partner agencies to identify where
resource and service improvement need to be implemented and seek to
effectively fund the service required.

INVESTING IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
We will work with the Scottish Government, Housing Associations, and the private
sector to help to deliver new homes to the Highlands. This will provide new affordable
homes complimenting the Council’s social housing build programme. We support a
balance of housing provision in the Highlands that reflects the needs of our communi-
ties including social housing, affordable housing, low cost home ownership and house
build programmes for mid-market rent.
We will also work with NHS and other housing providers to deliver housing for the
elderly and infirm including self-contained, eco-friendly houses with care support. We
will support opportunities to adopt low impact, low cost housing, using timber or mod-
ular designs with locally sourced materials and workforce.
TACKLING UNAFFORDABLE HOMES
We recognise the issue where, in many places in the Highlands, local community mem-
bers simply cannot afford the house prices in their area or where properties are being
bought for private let, effectively removing them from the available housing market. We
will review options to tackle this including control measures for short term lets.
HOMELESSNESS
We are committed to making sure that everyone has a roof over their head. No-one
should be without a home. We will work with the Council’s partners to reduce home-
lessness and ensure that accommodation is available and provided for everyone in our
Highland community.
RENT
We will continue to support proactive engagement with tenants in respect of rent re-
views. We will also seek to keep rent increases to a minimum through effective manage-
ment of the Housing Revenue Account.
TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION
We will look at refreshing the plan for the provision of temporary accommodation and
continue to deliver supported temporary accommodation for those who are homeless
including one bedroom flats as an alternative to bed and breakfast. We recognise also
that provision is required for families and others relocating to the Highlands through
special need including displacement in their homeland.
TENANT PARTICIPATION
Discussion with tenants is a really important part of understanding how they under-
stand the Council is performing in respect of housing issues. We support the tenant
participation programme and will review the programme to see how it can be better
supported and strengthened.
RATIONALISATION OF BUILDINGS AND PROPERTY
We will work with partners to use the Scheme of Assistance and Empty Property
legislation to tackle property disrepair in the private sector, including empty flats and
properties above shops, improving housing stock, promoting affordable warmth, and
returning empty and substandard property to housing use.
We will support a sustained rationalisation programme of the Council’s buildings and
properties including the redesign process incorporating co-location of service, disposal
of identified redundant buildings and re-purposing.
GARAGE ESTATE
The Highland Council has numerous garages and garage sites. Many garages are in poor
condition and many lie un-tenanted. We want to review the garage estate and deliver
options that will commercialise the estate to the benefit of tenants and communities
providing a redesigned estate that will be of greater benefit to communities.
We will look to ensure that any new developments for housing and industry:
• Meet the needs of a growing population.
• Are of a high design quality and eco-friendly where possible.
• Incorporate appropriate areas for play and community facilities.
• Empower local people to set priorities and standards for their communities.
• Provide safe environments for play.

THE FOCUS FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS..........
We aim to provide jobs, career opportunities, apprenticeships and
maintain and grow our own skill levels
We aim to provide a better work-life balance for all Council
employees, supporting family-friendly policies
We will maintain a lean and effective management structure
We will invest in spend-to-save projects and initiatives
We aim to build more energy efficient and sustainable homes
We will create the ability for people and communities to share in the
wealth produced by energy generation
We aim to reduce and reverse population decline
We aim to improve digital access for the Highlands
We will create and invest in a Highland based electricity-generation
company
We aim to increase the Council’s ability to create income streams
reducing the pressure to cut services
We will implement an effective strategy for play-parks and a
provision for public conveniences

