Fiona Lees: Last News

East Ayrshire Council spent her final days with the organisation self-isolating after being exposed to Covid on a trip to Dubai. Fiona Lees retired from her role with the local authority yesterday having served 26 of her 42 years of public service with the organisation.But the 63-year-old was told to stay at home by Test and Protect staff after coming into contact with someone with the coronavirus during the trip at the end of last month.It is believed that her son lives in Dubai with Ms Lees insisting she has been “complying fully” with Covid restrictions.

East Ayrshire Council chief executive Fiona Lees was ordered to stay at home as she retired on Friday after coming into contact with someone with coronavirus during what she described as an “essential” trip to the sunshine spot, where her son is understood to live.The 63-year-old was insistent she had “complied fully” with restrictions throughout the pandemic as she retired with more than 40 years in local government under her belt.But a union representing the local authority’s workforce branded the trip “scandalous”, saying it undermines the stay at home message the council is sending to its staff.In a statement to the Record, the outgoing chief executive said: “Throughout this pandemic I have led by example, complying fully with the Covid

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

East Ayrshire Council in the region of £11 million this year alone.Initial projections suggested that the COVID-19 crisis had cost around £6.3 million between April and June.But the unprecedented cost of the health crisis could almost double before the end of the year.The local authority has forked out around £2m on personal protective equipment (PPE), the council’s chief executive said this week.Fiona Lees also warned that the council would have to “accelerate” plans to downsize the council.“We’re looking at a projection that it could be £11 million this year,” Ms Lees said.“We will have to make adjustments in our budget.

East Ayrshire Council's chief executive and depute chief executive are set to quit their posts, it has been announced today.Fiona Lees and Alex McPhee, who is also the local authority's chief financial officer, will both retire.Fiona Lees, who has held the position of chief executive since April 2004, will step down in January 2021 with Alex McPhee leaving in December 2020.The pair have 85 years of public service between them and arrangements for the recruitment of a new chief executive will begin shortly, officials say.Fiona Lees said: “It has been the privilege of my life to serve as East Ayrshire Council’s chief executive, particularly during these recent months, as we have led our local response to COVID-19.“With kindness and

A number of council staff are now self-isolating in East Ayrshire, which is starting to disrupt bin collections.