Mrs. Mairi Bremner has been elected unanimously as Chair of the Joint Services Committee, the joint Health Board and Comhairle Committee which will cover areas of health care and social work.

Mrs Bremner was the sole nomination for the Chairmanship at the inaugural meeting of the Committee last week. She was nominated by Cllr. Catherine Macdonald and seconded by Cllr Agnes Rennie. Cllr Annie Macdonald was elected Vice-Chairman, also unanimously.

Mrs Bremner said: “I am delighted to have the honour of being the first Chairman of the Joint Services Committee. The Western Isles is leading the way in Scotland in joint Health and Social Care services and I am very much looking forward to taking that important work forward. We will face many challenges but I am confident that by working together we can continue to improve services for the people of the Western Isles.”

Mrs Bremner is a former Chairman of Social Work on Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.

The Joint Services Committee is made up of 4 representatives from the Health Board and 4 from the Comhairle. The membership is; Cllr Annie Macdonald, Cllr Gerry Macleod, Cllr Catherine Macdonald, Cllr Agnes Rennie, Mrs Mairi Bremner, Mrs Elenor Macleay, Ms Jane Adams and Mrs Margaret Mackenzie.