EDUCATION IN HIGHLAND
The Highland Council budget for Education at £166.4M accounts for over a quarter of
all Council revenue spend and education is one of the most important services that
Highland Council delivers.
We are keen to work with the Scottish Government in delivering an improved educa-
tion service across Scotland but particularly here in the Highlands.
RAISING THE STANDARDS OF EDUCATION IN HIGHLAND
SUPPORTING PUPILS AND THEIR LEARNING
One of the key areas we want to focus on is improving attainment. We will work with
Scottish Government and Highland teachers to close the attainment gap between our
most and least deprived communities.
Literacy and Numeracy, particularly in those crucial early years will be the foundation
of our drive for improved attainment.
We want to see all of Highland’s children reach their full potential and support them to
achieve ambitious and positive destinations after school.
There is a growing business demand for young people with an interest and ability in
the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics as well as language
skills. We want to encourage Highland Council to promote and generate a greater up-
take in these subjects, so that young people in the Highlands can successfully compete
in a global market.
We aim to provide our pupils with a technology-rich environment, to address their
learner needs and curriculum goals, and transforming their learning experience.
We will continue to monitor the funding of the Scottish Attainment Challenge and the
Pupil Equity Fund in order that government funding being provided to support pupil
learning and attainment is used for those purposes.
We will strengthen the support for the transition of from P7 to S1.
PROVIDING FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT NEEDS (ASN)
We will make the most effective and efficient use of resources to support Additional
Support Needs and in so doing, achieve the best outcomes for children and young peo-
ple with Additional Support Needs at all stages where this need is identified.
We will support the continuous training of ASN staff, paying particular attention to
safety in the workplace.
We want to focus on work relating to helping young people move to adult services for

those individuals with additional support needs with a particular emphasis on support-
ing and preparing them for work.
SUPPORTING TEACHING STAFF
We want to work with the Scottish Government to give head teachers, parents and com-
munities more responsibility for schools in their area, allowing them to take decisions
within a strong national policy and inspection framework.
Working in clusters, where appropriate, is something that needs to be carefully dis-
cussed with head teachers, parents and communities and must be beneficial to the
learning of pupils.
We will work collaboratively with Head Teachers to provide them with the best op-
portunity to maintain standards, reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and drive further
improvement. We will also target a reduction in the staff-pupil ratio.
We will support the Scottish Government’s initiative and policy to provide funding
directly to Head Teacher’s to bridge the attainment gap.
INVESTING IN GAELIC MEDIUM EDUCATION
Highland Council has a considerable number of Gaelic speakers – children, adults and
communities. We will support the development of Gaelic Medium Education and ensure
that there is a focus on the development of existing Gaelic Medium Education but also
the scope for expansion, especially where communities have expressed a desire for
Gaelic Medium Education to be implemented.
We are committed to providing increased opportunity for continuity in Gaelic from
nursery through to secondary education with increased numbers of senior pupils being
able to access Gaelic language learning and increasing the number of subjects that are
delivered through Gaelic medium.
We will work with the Scottish Government to assist the provision of increased resourc-
ing and Gaelic teaching posts and Gaelic teachers at all levels through the education
system in the Highlands.
We are committed to ensuring that Highland Council’s Gaelic Medium Education pro-
gramme effectively contributes to the Council’s Gaelic Language Plan commitments and
targets.
INVESTING IN SCHOOL BUILDINGS
We are committed to improving the condition of Highland Council’s school estate and
want to see an increase in the number of schools with an improved condition status
during the new term of Council.
Providing new schools and investing in the current school estate is recognised as a par-
ticular challenge. We are keen to review capital funding and funding options in order to
identify and provide new school buildings in areas where they are most needed.
We are keen to review the options that are available to Highland Council in developing
modular build programmes that have the potential to reduce build costs and provide
for an accelerated new school build programme.
We are also keen to review the maintenance options within our school estate and will
look to identify how this programme can be better funded and delivered.
INVESTING IN THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT
We will review the built environment to ensure that Highland Council is providing a
safe working and learning environment.
We want all users of our schools to be in a comfortable and safe learning environment
and will have a particular focus on reducing bullying and harassment for all users.
LIBRARIES
Highland Council provides access to over 60 libraries and mobile libraries. We believe
libraries play a fundamental role to society and are considered as critical to the sus-
tainability of our communities. Your local library provides a gateway to learning, a
support to literacy and numeracy, education, knowledge and well-being. Libraries help
shape our thinking and provide for creativity and innovation in society.
We will support continual review of Additional Support Needs and ensure
that the resource follows the young person.

We support you having access to library services in your area. We will review library
provision and ensure that you get the best library service possible through direct provi-
sion or partnership working.
Digital technology is helping to shape the future of library provision and we would like
to see greater online access to library services but also in an environment conducive
with library provision expectation and will work to ensure services are provided to best
suit the needs of library users.
Mobile libraries are an essential part of library provision accessibility to our remote
and rural communities and we need to provide a reliable service that meets the needs
of mobile library users.

