Highland Council’s Sutherland County committee has a new chairman.
East Sutherland and Edderton councillor Richard Gale (Scottish LibDem) takes over from councillor Linda Munro, who is taking on the vice-chairmanship of the council’s Care, Learning and Housing committee.
Mr Gale paid tribute to Mrs Munro (Scottish LibDem), who chaired the committee from June 2017.
He said: “I recognise that she has had to deal with some difficult challenges during the period and at no time did she shy away from the tough decisions that had to be taken.”
Golspie-based Mr Gale said he will be working hard to ensure the Sutherland committee is ‘relevant, effective and reflective of the unique communities we represent’.
He said: “Sutherland faces all of the challenges that are prevalent across the Highlands including the need for inward investment in the area.
“I want to work with the Community Planning Partnership to ensure that the identified needs are addressed in partnership with local groups across the county.”
Meanwhile Mrs Munro praised the team effort during her time as chairwoman of the Sutherland County committee.
She said: “Our group of six elected councillors from across Sutherland have all pulled together and I have felt very supported in the time I have been chair. It is very much a team effort, with every member playing a part and leading for their particular geographical area.”
Mrs Munro talked about her new role as vice-chairman of a major strategic council committee.
She said one of her top priorities will be addressing poverty in Highland.
She said: “A staggering 65% of people living in poverty here are in employment.
“While this forms part of my work with the committee it is absolutely relevant to Sutherland with our very high proportion of seasonal workers and the known challenges of Universal Credit.”
