Highland Council's Transformation Programme Progress Update

24th May 2021

Members of today's Recovery, Improvement and Transformation Board were provided with an update of the early progress of the Transformation Programme, which consists of nine key projects that form a major part of the Council’s Health and Prosperity Strategy, which was approved in March 2021.

£3.7m will be invested over 24 months in these key projects, which are projected to generate an estimated £18.7m of savings, efficiencies, cost mitigation and cost avoidance.

The 9 key projects - which range in duration from 12-24 months – are:

1. Economy (including Growth Investment and Planning)

2. Asset Rationalisation and new ways of working

3. Service Redesign

4. Digital Transformation (including Connecting Customers, Digitising records, and Microsoft Cloud Navigator)

5. Social Care (including NHS Partnership Review, Adult Social Care, and Placement Services)

6. Climate Change

7. Waste (including Waste Strategy and Route Optimisation)

8. Roads & Transport

9. Procurement and Contracts Management

The Board were advised that an essential step in getting each project underway has been resourcing and assembling project staff and teams as quickly as possible. A proactive recruitment campaign has been was undertaken including posts on social media as well as traditional promotions via MyJobScotland.

22 appointments have already been made. A further 14 are being progressed through the recruitment stage including interviews are being arranged / held. Steps are being taken to recruit to the remaining 3 posts associated with Asset Rationalisation, Placement Services and Procurement & Contracts. Steps are also being taken to 2 posts in the Economy project that remain unfilled following the initial recruitment process.

The latest position for each of the projects was presented to the Board.

Councillor Alasdair Christie, Depute Leader of the Highland Council and Chair of the Recovery, Improvement and Transformation Board, said: "It is very positive to note the early progress that has been made on this ambitious Transformation Programme. I would like to complement the efforts of all those involved in getting this ambitious Transformation Programme underway so quickly, including progressing prompt recruitment to the projects. Members also received detailed updates on projects including the collaborative approach and partnership working with the NHS in relation to adult social care".