New director of housing appointed for South Lanarkshire

Mar 11 2010

THE man who will head South Lanarkshire’s housing department for the next five years has been ‘appointed from within’.

Lindsay Freeland, currently housing’s head of area services, will take over from Jim Hayton at the beginning of next month.

Mr Hayton is about to reach the end of his five-year contract as director and announced in January his intention to leave the authority.

Mr Freeland (50) was the only internal applicant among the 19 who applied for the plum post, which pays between £117,176 and £120,516.

He was one of three candidates short-leeted for the job and was appointed after facing a recruitment panel chaired by council leader Eddie McAvoy

Auditors last year criticised the council’s recruitment procedures, expressing concern at the number of top council posts filled by internal applicants.

However, Councillor McAvoy described Mr Freeland as an excellent official and the applicant best suited to the vital job of director of housing.

Councillor McAvoy added: “We had external applications from some people who had either not worked in local authorities before, or who had worked for a council but not in housing.

“All those on the short leet had a local government background and Lindsay was the best.

“He has a lot of experience and knows the system.

“One of his main tasks will be to come up with a programme that, by 2015, will bring all our housing up to the quality standards demanded by the Housing Regulator.

“And this will have to be done at a time when money is tight.”

Mr Freeland, who was born in Baillieston and was a pupil at Airdrie Academy, has served as head of area services for five years.

Part of his remit in that job was the HomeHappening kitchen and bathroom replacement programme.

HomeHappening is due for completion in 2012.

As executive director, he will preside over a staff of 2000 and his responsibilities will cover provision for the homeless and housing allocation policy.

Mr Freeland joined South Lanarkshire Council in 1995, having previously served as deputy director of housing with Cunninghame District Council.

He said: “I would like to wish Jim all the best in his retirement and congratulate him on everything he has achieved over the last five years.

“During that time I have worked closely with him and have learned a great deal from his extensive knowledge of public-sector housing.

“I hope to add that to my own experience gained both during and before my time in South Lanarkshire to enable me to build on our deserved reputation for innovation and delivery of first-class services and take the housing department forward to further successes.”