SIC recruits help with revamp

Shetland Islands Council has secured the services of a local government consultant to help implement its improvement plan as extra staff are redeployed to help new chief executive Alistair Buchan with revamping the authority.

Nigel Stewart retired earlier this year after more than 40 years experience in local government, most recently as director of corporate services with Argyll and Bute Council.

There his responsibilities included governance and political management arrangements, on which he has provided training courses over many years.

He was a member of the council’s strategic management team and its monitoring officer, clerk of the peace and returning officer for parliamentary and local government elections. 

Mr Buchan said: “Following members’ endorsement of the improvement process at the last SIC meeting, we have secured the services of Nigel Stewart, a highly respected and experienced former local government director to look at the committee structure, systems and other aspects of governance and decision making within the council. 

“Three members of staff have also joined the executive office from education and social care for an initial period of up to six months to help provide a dedicated and enhanced business support service to me, the convener and members.”