LERWICK south councillor Cecil Smith has been appointed chairman to the newly formed sounding board, the group set up to assist Shetland Islands Council’s new chief executive Alistair Buchan in his task to overhaul the way the council is run.
And, as part of his wide-ranging improvement plan ordered by the local government watchdog the Account Commission, Mr Buchan has now won the support form senior colleagues from across Scotland who has agreed to scrutinise his work as an external reference group.
The former chief executive of Orkney Islands Council was brought in this summer to bring the islands’ authority up to the national standards in governance, structure and financial prudence.
Mr Buchan said he was encouraged by the willingness of his local government colleagues from other council’s across Scotland to come on board and give advice.
“The group members, who are all highly regarded at a national level and have volunteered their time free of charge are: chief executives: Alastair Dodds (Highland Council), Mary Pitcaithly (Falkirk Council), David Hume (Scottish Borders), Malcolm Burr (Western Isles) as well as Mike Neilson (Scottish Government lead director for Shetland) and Colin Mair (Chief Executive, Local Government Improvement Service).
“Members are in agreement that being better connected and learning from others is a key part of the programme we have embarked on,” he said.
Meanwhile, councillor Smith said that Thursday’s first meeting of the sounding board had got off to a “positive start”.
“We’re all aware that we have a big job on our hands here. One of the key things we can do will be to help keep Councillors at the forefront of the improvement agenda and up to speed on things as they develop.
“Having open communications channels will be a vital part of delivering the plan as we go forward”.
The Sounding Board will meet at least monthly. Members are: Cecil Smith (chair), Gary Robinson (vice chair), Addie Doull, Laura Baisley, Andrew Hughson, Allison Duncan and Allan Wishart.
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