STUART Allan, the Standard Commission for Scotland's chief investigating officer, has been reappointed to his post for another two years. He was first appointed in 2002, having served as head of law and administration at Fife Regional Council and Fif
e Council.
Two commission members were reappointed for three years: John Dowson, a former leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council, and Okain McLennan, a retired civil servant. Albert Tait, an accountant, had his term of appointment extended to 2010.
SYDNEY Mair, a councillor for Troup, has been selected as the chairman of Aberdeenshire Council's Banff and Buchan area committee. He succeeds Mitchell Burnett, another Troup councillor, who has stood down due to ill health.
MORAY Licensing Board has chosen Councillor Ron Shepherd as its new convener. Formerly its vice-convener, he succeeds Councillor Alastair Bisset, who died last month. The new vice-convener is Councillor John Divers.
PETER Argyle, a councillor for Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside, has been selected as the new chairman of Aberdeenshire Council's infrastructure services committee. Argyle, who will leave his post as chairman of the council's scrutiny and audit committee to join the infrastructure services committee, succeeds Martin Ford, who was sacked in December after his casting vote helped reject Donald Trump's plans for golf courses and houses on the Menie Estate.
WEST Lothian Council has appointed Graham Hope as its new director of customer and support services. Hope, currently the council's head of support services, will be responsible for customer service, housing and building services and support services.
STEPHEN White, professor of international politics at Glasgow University, has been awarded a fellowship by the Leverhulme Foundation for a large-scale research project on "managed democracy". The funding will allow him to undertake an extended analysis of regime change, especially in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, as well as falling turnout, political disengagement and the "quality of democracy".
NEWSBRITISH Council Scotland held a conference at Our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh on Tuesday, to discuss "Scotland's place in the world – the role of public diplomacy". Speakers included Linda Fabiani, the Europe minister, Christopher Merrill from Iowa University, and Jan Melissen of the Netherlands Institute of International Relations. Eddi Reader performed at the event.
RESEARCHERS in town and regional planning at Dundee University have been awarded £500,000 to lead a European-wide project to improve monitoring of homelessness and homeless policies across 20 member states. Bill Edgar and Barbara Illsley will receive their funding from the EU's director-general for employment and social affairs.
SOUTH Lanarkshire Council is organising a by-election in the Cambuslang East ward on 6 March, following the death of Councillor John Higgins. Nomination papers will be available from the council offices in Hamilton from Monday 28 January.
DUNDEE Contract Services is putting forward proposals to reduce its carbon emissions. Dundee City Council's housing and environment services committee will be asked on Monday to approve Dundee Contracts' next four-year plan. The proposals include: working with the Carbon Saving Trust to review its fleet of vehicles; efforts to maximise recycling; and plans to use water even more efficiently.
FORTH Construction – a forum funded by Scottish Enterprise and Communities Scotland, and hosted by Clackmannanshire Council – has welcomed its 150th member. AEL Civil Engineering has joined the Alloa-based forum, which is designed to support builders in the Forth Valley.
EVENTSTOM Fox, head of communications at the Scottish Prison Service, will be the guest speaker at the next Association for Scottish Public Affairs event on 4 February. His topic will be "Is Scotland ready for its next crisis?", during which he will talk about crisis management. The event begins at 6pm with a drinks reception at 9 Manor Place, Edinburgh. To book a seat, e-mail Secretary@ScottishPublicAffairs.org.uk
PROCUREMENT Advice and Support Services (PASS) and the Scottish Government are holding seminars entitled "Understanding EU Procurement – A Scottish Perspective". The first is in Glasgow on 13 March, the second is on 20 May in Edinburgh. The events are endorsed by the Society of Procurement Officers in Local Government. More details at www.scottishprocurement.eu
