Orkney lines up fresh structure as senior leadership roles are split

Orkney councillors will begin the induction process today, before a statutory general meeting on May 16, at which the roles of convener, political leader, deputy leader and the committee chairs will officially be decided.

Inevitably, there has been plenty of speculation as to who might become what.

The previous council leader is James Stockan. Publically, he has been cagey about whether he wants the role again.

Before Mr Stockan took up the leader role, it and the convener role were one and the same and held by Steven Heddle.

Both Mr Stockan and Mr Heddle held onto their seats with the new council.

Mr Heddle called being leader of the council “one of the hardest jobs in Orkney” during recent hustings events, but he may wish to give it another go now that the convener and leader duties have been separated.

The next council will include John Ross Scott, a councillor in the Scottish Borders for 23 years and leader for two of them.

Asked if he wanted a leadership role he said the highest he would want is to become chairman of a committee.

But he did say people have tried to press him into taking on a higher role. He said: “I’ve looked at who might take on one of these roles. For the leader, we really need someone who will push the Scottish Government into giving us the money we need for ferry funding.

“The two people I thought would make good leaders are Steven Heddle and Leslie Manson. But Leslie is reluctant to take on any role. Steven has also said he found the leader role to be very strenuous, although when he did it, the leader and convener roles were combined.”

Orkney councillors James Stockan and Steven Heddle.