Council to Streamline Property Maintenance Services

21st August 2009

Members of The Highland Council's Resources Committee have approved a proposal which will streamline its property maintenance services and clarify the roles and responsibilities of its maintenance teams.

Three similar post types have been merged into the generic post of Maintenance Officer. Around 45 staff are affected by the change which will see the Maintenance Officers formed into three teams integrated into the Council's area structure. Each team will be led by an Assistant Area Property Manager. The new arrangements, which are aimed at
improving customer service and teamwork, have been supported by the Trade Unions. The redesign of jobs will broaden the responsibilities of this key staff group and ensure that salary levels fully reflect the range of challenges involved in maintaining a large and diverse stock of buildings in the context of increasing pressure on budgets. The changes
will be cost neutral overall.

Councillor Carolyn Wilson, Chairman of the Resources Committee, welcomed the change. She said: "Each Maintenance Officer will have responsibility for a specific portfolio of properties and control of a budget to undertake the maintenance work required. I think it will make a real difference to the focus and job satisfaction of the teams involved. It is tremendous news that this change will address some of our job
evaluation issues and we are grateful for the support of the Unions in this. In the current financial climate it is vital that we look for opportunities to redesign job groups in a way that improves services without increasing costs."