IMPROVING HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IN THE HIGHLANDS
Positive health and well-being is a key element of Highland society and we want to
ensure that Council works to strategies that provide staff with a framework supporting
the development of health and well-being in our communities and provide equity of
service provision across the Highland Council area.
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
We recognise that Highland Council is an important partner in making sure that our commu-
nities are in good health and that we provide support to keep our communities healthy. We
want to ensure that your community has a say in influencing, planning for and providing local
services which support your health and well-being.
We want to see a continual review of these strategies in order that they are effective in meeting
the needs of our communities.
In partnership with NHS Highland we will review the ability to accelerate efforts to shift the
balance of care and provide more services within our communities.
KEEPING OUR COMMUNITIES HEALTHY
Highland Council must play an active part in providing fairer, more equitable access for all,
closer collaboration with NHS Highland and work with local Community Planning Partnerships.
The Council needs to work with partners to protect the health and well-being of our elderly and
vulnerable. Integrated Health and Social Care should deliver effective, equitable and efficient
services that have you and your community as the main focus. We will work to see improved
and integrated technology enhancing care support so that people can stay, without fear, in the
comfort of their own home where they most want to be with the appropriate support to allow
this to happen.
We need to continue promoting and supporting recovery from alcohol and substance misuse
by engaging with key partners including local community planning partnerships, community
led initiatives and Drug and Alcohol Partnerships to support people and their families who face
these challenges.
We will also ensure that we continue to support access to and development of green health
projects for all our communities.
We are committed to strengthening our Partnership with NHS Highland to
provide improved Health Services to the people of the Highlands and will
seek to review the current partnership agreement with a greater emphasis
on stronger scrutiny and governance.

KEEPING OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE
There are a number of initiatives that have been taking place to improve the safety of
our communities. The Highland Council works with Police Scotland, the Scottish Court
Service and Criminal Justice partners to make sure that the safety of local communities
are provided for.
We want to strengthen these partnerships and take forward initiatives that will contin-
ue the focus of keeping our communities safe.
We want to ensure that the Council’s transport officers will actively engage with the Po-
lice and other agencies to identify areas of road safety in order to implement measures
that will reduce risk and increase the safety of residents.
KEEPING OUR COMMUNITIES WARM
Fuel poverty is a real issue and of great concern for many in our community. No one in
the Highlands should have to choose between eating and heating. Our area generates
huge amounts of energy yet we still see some of the highest energy prices in the coun-
try. We will continue to work with partners and community planning partnerships to
facilitate policies and programmes that focus on reducing fuel poverty and keeping our
communities warm.
PROVIDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH
We will support work across all sectors to reduce stigma around mental health and
promote good mental health and well-being in our communities and our staff. We will
particularly focus on positive mental health for our young people looking at innovative
ways to address this issue. We will ensure that the commitment given by the Scottish
Government, supporting the mental health of our young people, will be delivered
throughout the education system of Highland Council.
We want to see improvement in access to mental health services that delivers material
outcomes. We want to see the promotion and raising of awareness of mental health
across Council services and for Council to be a champion of mental health, tackling
the stigma which still surrounds mental ill-health, ensuring equality of status for such
issues.
TELECARE SERVICE
To support local people to live in their own homes putting in place support structures
to enable people to manage their own health for as long as possible. This can be used
to support patients and their G.P. to communicate more effectively in order to manage
health conditions.
Through the use of telecare including smart phones and smart televisions there are
growing opportunities to support people living with heart conditions, respiratory
illness and diabetes.
We want to provide the very best quality of care possible as we strive to support people
in their own homes – these changes will enable us to do exactly that.
We will use the Highland Council’s Scheme of Assistance Model to work with partners
to deliver works for injured Armed Forces personnel.
SOCIAL CARE
We want Highland Council to support and deliver the provision of community care
allowing people to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible. We
firmly believe that care must be adaptable and focussed on the needs of individuals.
We are keen to provide innovative schemes which support independent living, such as
continued investment in technology-enhanced care.
We want to see a review of Council support for carers to ensure that Highland’s carers
and young carers are better supported with a good quality of life and good health out-
comes.
We support upholding the principle of free personal care and support its extension to
those who would benefit from it the most.
Council has consulted on 20mph speed limits in urban areas. We will look to
consult further with all local communities across Highland and are committed
to reducing speed limits in order to improve the safety of residents.
We are committed to everyone having a safe, warm home that is affordable.

