News / Ferguson lands top SIC job
SHETLAND Islands Council has appointed its director of community care Christine Ferguson to take control of the council’s central organisation.
Her appointment marks the end of a year long attempt to fill the key position, which the authority sees as crucial to bringing an end to the drift that led to a public inquiry by local government watchdog The Accounts Commission.
Mrs Ferguson, from Walls, replaces former Fife Council finance chief Brian Lawrie as director of corporate services, who took on the post last November on a temporary basis until the end of March after two failed attempts to recruit.
It remains unclear when she will start in her new job as the council now needs to replace her at the helm of community care, which is jointly administered with NHS Shetland. Discussions with the health board are currently being organised.
The mother of three joined the authority in 1986 working within the council’s corporate services and social work sections, before taking on the management of community care in 2002.
SIC chief executive Alistair Buchan, the architect of the council’s reorganisation following the 2010 Accounts Commission public inquiry into the SIC’s governance, described the appointment as “critical”.
“In my experience, having an effective corporate director is critical to the success of any council,” he said.
“Local government is about the frontline services it provides, but if you don’t have good governance supporting those services – led by a strong director – you run a high risk of failure.
“Christine has demonstrated the qualities and abilities necessary to take on this demanding role, and we all wish her every success in the job.”
The council has not had a head of corporate services since the departure of Andrew Matthews more than a decade ago, when former chief executive Morgan Goodlad took on the role himself.
The council is currently trying to cut its annual spending by around £30 million over a period of just two years, causing alarm within the community.
SIC leader Josie Simpson, who leaves the authority at the end of next week when he stands down as a councillor, said: “The appointment panel was very impressed by the high calibre of candidates for this post. We wish Christine all the very best as she takes on her new role.”
Become a member of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider paying for membership to get additional features and services: -
- Remove non-local ads;
- Bookmark posts to read later;
- Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
- Hide membership messages;
- Comments open for discussion.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.
Already a member? Sign in to hide this message.
