Lifting the Lid on Secret Council Meetings
As your Liberal Democrat councillor for the Fort William and Ardnamurchan ward, I believe you have a right to know what goes on behind the closed doors of Highland Council. That’s why I’m shining a light on our latest Area Business Meeting—despite some of my fellow councillors wishing I wouldn’t.
Why These Meetings Matter
Area Business Meetings bring together Lochaber’s seven councillors for regular updates on local issues. They’re not formal decision-making meetings, but the discussions shape future policies and council actions. And yet—these meetings are completely closed to the public.
I’ve pushed time and time again for them to be made public, or at the very least, to have minutes published. Every time, this has been blocked. Some councillors prefer these discussions to stay hidden—but I don’t think that’s right.
So, here’s what was discussed at our latest meeting.
What Lochaber Councillors Discussed This Week
Waste Management – Tackling Any Problems
We met Lochaber’s new waste officer, who is responsible for operations, and tackled some serious concerns about rubbish and recycling. A big issue? Some self-catering property owners are dodging commercial waste collection fees by telling their guests to dump rubbish in public bins before they leave. The result? Overflowing village bins, especially in peak tourist season.
Our recycling facilities are also struggling. Bottle banks in Acharacle and Ballachulish are regularly overwhelmed, with bags of bottles being dumped beside full bins. It’s not exactly a great look for locals or visitors! The good news? Following my suggestion Council officers have agreed to review collection frequencies during the busiest months. And I urged for more robust enforcement action against those abusing public bins in the Glencoe village car park. Their latest fly-tipping included material that provided their name and address!
Middle Street Town Centre Eyesore – Progress at Last?
For years, residents and businesses have raised concerns about this long-standing eyesore in the heart of Fort William. While I can’t share all the details yet due to ongoing discussions, I pushed hard for the council to commit to a clear timetable for action. It looks like we’re finally seeing progress—but I’ll keep the pressure on. Our town deserves better than this lingering blight.
Glencoe’s Quiet Route – A Step in the Right Direction
The trial speed reduction introduced on the back road between Glencoe village and the Clachaig Inn, lowering the limit from 60mph to 40mph, seems successful. It was a pilot project as part of the Quite Routes initiative. This popular walking and cycling route connects the hostel, campsite, and surrounding trails.
A traffic survey showed plenty of pedestrian use—but here’s the problem: the survey wasn’t conducted during the busiest summer months because of equipment delays. This is frustrating because summer data would have strengthened the case for more safety improvements, particularly around the Clachaig Inn, which has seen a surge in visitors (thanks in part to its Harry Potter filming location connection).
I’m keen to see the Quiet Routes concept expanded across Lochaber, building on what we’ve learned from this trial.
Why Transparency Matters
Some councillors argue that these meetings need to be private to allow for “frank discussions.” I disagree.
Yes, some topics—like contracts, legal matters, or personal information—need confidentiality. But the vast majority of these discussions should be open. Keeping everything secret by default is simply not democratic.
I’ll keep reporting back on these meetings—no matter how much pushback I get. Because at the end of the day, these are discussions about your community, your services, and your council tax. You deserve to know what’s happening.
Watch this space for more updates, and as always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. What do you think? Should the council at least be publishing the minutes of Area Business meetings?