CARING FOR LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN
We are committed to Council having a focus on families ensuring early access to
support in times of need. Early intervention and support is key to maintaining family
unity.
We recognise the vital role Council plays in the lives of looked after children and we
will support efforts to improve the welfare of this most vulnerable group.
We will put the views of our young people who have experienced care at the heart of
our decision-making and will build on the commitment for all Community Planning
Partners to provide employment and opportunity for care leavers.
We are committed to reducing the number of children who are placed out-with the
Highland Council area and will continue to support investment in the appropriate resi-
dential accommodation for young people.
We will research different fostering models for older children in an attempt to encour-
age more families to foster, especially with regard to older children as we believe that
children do much better in the security and care of a family setting.
Placing paramount importance upon early intervention and whole family support in
our children’s and families’ services, our early years strategies and in our responsi-
bilities towards looked after children. We believe that Getting it Right For Every Child
(GIRFEC) must be at the centre of all that we do.
ADULT SOCIAL CARE
We are committed to ensuring that adult health and social care is accessible across the
Highland area. We want Highland Council to work with its partner organisations to cre-
ate solutions that will enhance service delivery. We want to review recruitment policy
to encourage individuals to become involved in the delivery of adult social care service
including a review of training and reward.
We want Highland Council to work with Community Partnerships to help identify indi-
viduals who could benefit from Adult Social Care support.
LOOKING AFTER THE SENIOR MEMBERS IN OUR COMMUNITY
We recognise that our senior citizens face many challenges later in life. We want to
ensure that our senior citizens are provided as much help and support as possible to
make them feel comfortable and supported at home; to be able to access services that
assist and support their day-to-day lives and to feel that they have a valued contribu-
tion to make to Highland society.
We will make sure that the Council shares information in respect of services that will
particularly benefit senior citizens.
We will work with partners including NHS and care providers to ensure that needs as-
sessments are available to identify support packages and other services that will assist
the lives of our senior citizens.
We will seek to appoint members of the Council as Champions for our senior citizens
with a role that has a particular focus on their interests.

OUR HIGHLAND SOCIETY
The Highland Council is divided into eleven areas – Caithness, Sutherland, Easter
Ross, Wester Ross, Strathpeffer & Lochalsh, Island of Skye, The Black Isle, Lochaber,
Badenoch & Strathspey, City of Inverness and Nairn. Each of these areas has their
unique identity, make-up, challenges and opportunities.
A key aim for the next Council term is to ensure that each of these communities is
better provided for, that they are recognised equally and have an identified support
within Council to strengthen their resilience and contribution within Council. We
want to see greater opportunities that broaden the economic potential of the High-
lands, enriching our communities.
PROTECTING AND SUPPORTING OUR HIGHLAND SOCIETY
COUNCIL TAX
We are committed to keeping any Council Tax increases to an absolute minimum where
budget pressures mean that an increase is unavoidable.
EMPOWERING OUR COMMUNITIES
We believe that communities must be at the very heart of our local democracy and that
democratic power must be built from communities up. We will endeavour to embed
localism and the Empowering Communities Bill into Highland.
A key principle underpinning this manifesto is the empowerment of our communities
to shape their future as we work to make Highland a fairer, more equal, more democrat-
ic and more prosperous community.
We believe that our Council must be all about the local services that our communities
need and ensuring that our communities have a real say about what matters to them.
We are committed to delivering change, empowering local communities to decide on
their priorities, their services and their spending.
We believe that it is fundamentally better for decisions to be made by those that are
most affected by them.
We accept that different needs are sometimes best met by different solutions. ‘One size
does not fit all.’
STRENGTHENING THE VOICE OF OUR COMMUNITIES
We believe that the voice of our communities should be strengthened and that oppor-
tunities should be available for members of the public to make reasonable suggestions
that can be considered to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the Council’s
provision of service delivery and operation.
We will look at ways that this can be implemented including discussion panels, open-
door community events, discussion forums and engagement opportunities.
We will look at making sure that senior officers attend these events and are available

