Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar

The Comhairle delivers a full range of services typical of a Scottish local authority, in particular: • Education • Social Services • Roads and Transportation • Housing • Environmental Services • Leisure and Recreation • Corporate Services, including registration of births, deaths and marriages The Comhairle comprises thirty one elected members: 4 elected members are affiliated to the Scottish National Party; 2 elected members are affiliated with the Labour Party; whilst the remaining elected members are independents. The Comhairle's decision making process follows the traditional pattern of a number of committees, each with a remit covering a specific subject area, which either take decisions themselves, or which make recommendations to Meetings of the Council. The Head of the Comhairle's paid service is the Chief Executive. The Convener of the Comhairle is the civic head of the Authority and is responsible for civic leadership, including chairing meetings of the Comhairle, representing the Comhairle in civic and ceremonial functions, communicating the ethos of the Comhairle externally, and supporting high standards of conduct, values and partnerships both within the Comhairle and externally. The Leader of the Comhairle has specific responsibility for strategic leadership and direction, acting as the Comhairle's principal representative on Local Government bodies, and the Outer Hebrides Community Planning Partnership. The Leader is automatically Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee which has principal responsibility for the Comhairle's policy direction and its finances. Currently the Convener of the Comhairle is Cllr Alex MacDonald and the Leader is Cllr Angus Campbell. For further information about how the Comhairle makes decisions, and on its internal structures, please access the Council's Constitutional Documents and Standing Orders, and Scheme of Administration. Information on elected members is also available on the this website.