Council / Councillors approve plans for organisational restructure of SIC
ELECTED members have approved plans for an organisational restructure of Shetland Islands Council (SIC).
A report on the topic was discussed in private at last week’s meeting of the full council.
SIC chief executive Maggie Sandison said she will now be continuing her conversations with staff and unions to explain the process moving forward.
“It would not be appropriate for me to publicly discuss either the detail of those plans, or any potential changes within the organisation, until those conversations have taken place,” she added.
“I do, however, hope to be able to give further updates over the next few months.”
In an update to SIC employees she gave an assurance that responses received through internal consultation have been helpful and constructive, and added that changes will be made in a phased approach.
“I have taken on board the concern and anxiety about large scale transformation and have recommended a phased approach that will break the implementation of a change to the management structure down into manageable stages – starting with director roles,” she wrote.
It is understood a number of senior officials are set to leave the SIC over the coming year.
A report which went in front of councillors in September in private said there was a desire to reduce duplication within the management structure and ensure that the council becomes more “efficient and works more collaboratively across services”.
At the moment the SIC is split into five main directorates. Each led by a director, they are children’s services, community health and social care, corporate services, development services and infrastructure services.
Within these directorates there are a wide range of areas overseen by managers, from schools and adult social work to housing, planning, ferries and roads.
Sandison said last year it has been “evident for some time” that the council is facing serious issues around staff, especially managers reaching the age when they can consider retirement.
She said that almost half of the SIC’s managers are between 56 and 65.
The council chief also said last year that the Covid pandemic had affected how people see their work/life balance, and the trend is for people to retire earlier than before.
“We also know that the council continues to face rising demands in the face of shrinking resources. It’s better to plan change, rather than just suffer the consequences of unplanned change,” she said.
“This gives me, as chief executive, an opportunity to look at where the pressures are and make sure our resources – which includes our staff – are directed where they’re most needed, and our services are as coordinated and resilient as possible.”
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