Chief Executive Announces His Retiral

The Chief Executive of The Highland Council, Mr Arthur McCourt, has announced his decision to retire, with effect from July, this year, after 12 years at the helm. He has given five months notice of his retiral to give the Council the opportunity of finding a successor before he leaves.

The matter will be discussed by the Council on Thursday (8 February) at a special meeting called to set the Council Tax for 2007-8.

Mr McCourt joined the Council as its first Chief Executive in May 1995, moving to the Highlands from his position of Assistant Chief Executive of Tayside Regional Council.

Mr McCourt's career began in 1971 as a researcher/lecturer at Edinburgh College of Art and Heriot Watt University.

After a short spell with Northumberland County Council as a senior planner he moved to Central Regional Council where he worked as a group planning officer between 1975 - 1987.

His next position was senior policy adviser at Stirling District Council, where he remained until being appointed assistant chief executive at Tayside.

A native of Fife, Mr McCourt was awarded the CBE for his services to local government in January 2004.

Mr McCourt said: “The Council will be facing a range of new challenges over the next few years.  Whilst I would relish tackling these challenges, I have been Chief Executive of The Highland Council for nearly twelve years and I think it is an appropriate time in the Council’s life and in my career to stand down. I have made my intention known now to afford the Council the opportunity to have a new Chief Executive in place before I retire.”