sheona

I agree with the sentiment, but for the reasons I posted previously regarding the way the decision making process has "evolved" here over the past 10-20 years, I think it is essential for the good of the council going forward for someone with some weight behind them and experience on how local government *should* be run, to take the helm for as long as is necessary.

Fabio Capello perhaps. A 12 minute decision!

I agree with the sentiment, but for the reasons I posted previously regarding the way the decision making process has "evolved" here over the past 10-20 years, I think it is essential for the good of the council going forward for someone with some weight behind them and experience on how local government *should* be run, to take the helm for as long as is necessary.

Fabio Capello perhaps. A 12 minute decision!

I hardly think Green etc were much use either remember it was Malkie that negotiated away the pittance we were getting out of Sullom Voe, the oil companies were never going to pull out why the hell would they build new pipelines, offshore loading etc at a cost of billions to save a few hundred million. but the big muppet sold us down the river and some folks it seems think he did an acceptable job.

Were our expectations of those in public service really that low?

Do not speak ill of the dead. And don't forget just how much Green loved Shetland.

is there anyone out there versed in employment law that can answer why the SIC can't just sack the neep rather than give him a pile of our money????

 

I think others maye touched on this earlier, but unless there's a single act of gross misconduct that would warrant instant dismissal OR there has been a series of acts of misconduct, each of which has been the subject of a warning (and preferably a final warning), the dismissal could be unfair. I don't know if there have been any warnings; if there haven't, it would be quite a leap to move to dismissal, which is why pay-offs may come into play.

This is wrong. See http://www.compactlaw.co.uk/monster/empf1.html

Answering the Mod - I have!

 

These are facts which are public knowledge and can be accessed by anyone.

 

Theres more to come:

Mr Clark reported to Councillors that Laidler was a "qualified" surveyor.

Enquiries to all the reputable professional institutions reveal that he is not.

 

Gatrill (said to be one of Clark's referees) was convicted in Paris of a massive fraud involving many millions of francs - there were also suicides and murders connected with this fraud. Clark had "a close partnership" with Gatrill. Look on the Web - its all there.

Well, I read the article and altough my French may not be up to it, I saw no evidence that Gatrill had been "convicted" of anything. Anyway, what are you saying - that Clark is guilty by association?

A few facts:

(*** Mod - Blah, blah, blah. Send it to the paper with your name and address, then it will be worth reading ***)

We should pay little attention to the meanderings of whittles since the Theft Act doesn't even apply to Scotland.

don't disagree but chickens coming home to roost do not sit well with our elected. For them, behind closed is always best, lest someone point the finger of responsibility at them!

The legal position on the health and safety issue and whether this would allow him to challenge a dismissal now is far from clear cut. But anyway my betting is on a settlement because if ther's one thing our council is good at, it's spending other peoples money.

"If it were done when 'tis done then 'twere well it were done quickly-----" (Macbeth)

In a month or two Clark will have been in his job for more than a year and will have acquired the right not to be unfairly disnissed. If tey sack him then and he thinks he has a case he could go to an employment court. His case would be heard in public. The Sun would have a field day and probably more at the expense of the council than Clark. Is that what they want? Is that what the people of Shetland need?

Councillors, get on with it!!!

Read what is proposed on any future changes to the Trust.

Are you agreeing that the Convener (and probably a couple Lawyers) should spend 'your' money on an ego-driven public excercise to the House of Lords

Just which "Lords" would he be taking it to? Don't we have a Supreme Court now?

None of the above. An election will just return another load of numpties (new ones or retreads) The Scottish Govt. needs to run this show for a few years.

Where oh where are the men of stature from years past. Dodie Wullie, Tuc, Thomason?

If all the posts except stirrers were removed a good factual account of the position would be left. Clark went at this like a bull in a china shop. He showed no understanding of statutory redundancy procedures or local government policies. In fact, his actions were more what you would expect from the owner of a very small business. So much for his much vaunted experience!

It's now up to the Council to get it right. They should apologise to Shannon, make the post of Assistant Chief Exec redundant, offer the new post to Shannon as alternative employment and give him 14 days to accept. If he doesn't, pay him redundancy and notice and that will be the end of it. I think Riise should be the automatic choice to stand in for the Chief Exec in his absence and if he is not available it should be one of the service directors as nominated by the chief exec.

I also feel that the chief exec. should be disciplined for acting outwith the authority of the Council and causing this costly mess.

In all this interesting discussion about father & son chief execs it needs to be remembered that the chief executive is not the Council. At the time of Ian Clark there were senior Councillors whose altruistic love of Shetland was obvious; men such as Dodie Willie, A I Tulloch and John Jamieson, as well as councillors such as Alex Morrison and Jimmy Patton with a realism grounded in the hard times experienced by them in the 30's and later. A great debt is owed to them as well as to Clark.

Who were the councillors for Tingwall Whiteness & Weisdale from 1975 up to the change a few years ago to Shetland West Side? Full names and terms as councillor if possible. Thanks.

Thanks for responses. I think John Johnson (Fleein' Jack) was a Landward Area Member in the old ZCC and continued onto SIC for that area. I'm not sure about Alex Arthur. Was he not the Member for Scalloway before Major Anderson? Wills only became a councillor recently. Slim Jim was the Member for Bressay for a long time. He definitely wasn't the Member for Tingwall, Whiteness & Weisdale.