Issue - meetings

Report of the Chief Executive – Report to follow

The Chief Executive reported that the changes proposed in the report were necessary in order to improve focus and clarity within the Council structure, without initiating wholesale changes which would only begin to be implemented in the run up to the next council election. These proposals would enable the Director of Corporate Resources to focus on finance issues and would create additional capacity for the review of strategy, performance and planning at a corporate level. A secondment from Government was felt to be beneficial as an effective way for the Council to liaise with Government, and a number of potential secondees and preferred candidate had been identified. This interim arrangement would be followed by a number of further reviews, and the Committee would be advised as these progressed.

In response to a question from the Committee regarding costs, Mr Walkley gave an assurance that he would deliver a year on year reduction in management costs, and that current work was around identifying how this would be achieved. With regards to the elections in 2014, it was reported that it would not be feasible to implement major changes to structure when there was a chance that there may be changes to the administration of the Council. Proposals would be brought forward in autumn 2014, to be implemented at the earliest opportunity, following any necessary consultation.

The Committee asked about the proposal to create a Deputy Director post within Place and Sustainability, and it was confirmed that the intention was to recruit to this post from within the existing management team, with some redistribution of existing workloads. With regards to safeguards regarding the best candidate being appointed, it was confirmed that all candidates would currently be working within the Civil Service at a minimum of Director level, any appointment would need to be approved by the Leader and that a formal secondment agreement would be drawn up, including references.

In seeking the Committee’s approval for the proposals, Mr Walkley believed that there was an urgent need to increase capacity at a strategic level, and that a secondment from the Civil Service would offer the appropriate expertise and value for money. It was reported that appraisal targets for the new post would be published so that Members could monitor performance.

RESOLVED

i)             That the implementation of the proposals set out in the report as from 1 February 2013 be agreed.

ii)            That the creation of a temporary Director of Strategy and Performance post to be filled on a secondment basis be agreed.

iii)           That the creation of a temporary Deputy Director of Place and Sustainability post to be appointed from amongst the existing management team be agreed.