Agenda item

To receive a report from the Director - HR & OD.

The Chairman invited Cllr Ashley O’Neill, Cabinet Member for Governance, IT, Broadband, Digital and Staffing, to introduce a report regarding the designation of statutory roles following changes to the senior management structure at the council. He moved the recommendations as set out in the agenda, which were seconded by Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of the Council.

Cllr O’Neill noted that the appointment of the new Chief Executive, Lucy Townsend, had created a vacancy in the role of Corporate Director, People. An interim appointment was made for a Corporate Director for Children and Education to partially replace the role of Corporate Director People. He explained that the Chief Executive had used emergency powers to designate the statutory role of Director of Children’s Services to that role and was also intending to appoint a Corporate Director for Care and Wellbeing. He asked that Council agree to abolish the role of Corporate Director, People, approve the new role of Corporate Director for Care and Wellbeing and to note the creation of the new Corporate Director for Children and Education post. The Corporate Director Resources would also lose the designation of Deputy Chief Executive.

He reported that the Chief Executive felt that the changes would increase the ability of the council to deliver preventative measures and improve outcomes for residents. The budgetary implications of the change in roles was outlined.

Group Leaders then had the opportunity to comment on the proposals.

Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of the Council, stated that the saw the creation of the additional post as a sensible move given the high proportion of the council’s budget that was spent on caring for vulnerable adults. Given that resources supported the delivery of other services he also felt it was appropriate for this to be a corporate director role. He explained that the management structure was a matter for the Chief Executive but was done in close consultation with political leaders at the council.

Cllr Gordon King, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, endorsed the changes, which he felt reflected the priorities of the council.

The Chairman then opened the item for debate. There being no comments received, it was then,

Resolved

That Council:

1)    Approves the deletion of the post of Corporate Director People;

2)    Approves the creation of the new post of Corporate Director Care & Wellbeing;

3)    Note and ratify the designation of statutory role of Director of Children’s Services (DCS) to the new position of Corporate Director, Children and Education;

4)    Note that other designated statutory roles are unchanged as a result of the restructure and remain with existing posts:

a)    Head of Paid Service, Returning Officer (RO) and Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) with the post of Chief Executive

b)   Section 151 with the post of Director – Finance and Procurement

c)    Director of Adult Services (DASS) with the post of Director – Adult Social Care

d)   Director of Public Health (DPH) with the post of Director – Public Health

e)    Monitoring Officer with the post of Director - Legal and Governance

The Chairman adjourned the meeting at approximately 12:50pm until 1.30pm.