Staff shortages impact on Highland electoral team

Highland Council electoral staff are having to work overtime due to shortages in the workforce, according to a new report.

A meeting of Highland and Western Isles valuation joint board in October heard that a "perfect storm" of circumstances had left staff feeling stressed.

There were a total of 11 vacancies across the electoral and council department.

A new report updating Highland councillors said some progress had been made in recruitment, but seven posts in Inverness had still to be filled.

The department has about 60 staff covering the Highland and Western Isles local authority areas, with a combined population of more than 260,000.

The report said the vacancies had led to employees having to work overtime in order to meet deadlines on both electoral and valuation matters.

It also revealed a further upcoming vacancy, with the IT system manager for the Inverness office due to retire at the end of the year after 25 years of service.

Tight deadlines and competition from the private sector for staff were some of the reasons behind staff having to work overtime and vacancies, according to Inverness West Liberal Democrat councillor Alex Graham.

He said while progress had been made there was still a gap in staff numbers.

Mr Graham said: "The board's duties include seasonal items such as compiling the electoral roll, some overtime work is probably unavoidable for these - fixed deadlines can also result in staff overtime.

"The main office is in Inverness where there are many employers often competing for staff."

He added: "A review of posts is being carried out and hopefully further recruitment can be done in the new year which will fill some vacant posts."

Reporting by local democracy reporter Olivia Andrews.