The leader of Highland Council has said that the “devil will be in the detail” of revised proposals for a shake-up of the region’s business agency.
Margaret Davidson last night welcomed new plans to retain the dedicated board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), but said much would depend on its make-up and structure.
A fresh row broke over the future of HIE this week after its chairman Lorne Crerar published his review into the running of the agency.
He proposed retaining a dedicated “delivery board”, but its role would be “secondary” to a new national panel being created to oversee all of Scotland’s development and skills bodies.
Critics, including the Scottish Lib Dems and Scottish Conservatives, quickly rejected the idea, with one suggesting it was “even worse” than the Scottish Government’s original plan as it would hand “absolute control” to ministers.
Last night, Mrs Davidson gave a lukewarm reaction to the report, and suggested that the jury was still out.
“It’s OK as far as it goes. Retaining the board, if ministers approve it, is really important,” she said.
“The devil will be in the detail about the board. We need the ability to make decisions in the Highlands and islands that are in the best interests of the Highlands and islands.
“They (the Scottish Government) are insistent on the strategic board. OK. HIE has long been reporting to ministers so it’s not a massive change.
“What we need to look at is the structure of the HIE board. Whoever chairs that board has got to be a real, visible champion for the Highlands and islands.
“We are definitely not just an outpost of empire. We can’t just be told what is important.”
Mrs Davidson added that she believed the region’s local authorities should be represented on the new board.
Economy Secretary Keith Brown has said he will announce his decision on the agency’s future within weeks.
Fraser Grieve, SCDI Highlands and Islands director, said: “SCDI were amongst many in raising concerns over the proposed abolition of the HIE board and the potential impact that would have on local decision making and accountability.
“This report is a positive step forward in seeking to address concerns raised, whilst meeting the Scottish Government’s objective of creating an overarching strategic board.
“Clarity will be needed on the powers of a strategic board and its exact makeup, but this report is a welcome move in safeguarding HIE’s autonomy.”
