This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Scottish Natural Heritage relocation
02/09/2003
Scottish Ministers today asked Scottish Natural Heritage
(SNH) to prepare plans for the managed relocation of its
Edinburgh headquarters functions to Inverness.
As part of its broader relocation policy, the Executive
announced on March 20 that Scotland's principal nature
conservation agency should base its activity in the
Highlands once the lease on one of its two Edinburgh
offices expires in 2005.
The policy is intended to ensure public sector jobs and
the economic benefits they bring are shared across all
parts of Scotland.
In response to a request from the SNH Board, Ministers
have now issued a Direction under section 11 of the Natural
Heritage (Scotland) Act 1991 to require SNH to prepare
relocation plans.
The move to Inverness will involve bringing together
staff from the two Edinburgh offices with over 50 staff
already working in Inverness.
Environment minister Ross Finnie said:
"We have made clear our decision to put Scotland's
natural heritage agency at the heart of the Highlands to
further our relocation policy objectives.
"In reaching this decision Ministers considered a range
of financial and non-financial factors.
"We recognise that relocation may cause SNH some short
to medium term disruption. We are committed to putting in
place a package of measures to ensure that relocation goes
ahead as smoothly as possible.
"As part of that, I have today given an undertaking to
John Markland, Chairman of SNH, to meet any reasonable
additional costs associated with the move.
"The important thing now is for SNH to bring forward its
plans to manage that process as efficiently and effectively
as possible."
Ministers expect to receive a project plan to
demonstrate the stages, dates and progress to be achieved
in relation to relocation later this autumn. These
proposals will be subject to Ministerial approval.
John Markland, SNH Chairman, said:
"The SNH Board received the Direction from Scottish
Ministers on relocation during their meeting today. They
are satisfied that the Direction and the accompanying
letter from Ross Finnie provide sufficient clarification
and reassurance on funding to meet their concerns.
"They will now direct staff to implement the move of
Edinburgh-based posts to Inverness under the terms of the
Direction. The first stage will be the production of a
Project Plan which will be submitted to Ministers by the
end of October as requested in the Direction.
"The Board accept the difficulties which this decision
will cause to Edinburgh based staff but are anxious to
ensure that as many staff as possible are able to make the
move to Inverness. The Board look forward to working with
the Highland community to make this a success."