Highland Council paid ex-education chief Nicky Grant £62k plus £19.8k unaccounted for, sparking transparency concerns.

Highland Council paid former education chief Nicky Grant £62,000 upon leaving her £105,000-a-year role, with an additional £19,871 unaccounted for in official records. The council said her position was “deleted” and the payout covered unused leave and notice, but other senior officers were reassigned, raising questions about consistency. Despite repeated requests, the council has not explained her departure or the unaccounted funds, citing privacy laws. Conservative leader Ruraidh Stewart criticized the lack of transparency, saying it undermines public trust and accountability under Scotland’s Best Value framework.