Council appoints new Director of Housing and Property

The Highland Council has appointed a Director to lead the new Housing and Property Service, which combines Housing with Property and Architectural Services.

He is Steve Barron, who for the past eight years has been managing director of Robertson Facilities Management, Inverness. He will take up his post early in the new year.

Mr Barron's previous experience includes 13 years in the health service in Lothian and Highland, where he was Head of Facilities with the former Highland Primary Care Trust.

Married with three sons, Mr Barron attended Lochardil Primary School and Inverness Royal Academy and has spent all but three years of his working life in the Highlands.

His new job entails managing 350 housing staff and a revenue budget of £64 million and a capital budget of £13 million as well as 190 staff in property services with a budget of £16.9 million.

The Council’s housing stock extends to 14,100 houses and its property portfolio of 2,730 non-housing buildings with an asset value of £1,373 million.

Priorities will be to bring the Council’s housing stock up to Scottish Quality Housing Standards and to put in place an asset management programme.

Mr Barron said: "I am delighted to be joining The Highland Council at this time and look forward to the opportunities and challenges of this new position."

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