BID FOR INVERNESS TO BE NEW HQ OF FOREST ENTERPRISE SCOTLAND
The Highland Council has renewed its call for the headquarters of the proposed new body Forest Enterprise Scotland to be based in Inverness. Councillors believe the existing territorial office located in Inverness is ideally situated to provide the HQ functions of the new agency.

Convener David Green has written to Allan Wilson, MSP, Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development, Scottish Executive, making the case for an Inverness HQ and is to lobby Highland and Islands MSPs for their support.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise are also joining the campaign. HIE Chief Executive, Sandy Cumming, said: "We are 100% behind the proposal to bring the head office of Forest Enterprise Scotland to Inverness. There is a strong business case for such a move and we will work closely with The Highland Council to ensure that this case is presented fully to Forest Enterprise Scotland and the Scottish Executive."

David Green, Convener of The Highland Council said: "Locating the headquarters of Forest Enterprise Scotland in the Highlands, as well as the supporting of high quality posts would demonstrate a commitment to continuing the development of a variety of innovative projects in the Highlands. It would also show that the Scottish Executive is serious in its commitment to examining ways of devolving functions away from Edinburgh. The Highlands offers a good skills base and quality property options is an attractive place to live, work and play with high staff loyalty and low staff turnover.

"Conversely, the loss of senior management, which would inevitably follow the locating of Forest Enterprise Scotland�s headquarters outwith the Highlands, and the removal of direct financial control from Inverness would send out a very damaging message when so much timber in the Highlands is close to maturity and decisions need to be made on a future replanting policy."

Councillor Ian Ross, Chairman of the Sustainable Development Select Committee, said: "A very strong case can be made for the location of the new national office in Inverness. The Highlands is the heart of Scottish forestry where we are embracing a much more progressive and forward looking approach. Forestry is a means of delivering a diverse range of public benefits � benefits which can go well beyond the production of timber. Forest Enterprise officials in the North of Scotland have consistently shown an eagerness to grasp this more modern approach."