THE new head of Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) has pledged to put claims of bullying and in-fighting in the charity’s past after a shake-up of the way it is run.
Rory Mair CBE, former chief executive of local government body Cosla, was elected unopposed to chair the consumer watchdog yesterday.
His appointment follows a damning governance review published last August which led to the departure of predecessor Dominic Notarangelo. The independent probe had painted a picture of an organisation riven with “dysfunctional dynamics”, with board meetings characterised by tension and raised voices, while some trustees had told authors, Deloitte, of bullying.
The organisation, which supports the network of 61 independent Citizens Advice Bureaux (CABs) across Scotland, has been troubled for years, with a litany of chief executives departing since 2009.
One of the last last, Margaret Lynch was suspended and later sacked, before agreeing an undisclosed settlement with the charity in December.
Mr Mair said CAS was implementing the 32 recommendations of the report, including the election of a “strong” new board with a split between internal and external trustees.
“I did not come into this to sort out a mess, I came because the organisation has done the right thing, and is now looking to push itself forward,” he said.
“There were tensions, but CAS recognised that, got external advice and implemented what it was asked to do. We want to be in a position where words like bullying are no longer used.”
Mr Mair said his experience of 13 years as Cosla chief executive, as well as senior roles in Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Fife Council, would stand him in good stead.
“I think some of the tensions of the past are similar to those I experienced in the Cosla role with a national role supporting very independent local organisations,” he said.
CAS should make it easier for local CABs to do their jobs and move forward together, he added.
He said: “People should be passionate about what they are doing and if we disagree that is OK. If it becomes destructive that is not OK.
“We should talk about that, but not through the press or through interdicts.”
Mr Mair said he believes the Citizens Advice “brand” remains strong, with surveys showing that 99 per cent of clients would recommend them. Funders have been less impressed with the Scottish and UK Governments at one stage threatening to withhold funding for CAS.
“Our funding for the next year is secure, that suggests funders are willing to give The achievements of the volunteers who provide advice to 300,000 Scots a year should be recognised, he said.
“We should celebrate the fact that at the heart of this movement are people doing the right thing by their fellow citizens, supporting them in meaningful ways,” he said.
Agnes Robson, who had been acting chair , welcomed Mr Mair’s appointment.
“He is the ideal person to take forward citizens advice in Scotland at a time when people more than ever need the impartial advice and advocacy provided by the service.”
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