Briefing

Ever Committee Chair gets a briefing from senior officers before the Committee meeting to make sure that you are awar of the key issues and to air any concerns about recommendations or report content before the meeting. Mine was today. As always, it was a most entertaining and informative session, last over an hour, where the key issues are discussed.

Many people have the view that Councillors attend a few meetings, deal with local issues, and have a lot of "jollies". As a Chair, I know that this is not the case. Like the rest of my fellow Chairs (and Vice-Chairs) we spend substantial amounts of time discussing and setting policy in a wide range of areas, and having to be aware of all the issues (however mundate) for which we are responsible.

Next month, the Comhairle becomes responsible for licencing tatooists, ear piercers and those offering electrolysis. Many thanks to Scottish Exec for giving us six weeks notice to set a policy and put it through Committee and then Council. I have to be fully briefed about this issue before Committee next week, to avoid any unneccessary problems for those who pursue those trades.