Information Bulletin
14 April 2006
Council Organisational Changes
At its meeting on the 13rd April 2006, Shetland Islands Council agreed a number of structural changes to continue the process of ensuring the Councils management arrangements best support service delivery.
The changes take into account developing service requirements, experience gained since the creation of the existing structures in 2000, and the requirement to fill a number of vacancies and interim arrangements.
The Community Services Department is to be restructured to become the Education and SocialCare Services Department, with Heads of Service in charge of Schools, Community Care,Integrated Children's Services and Lifelong Learning.
This will be supported by the retention of the services of Brian Doughty as an Interim Executive Director of Education and Social Care, who will bring the Department to a position to recruit a permanent Director or Directors by March 2007.
Housing and Capital Projects are to become a consolidated service reporting directly to the Chief Executive. No structural changes are to take place within the Infrastructure Department, but a permanent Head of Transport will now be recruited.
The Council has also decided to combine the Economic Development Unit and Shetland Development Trust into one body with a widened Community Development Trust remit. This progresses the overall co-ordination of economic development activities and will assist in the best management of community funds, with a strong community element.
A permanent post of Head of Development/General Manager for the new organisation will be established. It will be their responsibility to prepare the fully functioning integrated body for a transfer to Trust status in May 2007.
Further staff consultation and communication regarding the detailed implications of these decisions will take place over the next few weeks, followed by the relevant recruitment and other activities.
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