Elected Member Briefing - Strategic Lead, Property Services

About this Briefing Note

Report by: Clare Mailer, Depute Chief Executive 

EMBN Number: 085b-25 

Date: 10 July 2025 

Subject: Strategic Lead - Property Services 

Details

Purpose

To advise elected members that Stephen Crawford, Strategic Lead - Property Services is intending to retire and to set out the recruitment process for the role. 

Briefing Information

Stephen has advised us of his intention to retire from his role as Strategic Lead - Property Services from October 2025. 

As you will be aware this is a key role in which Stephen has championed the way for our property strategy to be aligned to the Council's strategic priorities, while recognising the challenging financial situation the Council faces. 

To ensure that the transition period is as smooth as possible we will begin recruitment for the post of Strategic Lead - Property Services, from Friday 11 July 2025 via MyJobScotland. The post will be open to both internal and external candidates at the same time, in line with the approach taken previously to recruitment for both the Strategic Lead - Education and Learning, and the Strategic Lead - Economy, Development and Planning. 

In the lead-up to his retirement Stephen will undertake an assessment of how Property Services can best support the implementation of the key development and investments previously approved by Council, including PH2O at Thimblerow, the Pitlochry Property Asset Review outcomes, and more. 

We will take the opportunity to pay fuller tribute to Stephen's service closer to the time of his retirement, but in the meantime I am sure you will all join me in thanking him for the contribution he has made during his time with the Council.