THE current boss of Argyll and Bute Council has been named as the new chief of local government umbrella body Cosla
Sally Loudon will replace departing chief executive Rory Mair after being by COSLA’s staffing committee, made up of the organisation's presidential team and political group leaders.
She takes the reins at one of the most turbulent times on local government in a generation, with £500million cuts coming down the line this year alone.
Ms Loudon will also take charge of a fractured local government. with several major councils having quit Cosla last year in a row over the distribution of Scottish Government cash.
Cllr David O’Neill, Cosla president and chairman of the staffing committee, said: "I am absolutely delighted to announce that Sally Loudon has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of COSLA.
“The quality of candidates was exceptionally high but Sally brings a wealth of experience, passion and vision to the role and was the unanimous choice of the interview panel.
"I also want to take this opportunity to thank Rory Mair for his contribution to COSLA and wish him every happiness in the future.”
Ms Loudon said: "I am both delighted and extremely proud to have been appointed to one of the top jobs in Scotland.
“There is no doubt the next few years will be challenging for everyone in Scottish local government, and the time for us to speak with a single united voice has never been stronger.
“But I believe that both myself, the team and politicians at COSLA have the energy, enthusiasm and drive to deliver on those challenges and I cannot wait to get started."
Mr Mair announced in September his decision to retire and leaves Cosla on January 29 on health grounds.
Earlier this week he made a stinging critique of the Scottish Government approach to local services, claiming the middle classes were being sheltered from the worst of the council cuts while Government policy continued to hit the poorest hardest
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