Fiona Lees: Last News

East Ayrshire Council HQ for the final time in January 2021 she says it’ll be the first time in her life she’s never had a plan.The chief executive says her 43 years of public service has genuinely been her life.After 16 years at the helm of the council, Ms Lees is leaving at a juncture where profound uncertainty reigns and the local authority faces the biggest economic challenge in its history.On top of serialised cutbacks to its operating budget, the council will have to contend with the ongoing financial and social impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the unknowns that Brexit will present in 2021.Defending her decision to go at this crucial juncture, Ms Lees said the challenges facing the council won’t be resolved in the short

East Ayrshire Council’s chief executive has expressed her concern as the UK hurtles towards the end of the Brexit transition period on December 31 this year.Fiona Lees anticipates that unemployment and Universal Credit numbers could also increase in the event of a no-deal scenario later this year.Unemployment in the area is currently sitting at 8.2 per cent with Universal Credit also up by 100 per cent.“I’m very concerned about the departure from the EU in so far as the preparations are being made and what agreements have at present been secured,” Ms Lees said.“We’ll take a report to cabinet that sets out what we see as the uncertainties and the risks and unfortunately those uncertainties and risks for individuals focus on the same things