and approachable to consider thoughts and ideas that are put forward.
We want these opportunities to be Highland-wide with a particular focus on engage-
ment with rural communities.
MITIGATING ADVERSE IMPACTS ON OUR COMMUNITIES
We will continue to work with the Scottish Government to mitigate any effects of UK
government legislation and policy that impacts adversely on the people and communi-
ties of the Highland Council.
The Council will actively work with its partners in the emergency services to seek to
ensure that national policies, practices and local plans are Highland proofed, taking
into consideration local needs and the impact upon Highland communities.
We will work to ensure that the Scottish Ambulance Service has a full complement of
emergency vehicles, as well as non-emergency patient transport. We will lobby Scottish
Government to ensure long distances and remoteness are not disadvantages for pa-
tients.
The Council will continue to work with Scottish and Southern Energy and other utility
companies to deliver improved resilience planning for our communities including plan-
ning for extreme weather events.
SUPPORTING HIGHLAND COMMUNITIES’ UNIQUE IDENTITIES
There is a wonderful spectrum of unique social and cultural identities across the
Highland Council area. We believe this is part of the appeal of the Highlands to visitors
and those who want to come and live here. We want Council to consider how the unique
culture of each of the Highland Council areas can be supported and will ensure that
each area committee will be tasked to review how this can be achieved.
TRANSPORT PROVISION
There are areas throughout the Highlands that are recognised as travel hubs and are
essential in supporting rural communities. We are keen to support work with our
partners to clearly identify these travel hubs and to see how they can best support their
locations.
We support the provision of free bus travel for under 22-year-olds funded by the Scot-
tish Government.
We will ensure that Highland Council is represented on and supports local transport fo-
rums where we will work with other transport providers to improve transport provision
throughout the Highland Council area.
We will work with Scotrail to target the reduction of rail journey times and travel costs
throughout the Highland Council area. We will also support plans where communities
will benefit from additional rail stops.
We will support work that is put in place to actively transfer freight from road to rail or
sea.
We will support improved air-links to and from the Highlands, including direct access
to Heathrow. In partnership with the Scottish Government we will also continue to
support Wick John O’Groats Airport.
We have a particular interest in developing community transport with a focus on clean-
er and greener initiatives. We will actively review options that will support work to
find the best local solutions and those that will deliver Community Transport provision
across the Highlands. We will work to improve community transport to remote and
rural areas of the Highlands.
We will work with public transport providers to improve the integration of services to
communities across Highland and to improve timetabling and availability of public
transport in remote and rural areas.
We will continue to prioritise road safety to reduce the number of accidents on our
roads, as well as providing a programme of consultation to roll out 20mph speed limits
in our housing estates and built up areas.
We are keen to empower local communities to shape their public transport network in
order to ensure effective and affordable access to employment, leisure and shopping
facilities.
We will work with SUSTRANS and HI-TRANS to focus Scottish Government cycle track
investment on some of our key commuting and tourist routes.
We will continue to lobby for improved and additional ferry services, including more

flexibility in timetabling to facilitate employment and tourism opportunities.
INVESTING IN OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
Our young people face many multi-faceted challenges in today’s society. We want to see
investment that ensures every young person, irrespective of their background, gets the
best chance to achieve their full potential.
We are committed to consulting our communities in order to shape youth services and
opportunities to best support and provide for them in each area.
We will look to achieve best practice in youth work both in Council and in the voluntary
sector.
We want to improve youth services to increase the opportunities available to our young
people in the Highlands including enabling them to develop their skills for work.
We will work with young unemployed people to support them into work.
CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITIES
We will work towards achieving effective broadband and mobile coverage for all High-
land communities.
We support the work of the Scottish Government to ensure that all areas of the High-
lands have access to broadband.
We will work with our partners to develop a joint action plan to define and deliver
broadband and mobile technology solution to the most difficult to reach areas of the
Highlands.
Alongside improved connectivity, we will strive to achieve a digital dividend for the
Highlands by working with partners to ensure digital inclusion for all. We will also
promote and encourage businesses to exploit innovative technologies.
WORKING WITH THE THIRD SECTOR
We recognise that the Third Sector plays a vital part in providing essential services to
our communities in the Highlands.
We want Highland Council to review the relationship that it has with the Third Sector
with a view to strengthening our support in various ways, not just financially.
We would like to see a review of funding to ensure all avenues for finance are consid-
ered and that funding is targeted at supporting front-line delivery.
We will continue to work with our Third Sector partners to provide high quality staff
and volunteer led commissioned children's services.
We will develop existing Third Sector collaborations to make the most of available
resources and explore creative ways they can support the Council’s statutory service
provision.
AMENITIES, AMENITY AREAS AND PLAY PARKS
We recognise that the many amenity areas throughout the Highlands are important to
our communities. There is a view amenity areas should be reviewed to consider how
best they can serve their communities.
We will support the review of amenity areas with a particular focus on engaging with
communities to gain an understanding of what they consider best for their area.
We will prioritise areas of high visual amenity working with communities to identify
where these areas are and how we can collaborate to support their maintenance.
We will review the priorities in community works, including drainage, verges, grass
cutting and how these services can be best delivered with local input where there is a
desire.
We will work with communities to identify areas where there may be an interest by
community groups to have land or property transferred or leased from Highland Coun-
cil in order that the community can design and deliver community aspirations.
We will build on the work of the Council in establishing a play park strategy that will
identify how our communities can best provide for play parks and their maintenance. A
play park strategy needs to be sustainable and consider the changing demographics of
local areas.
We support the consideration of adventure play in developing the well-being of the
younger people in our communities.

