Progress in north but still more to be done

Highland Council officials say they are making “good progress” in helping the region recover from the Covid-19 crisis but acknowledged further work needed to be done.

The council established a recovery board in May to help steer the Highlands’ emergence from lockdown, forming an action plan to get back up and running again.

During a virtual board meeting yesterday Malcolm Macleod, executive chief officer for infrastructure and environment, said “good progress” has been made across all “work streams” including the council’s

“If we get a second wave are we prepared?”

return to school action plan and the recovery of the Highland economy, with more than 50 actions already completed or under way.

However, for several Highland representatives their concerns centred on whether the region was fully equipped with adequate PPE ahead of 203 schools returning in August, or in the event of a second wave of Covid-19 cases.

Councillor Ken Gowans said: “What is at the back of my mind is if further down the line if we get a second wave are we prepared for that?”

Fellow councillor Carolyn Caddick urged the council to consider vetting varied and local suppliers to provide the council with “choices” to mitigate future “risk”.

She added: “It’s great while it works until we have a problem so it would be great to know that we have choices.”