COSLA President Councillor Shona Morrison said:  “I would like to extend my congratulations to Heather Woodbridge on becoming the new Leader of Orkney Islands Council (OIC). Not only is she one of the youngest Council Leaders in Scotland, she is the first female OIC Leader, almost 50 years after the first OIC was elected.

“Heather sits on COSLA’s Barriers to Elected Office Group where she is a valued member and contributes significantly on issues like Councillors safety and has views on being a young woman in a rural ward. It is good to see her breaking down the barriers further and I wish her well in her new role and look forward to working with her starting at COSLA Leaders meeting on Friday.”