The Highland Council has offered HM Revenues and Customs in Wick a solution, which they hope will help retain 23 quality jobs in the Caithness town.

The Council says that if HMRC are concerned about the costs of their current accommodation, office space can be made available within the Council's proposed new office block on Market Square, which will replace the existing Council offices.

It sees the move as a cost-effective solution for the agency, which will protect jobs, the local economy and the service to customers.

The Council has made the offer in its detailed response to a change programme consultation by HMRC, which has put a question mark against the future of the Wick enquiry centre.

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Both the Convener of the Council, Sandy Park, and the Civic Leader for Caithness, David Bremner, have already written to HMRC to highlight their concerns about the review and at a meeting of the full council on Friday, councillors agreed that an all-party delegation should press the case for retaining the jobs at Wick with the UK Government.

Councillors were told that the offer of accommodation had been made to ensure that rationalisation of office accommodation is not a key driver to the reduction in operations in Wick.

Councillor Park said: "The further loss of employment to this community is potentially devastating. We urge HMRC to consider the long term benefits of the proposed new office in Wick and the potential this site could have. If the drive from the current review is related to the improvement of processes and centralising of services in key locations, it is logical and rational to consider Wick as one of these locations."

Councillor Bremner said: "The HMRC proposals appear to be at odds with the Scottish Government’s approach to relocation of public sector jobs. It is widely recognised that even small numbers of posts will bring demonstrable benefits to the community. We urge HMRC to re-consider the current proposals. As has been demonstrated, the potential impact upon this area could be considerable and undermine attempts to attract and maintain employment."

(GK/JM)