Highland Council officials say that are making “good progress” in helping the region recover from the Covid-19 crisis – but acknowledged that further work needed to be done.
Scotland’s largest local authority 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, Malcolm Macleod, executive chief officer for infrastructure and environment, said “good progress” has been made across all “work streams” including the council’s return to school’s action plan and the recovery of the Highland economy, with more than 50 actions already completed or underway.
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 and 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 prepared for that as there will be supply issues then.”
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.”
