Chair of the Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee Cllr Bill Lobban has stepped down after seven years in the position.
Cllr Lobban, who is also Convener of The Highland Council, agreed to remain as Chair following last year’s local government election to allow continuity of leadership while the Short Term Lets Control Area business had concluded.
He had been an advocate for the introduction of the Short Term Lets Control Area for Badenoch and Strathspey and committee members all agreed he should remain in the chair during the proposal process and ultimately its introduction.
Cllr Lobban strongly believed that the Short Term Lets Control Area would help free up much needed housing in the area.
At the meeting of the Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee he handed over the chairmanship to Cllr Russell Jones.
Chairing his final Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee meeting, Cllr Lobban 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 & 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 added:
“Area Committees play a massively important role in supporting our communities as you will hear later in our meeting today.
“Collectively, Members past and present have worked together for the benefit of the people of Badenoch & 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 7 years and I sincerely wish Councillor Jones well in his new position.”
Newly appointed chair, Cllr Russell 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 Cllr Lobban, who has chaired this committee for many years, for his hard work and dedication.”
