Former Kingussie based Highland Council man lands top job

A former Highland Council area manager for Badenoch and Strathspey is to take up a big new role within the local authority as part of a major shake-up in services.

Mr William Gilfillan has been promoted to the new £106,503 job as the authority’s director of community services from April 1. He was previously a corporate manager on a pay band of £66,758 to £73,000.

The new service is responsible for housing, roads and winter maintenance, waste management, building and grounds maintenance, public and school transport, harbours, street lighting and emergency planning.

Mr Gilfillan, who joined Highland Council in 2000.

His first job was based at Alness where he had responsibility for the development of the new community school.

He was then appointed as customer services manager with responsibility for the service point network and then area manager for Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey before becoming corporate manager.

During his time in the strath he played a vital role in helping to get some big projects off the ground including the new Aviemore Primary School and the forthcoming refurbishment of the Courthouse in Kingussie.

Mr Gilfillan said: “I am delighted to have been appointed to this important new position. My first priority will be to shape the new service to ensure it delivers a wide range of frontline services in a more integrated way and in a manner more responsive to customer needs.”

Highland Council is to soon move from seven departments to five directorates which will bring savings of £350,000 per year and they claim deliver more customer-focused services.

The five new directorates will be:

• care and learning;

• finance;

• corporate development;

• development and infrastructure; and

• community services.

The changes will be introduced in two phases. All services but care and learning will be established by April 1 with the remaining department being created in the late summer.

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