Inverness business leaders welcome Highland Council CEO Derek Brown’s ‘invaluable’ openness as he says ‘I think dissent is a healthy thing in an organisation’

Highland Council chief executive has been praised as a “breath of fresh air” after more than 80 business leaders at a business breakfast hosted by the Inverness Chamber of Commerce.

Derek Brown’s presentation was credited for its pragmatic approach highlighting the sometimes stark problems known to all but also how he articulated potential solutions that are within reach.

He appears to prefer to be seen as an engaged technocrat who is more in the background than the foreground while insisting that he is “much happier delivering services”.

But he also revealed he is passionate about the job: “Fundamentally, what I'm bringing to Highland Council is an absolute burning focus on improving outcomes for people in the Highlands”.

‘You're only going to notice me, if something's gone wrong’

As the man in charge of Europe’s largest local authority area, he is clear that he would have his work cut out even if everything was rosy as he made the case for the essential importance of local government.

“Our health visitors are with you before you're born and our bereavement services literally will put you in the ground at the end of your life and then all the way through life, we are with you one way or another,” he said.

“You won't always like the services you get but I'm running such a multiplicity of services in a company of 10,000 people that you're only going to notice me, if something's gone wrong.”

‘I think dissent is a healthy thing in an organisation’

Mr Brown was crystal clear about the problems facing the Highlands from “92 schools rated poor or unsuitable” to depopulation but he was just as clear about the potential solutions.

He discussed the £2 billion Highland Investment Plan that aims to secure enough investment to remodel how the council operates for a generation or more while at the same time rebuilding dilapidated schools and roads.

He said: “So there is population decline and if we don't intervene the trends in depopulation, for the rural Highlands in particular, will continue so there's a moral responsibility placed on the council to intervene.

“What are the solutions – jobs, the economy, housing. You probably know what the solutions are, the question is how and that is the key thing” and that means working with the private sector.

‘What I don't want to do is create 24,000 second homes’

A major part of that is the attempt to build 24,000 new homes to accommodate the thousands of people who could end up working at the green freeport or on the tens of billions that are to be spent developing renewable energy infrastructure.

What was perhaps his best received comment going by the nodding heads in the room, Mr Brown said: “I used to be quite brash as I used to say things like I'm literally bothered who owns these houses.

“But in a way I really am bothered because what I don't want to do is create 24,000 second homes because that would be the death of the Highlands”.

Summing up his approach after joining the council, Mr Brown said: “You have to find a way to adapt to the circumstances that you are in, adapt, and you need to build trust.

“That starts internally – I have got over 10, 000 people working for the Highland Council and a plethora of services and a whole range of partners.

“So, how do you do that especially because internally and externally, you get people who don't like what you're doing, who maybe want to argue with what you're doing so it's about how you handle dissent.

“I think dissent is a healthy thing in an organisation”.

‘Breath of fresh air’

Colin Marr, CEO of the Inverness Chamber of Commerce certainly recognised that as a change of tone from a council which generally has often been seen as a touch defensive.

The chamber noted that following the event, businesses left feeling encouraged by his deep understanding of the challenges they face, his openness about both successes and difficulties, and his genuine willingness to engage.

Attendees described Derek’s approach as “a breath of fresh air” and appreciated his willingness to frame the Council in business terms, frequently referring to it as “the company.”

Mr Marr said: “Collaboration is key to driving growth and prosperity in the Highlands, and the business breakfast was a fantastic example of that in action.

“Over the last few months, I’ve been struck by how willing Derek is to engage with Inverness Chamber and the business community in general. While we won’t always agree, Derek’s openness to discussion and willingness to listen to business concerns is invaluable.”

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