Council boss clears desk after budget cuts

David Knox 1607 - 1607 • Last updated 10 Apr 2009 13:06 0 Comments

ONE of the council"s highest paid bosses has packed his bags ahead of a major internal review.

And there"s no guarantee his £90,000 post will be permanently filled.

Callum Hay, director of Technical Services, made the decision to quit after budgets were slashed in his troubled department.

And a full-scale review is also to take place later this year in a bid to save even more money.

Scottish Borders Council this week denied that a rift was responsible for Mr Hay"s decision.

But an insider told us: 'Callum Hay was furious over the spending plans.

'There has been a bad atmosphere ever since they started their budget monitoring and penny pinching wherever they could.

'If everything is mutual about Callum"s departure why did he employ lawyers to fight his corner?'

The 52-year-old departing director, pictured, who was internally promoted to the job in January, 2005, will leave his post before the end of the month.

A statement from the local authority was issued on behalf of Mr Hay this week.

In it he said: 'I am very proud of the contribution I have been able to make to public service in this part of Scotland, and count myself lucky to have had the privilege of working with such a great bunch of people, inside and outside the Council.

'However, there comes a point for everyone when a change of direction seems right, and for me that time has come - so I have decided to move on.

'I wish the council, my staff, and my successor every success in delivering even better services for the Borders in future.'

Hard-hitting internal reviews saw almost £6.5 million slashed from all of the council"s departments in the run up to January"s budget announcement - with Technical Services bearing the brunt of the cuts and losing 11 jobs.

A further six-months-long probe will be launched in the summer to look at making further savings in Technical Services and possibly more job cuts.

A temporary appointment will be made to cover post of Director of Technical Services until the review is completed.

But council leader David Parker admitted they may not replace Mr Hay. He told the Peeblesshire News: 'We will probably await the outcome of the review before any decision is made about the director"s role.

'Callum has chosen to leave and pursue other career options.

'He has been an extremely good employee of the council but after 20 years of working for the local authority he has decided to move on.

'We have been in discussions for a while over his departure and we have found a date which is mutually suitable for both of us.'

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This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 10 Apr 09

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