We will work with Scottish Government and suport their commitment to provide and
maintain play areas.
We support initiatives taken by Council to enable communities to tackle anti-social
behaviour in amenity areas including dog waste, litter, fly-tipping and abandoned
vehicles.
BURIAL GROUNDS AND COSTS
Burial grounds and cemeteries are special places that mean so much to our commu-
nities. The Council cares for and maintains many of these areas throughout the High-
lands.
We will support the work to keep these areas as neat and tidy as possible and will
ensure that the Council supports this aim. We will also review the burial ground and
cemeteries maintenance programmes and ensure these are delivered.
We want to identify costs for the maintenance of burial grounds and cemeteries and
ensure that any charges for the provision of burial are directly related to the service.
We will also conduct an ongoing review of burial ground provision, to include locations
and capacities.
We will also seek to review the service in order to protect our communities from in-
creases in burial charges whilst also ensuring that those who require support in laying
their loved ones to rest receive this.
GAELIC / GÀIDHLIG
Gaelic culture and the language is recognised as a valuable asset for many communi-
ties within the Highlands. The Census for 2022 will be an important milestone for the
Gaelic language. We recognise and respect that some areas have a stronger bond with
Gaelic culture than others.
We recognise the contribution that Gaelic culture and language makes to the Highland
economy and the interest it creates locally, regionally, nationally and international-
ly. We will work with all our partners across all communities to develop Gaelic as a
regional asset, sharing our experience, skills and resources to continue implementing
and building on the Gaelic Language Plan. The Council’s Gaelic Language Plan 4 (GLP4)
supports and contributes to the Scottish Government’s Gaelic Language Plan in respect
of the Gaelic (Scotland) Act 2005.
We will review the Council’s support for Gaelic organisations who actively contribute to
the Council achieving its aims as committed to in the GLP4 and, in particular, the aim
of the Scottish Government to increase the number of fluent Gaelic speakers.

AN ACTIVE HIGHLANDS
CULTURE
The Highlands of Scotland have a unique cultural identity which is world renowned yet
this cultural identity is made up of many local cultural identities. We believe it is really
important, as a Council, to acknowledge and support this.
We want to develop a cultural strategy that, together with other partners, ensures we
promote and provide for the cultural identities that make up the Highlands. This in-
cludes promoting the cultural contribution that each area of the Highlands has to offer
to its local economy.
Each locality should have a local cultural strategy that ensures it provides for desti-
nation management, event management, visitor management and other key elements
that support world class events, places to visit and things to see and do.
ARTS
We have an artistic heritage to be proud of in the Highlands including the creative arts,
the performing arts and the various other forms of artistic contribution.
We acknowledge the support of many individuals and organisations to our artistic her-
itage. We will work with partners to ensure that Highland Council supports the arts.
We recognise that there are varied views throughout the Highlands in respect of art pro-
jects and their funding. We will aim to ensure that funding provision for arts projects is
fully and effectively consulted on within our communities.
We will set criteria for the provision of arts projects and will task local areas in consult-
ing on, setting and agreeing the criteria for support to ensure that the views of people
in the local community are considered before projects are implemented.
We recognise the contribution the creative industries makes to the Highlands and will
support sustainable delivery of the sector.
ACTIVITIES FOR ALL IN HIGHLAND
One thing that has certainly been recognised by us all because of the pandemic is the
positive contribution that culture, heritage, history, arts and recreation, especially
outdoors activity, has played in the lives of our communities. The sector diversified
quickly, under tremendous pressure and the stress of the unknown future it faced.
We will look to introduce a strategy that will clearly set out the Highland Council’s
support of and engagement with the sector.

