Press Release
Brian Lawrie appointed Interim Director of Corporate Services
Former Executive Director of Finance & Resources at Fife Council, Brian Lawrie has been appointed as Director of Corporate Services on an interim basis. Mr Lawrie, who has been providing occasional support to the Finance Service over the past year as part of the Council’s Improvement programme, will be working on a temporary contract from next Monday (21 November) until the end of March 2012.
The Council’s Political Leader, Josie Simpson said, “I know that my colleagues on the Council’s Appointments Panel welcome this decision. The fact we were unable to appoint to this post through the recent management restructuring was disappointing. So I am pleased we have taken the proactive step of getting someone with Brian’s experience on board until we are able to put in place a more permanent solution”.
The Council’s Chief Executive, Alistair Buchan said, “With the challenges we are facing as an organisation, it was clearly very important that we filled this position. As has been reported, we haven’t been successful on a couple of occasions recently. It was vital we didn’t allow that situation to continue into the longer term.
“Brian has worked for us in the past so has the advantage of knowing what he’s coming to and, in many ways, can hit the ground running. I’ve commented before on his excellent background and feel we’d have been hard pressed to get a better person in the circumstances”.
Mr Lawrie said, “I am fully aware of the significant strides made by the Council, particularly over the last 6 months, and am delighted to lend my support for the next phase of this work. It is regrettable that to date the Council has been unable to fill this post on a long-term basis, as Corporate Services within the Council are crucial to driving the change agenda and supporting other services to ensure we deliver the most cost-effective outcomes for the residents of Shetland.
“I steadfastly believe in the benefits of local government and the importance of delivering services which are both responsive and provide value for money”.
Mr Buchan added, “I’m very conscious of the fact that we are in the middle of a cost-cutting exercise, so we must be consistent with our messages. However, I have said before that we need support to help us move forward as an organisation. Although senior managers obviously cost money, I have no problem whatsoever in assuring folk that this arrangement delivers a good deal for this Council”.
Mr Lawrie is a widely respected figure in Scottish local Government. He agreed to help the SIC in November last year, having retired from Fife Council two months previously. He has worked in North East Fife District Council, joining Fife Council in December 1995 as Financial Services Manager and was appointed Head of Finance and Asset Management in September 2001. In 2005, he was awarded the distinction of ‘Public Sector Finance Director of the Year’ and was also the chair of Scottish CIPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy) Finance Directors Section.