Further Highland Council restructuring claims savings of almost £250,000

The Highland Council has agreed to changes would will reduce Senior Management costs of the Local Authority by £235,000 per annum. This saving will contribute to the Redesign budget saving agreed in February 2017.

The further streamlining arrangements will also mean a number of adjustments to the leadership and management of specific functions in order to meet the agreed Redesign criteria and to achieve improvements in performance.

This reduction is in addition to the 83 senior management posts removed in the past 9 years.

These proposals for a leaner Senior Management structure of four Directorates will reduce the number of Senior Managers in the Council. This reduction is in addition to the 83 senior management posts removed in the past 9 years.

Chief Executive Steve Barron said: “These proposals will reduce the Councils senior management costs and align our structures with the Redesign of the Council. There are so many uncertainties currently that I asked Members to recognise that while these changes are appropriate for mid-2017, they may have to be reviewed again as our opportunities and challenges become clearer.”

Convener of the Council, Bill Lobban said: “The Council has an extremely talented and well-motivated workforce who have had to adapt In order to maintain services in the light of significant budget cuts in recent years. Clearly we currently have one of the leanest senior management structure among Scottish rural Councils and these proposals further challenge our capacity. I have no doubt that the Council will emerge a leaner and more efficient organisation at all levels"