LEISURE AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITY
We support the development of strategies and initiatives that make outdoor activity
more accessible.
Highlife Highland is the arms-length-organisation that provides leisure facilities on
behalf of Highland Council. We will commit to a full review of all Highlife Highland
services and how Highland Council can best continue to provide leisure activities going
forward.
We support the work of Council and groups in providing outdoor walking opportunities.
We will continue to review the support that Council provides and we will work with
partners to ensure these walk ways, trails and path routes are protected and main-
tained.

SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY
STRONGER FOR SCOTLAND

Ward 1
Marianne Hutchison - North West and Central Sutherland
I feel honoured to be the SNP candidate for North, West and Central
Sutherland in the forthcoming election.
If elected, I will use this opportunity to be an approachable, empathetic
and effective worker for the people in this very special part of the
Highlands.
Ward 4
Leslie-anne Niven - East Sutherland and Edderton
I feel privileged to be your SNP candidate for East Sutherland and
Edderton. Should I be fortunate enough to be elected, my focus will be to
engage and consult with the community to understand the issues which
really matter to each of you and work hard to realise the best outcomes
possible.
Ward 2
Karl Rosie - Thurso and Northwest Caithness
This manifesto provides an insight of our groups aim and ambitions for
the Highlands. It has been an absolute honour to represent the people of
Thurso & North West Caithness since 2017 and I would love to continue
and be able to deliver a healthy, thriving, sustainable and well connected
Highlands with opportunities for everyone.
Ward 5
Dr Chris Birt - Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh
I am a semi-retired public health doctor responsible for promotion of
Highland Health Board. The Highland Council is responsible for vital
services, many contributing to our better health; I will give priority to
housing, social work, and education. We must provide for Highland a
long-term plan for development of services; something which currently is
completely lacking.
Ward 3
Raymond Bremner - Wick and East Caithness
I have thoroughly enjoyed representing the community of Wick and East
Caithness since 2017 and would be honoured to be given the opportunity
again. I really believe there are exciting times ahead - both for the people
of Wick and East Caithness and for the community of the Highlands. I’m
looking forward to us all achieving even more in the next five years.
Ward 5
Liz Kraft - Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh
I am excited by the vision and leadership coming from the SNP group and I
know in administration we can make a difference to the lives of people here. I
am humbled to be a candidate in the area I lived in for over 30 years.
Your SNP Highland Council candidates

Ward 6
Tamala Collier - Cromarty Firth
Being a candidate means the world as I, and the SNP, can help those in the
community. I want to bring improvements to the roads, to education and
to the ways the youth engage with the community. I also want to promote
more openness between the Council and the public.
Ward 9
Lyndsey Johnston - Black Isle
I have volunteered in the Culbokie community for over 20 years.
Supporting unpaid carers in Ross-shire, I am keenly aware of the pressures
carers face. My family has links to the Black Isle back to 1740’s in Balblair.
I am a proud working single parent to 2 boys. The Black Isle means so
much to me, I would be honoured to serve my local communities here.
Ward 7
Derek Louden - Tain and Easter Ross
I’ve been honoured to serve the people of Tain & Easter Ross over the last
five years. We’ve come through a very tricky time but our future looks bright
with many renewables technologies offering high skilled and high wage
jobs in the years ahead. We’ll build a swimming pool; We’ll fix potholes &
play parks; We’ll provide housing for those waiting for one and improve
pupil attainment; When our Community Wind-farm gets built we’ll deliver
a brighter future for every resident.
Ward 10
Drew Millar - Eilean a’ Cheò
I am delighted to have been selected as the SNP candidate for the election
in May . I will work tirelessly to improve Council Services, if elected ,for the
people of Skye & Raasay. Having served my community from 1992 -2017
and after a break I am now refreshed and ready to serve you once again.
Ward 8
Graham Mackenzie - Dingwall and Seaforth
I have represented Dingwall and Seaforth on Highland Council for ten
years now . I have been Chair of Community Services, Audit and Scrutiny
and Vice Chair of Education during that time. If I am re elected I shall do
my best to make sure that the attainment in our schools is narrowed. I shall
also push for the regeneration of Dingwall Business Park.
Ward 12
Emma Knox - Aird and Lochness
Representing, supporting, and empowering our communities as your
local Councillor, is the best thing I have ever done. I’d love you to give me
the opportunity to continue to pursue what matters to you - a healthy,
sustainable, connected, and inclusive Highlands with a thriving local
economy.

