Hunt gets going for new council chief

The hunt is under way for a new £97,000-a-year SIC chief executive to replace Morgan Goodlad who leaves at the end of May.

The use of specialist consultants to help in the process will make it cost £20,000-£40,000 plus the cost of advertising the post nationally. The final decision will rest with all the councillors following presentations by the candidates who will have been whittled down to a shortlist by the consultants and six councillors sitting as a selection panel to carry out in-depth interviews.

The council agreed on Wednesday the panel would be made up of convener Sandy Cluness, vice-convener Josie Simpson, infrastructure chairman Allan Wishart, his vice-chairwoman Iris Hawkins, services chairman Gussie Angus and his vice-chairwoman Betty Fullerton.

As part of the process councillors are also to get some help in improving their confidence and skills in conducting job interviews. There was little debate at the meeting although Mr Cluness again expressed his regret that Mr Goodlad was leaving after 10 years because he had hoped he would stay a bit longer.

The next chief executive is likely to enjoy a pay rise early into the job because chief officials’ salaries are currently under review.