Best paid job in Scottish Borders up for grabs

 by DOUG COLLIE

The new chief executive at Scottish Borders Council (annual salary between £128,000 and £131,000) will have to be capable of "satisfying political objectives", according to job adverts for the post which set a deadline of November 8th for applications.

As efforts get under way to replace Tracey Logan, who relinquished the post in September, another former SBC executive now working at the other end of Scotland finds herself featured in the Rotten Boroughs column of satirical magazine Private Eye.

Donna Manson, service director for children and young people at the Borders local authority from 2015 until 2018, is now chief executive at Highland Council. In an article headed 'Highland Games' the magazine is highly critical of Mrs Manson's management of the authority's finances.

But according to a news story in the Inverness Courier leading councillors in Highland have immediately jumped to their chief officer's defence. 

Private Eye says Mrs Manson's mission when she joined the authority in 2018 was to cut senior salaries to save much-needed cash. 

"But her maths seems to have gone awry", the story says.

The piece highlights stories that have appeared in the Inverness press, including a £475,000 pay-off to former director William Gilifillan and the near £1,000-a-day the council paid a London-based consultant to run the education department.

In a hard hitting finale to the article, Private Eye claims: "With budget shortfalls made worse by Covid-19 and a black hole of some £30 million, at the end of last month councillors set aside £10.9 million of reserves to plug some of the gap.

"Many councillors feel they have had enough of CEO Manson, but fear the cost of her own departure could break the bank."

However, the Courier reports that leader and depute leader of the council Margaret Davidson and Alasdair Christie said: “The administration of the council is fully behind our management team led by the chief executive, Donna Manson.

"She has the full support and confidence of the council. Ms Manson has achieved huge successes in bringing financial stability and improvement to the council over the past two years. She has turned around an overspend and has brought in significant underspends and has rebuilt our balances in line with audit recommendations. She has also achieved significant improvement in educational attainment and key service areas.”

As Mrs Manson's former colleagues at SBC await the appointment of a new head of paid service, the list of requirements, qualities and talents of potential candidates have been laid out in detail. The information linked to the job vacancy indicates the chief executive will report to the council convenor.

The role description states: "To provide strategic leadership for all of the Council’s functions. Lead the delivery of the Council’s Single Outcome Agreement, corporate plans, priorities and objectives by ensuring effective people and resource management and sound corporate governance across all directorates. Be responsible for the achievement of the Council’s Improvement Plan, local plans and targets and secure improvements in the performance of the Council’s services, and for carrying out the statutory duties associated with the role of Chief Executive as Head of Paid Service.

"Provide leadership, direction, motivation and management of the Council’s staff to deliver services which meet the Council’s statutory duties, published plans and priorities and improve the economic, social and environmental well being of the local community. As the principal policy adviser support the Elected Members in determining the Council’s overall strategic objectives and priorities and be responsible for the development of collaborative working arrangements with key partners."

The job also demands: "Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills with the ability to form positive relationships at all levels. Strong persuasive and influencing skills, with the ability to present ideas and proposals effectively.

"Clear analytical skills to allow the exploration, evaluation and interpretation of information and opinions. Strong decision making skills with the ability to make decisions and recommendations based on the analysis of options. Successful record of engaging effectively with others, building productive working relationships, including high profile stakeholders, statutory authorities and private sector. Capacity to work under pressure to meet deadlines, satisfy political objectives and organisational priorities. Demonstrate commitment to, and achievement of, equality and diversity issues."

Ms Logan, who retired after nine years in charge of Borders local government services, was paid a total of £143,432 in 2019/20, according to SBC's annual accounts. That total included £5,422 for her work as returning officer for the European Parliament elections in May 2019 and the UK General Election of December 2019.