Your SNP Highland Council candidates
Ward 13
Bill Boyd - Inverness West
I want better engagement between the council and constituents. In my
first term as a Councillor I promoted active travel and improvement of
adult social care including the working conditions of care workers and
availability of PPE. I helped introduce controlled pedestrian crossings over
the A82 at Glenurquhart Road.
Ward 15
Jackie Hendry - Inverness Ness-side
Whether dealing with education, roads, local transport, housing or
amenities - I am a good listener and will be there to help. We are facing
a cost-of-living crisis and fuel poverty. I aim to be part of a strong SNP
team who will work to develop new initiatives, working with people in the
community to support them as much as I can. I look forward to promoting
active travel, green spaces and community well-being.
Ward 14
Michael Cameron - Inverness Central
I want the community where I grew up to continue to be a great place to
live and work. From supporting our young people into work, to ensuring we
have good quality housing for local families, I will work to:
- Support families struggling with the cost of living crisis
- Create more social housing and affordable homes
- Ensure our schools are staffed and equipped to meet the needs of our
local communities
Ward 16
Ian Brown - Inverness Millburn
The last 2 years during the pandemic and lockdown life has been very
difficult for all of us and Council services have been badly affected. It has
been an honour to represent Inverness Millburn and if re-elected I would
continue to work to rebuild and improve services for our communities.
Ward 14
Kate MacLean - Inverness Central
I feel honoured to have been nominated to stand for a seat on Highland
Council for Ward 14, Inverness Central. I was born, brought up and
educated here, and live and work here. Together we can change the world.
Ward 17
Glynis Campbell-Sinclair - Culloden and Ardersier
Having served as your Councillor for 15 years, I will continue to support all
residents of the Culloden & Ardersier Ward throughout these recent crises.
I will help enable the necessary infrastructure for new housing
developments to become Communities; ensure that 20mph speed limits
are introduced in all the Communities of Culloden & Ardersier; and work
alongside colleagues to realise a new Sports Hub in East Inverness.

Ward 18
Paul Oldham - Nairn and Cawdor
I will work alongside our SNP MSPs to ensure that the by-pass is built.
- I will make sure that the new Academy provides the best possible
education.
- I will ensure that the Nairn Common Good is well managed.
- I will work with local groups to ensure that we remain a top priority on
Highland Council’s agenda.
Ward 20
Dave Fallows - Badenoch and Strathspey
I stand because I care about Badenoch and Strathspey and Highland
as a whole. I want to provide decent public transport in rural areas,
housing for our young folk especially affordable rents, better and more
flexible education, and far better facilities for older people and those with
disability.
Ward 19
Ken Gowans - Inverness South
It has been a privilege for me to serve as the local councillor in Inverness
South for the last 10 years. Whether it is helping individuals, championing
community interests, helping schools or many other organisations to
make positive differences - I am Chair of the East Inverness Sports Facility,
I will ensure this is delivered. I am a strong advocate for improved local
infrastructure. I always put local interests first!
Ward 21
Sarah Fanet - Fort William and Ardnamurchan
I am seeking re-election in the ward of Fort William & Ardnamurchan to
continue to support better communication between communities and
Highland Council. I will work closely with the SNP Group so the right
choices are made to provide the services and infrastructures the people of
the Highlands deserve.
Ward 20
Muriel Cockburn - Badenoch and Strathspey
I want to see better collaboration between the Highland Council and the
NHS. There are so many local government responsibilities which influence
our health, including housing, social work and education, and if re-elected
I shall seek to serve in these areas. I will continue to support our schools -
ensuring young people have equity of access and opportunities within their
community.

Acknowledgements
Chris Hart: Front Cover photograph
Design: Ken Gowans
Officers and staff of The Highland Council
Published by Ken Gowans, 9 Woodlands Grove, Inverness IV2 5DU on behlaf of the Scottish National Party (SNP) Highland Council Group. Printed by Caithness Print Solutions, 1B Lower Dunbar St, Wick KW1 5AH

The Highland Council SNP Group
Vision for the Highlands.., beyond the horizon

Highland Council SNP Group - Manifesto 22 FINAL SlideShare.pdf

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