Issue - meetings

Confidential report by Baroness Scott of Bybrook OBE, Leader of the Council

The Leader presented the report which sought Cabinet’s approval to take steps to make changes to the senior management structure of the council at tier 1 following discussion with the current corporate directors to ensure the necessary strategic capacity is in place to deliver a proposed new business plan for 2017-2027.

Following a short debate, the meeting;

Resolved

1.    To approve the proposed changes to the structure of the council at the top tier (corporate director) and as outlined in appendix 1 and paragraphs 10 & 11, on the understanding that the alignment of services below that level will be determined by corporate directors following discussion and agreement with the head of paid service, and after consultation with the Leader and Cabinet.

2.    To recommend that Full Council approves the proposed changes to the designation of the statutory roles outlined in paragraphs 14 – 22. 48.

3.    To note that:

I.              Initial consultation on proposals to implement a new structure will start week immediately.

II.            Once a new structure is confirmed following consultation, that steps to redeploy the current corporate directors into posts in the new structure will take place.

III.           Mrs Carolyn Godfrey, corporate director, has outlined her intention to retire from the council in October 2017. As a result she be redeployed into an interim corporate director role as part of the redeployment process while steps to recruit to the corporate director roles for adult care & public health (DASS) and corporate director children & education (DCS) take place. Mrs Godfrey will remain in this interim role until October 2017 while recruitment to these roles takes place.

IV.           Steps to advertise the vacant posts will be taken following completion of the redeployment process and, with the exception of the joint post with the CCG, the vacancies will be advertised internally only in the first instance, in line with the council’s recruitment & selection policy and procedure, following which an external recruitment exercise will take place if there are no suitable internal candidates.

V.            In the case of the joint corporate director for adult care & health this post will be advertised externally in line with NHS requirements. The appointment will be done jointly with the CCG governing body in line with the relevant policies, procedures and constitutional requirements, and an agreement will need to be developed to provide a governance framework for such a working arrangement.

VI.           It will be the responsibility of the Head of Paid Service to work with the Leader, Cabinet and Corporate Directors on all aspects of the statutory responsibilities of the role.

VII.         A further report to Cabinet in the autumn will provide an update on the progress of a re-structure at tier 2 to align services with the new tier 1 senior management structure and proposed new business plan for 2017 – 2027.

Reason for Decision:

The continued reduction in funding from central government, and the increasing demands that we face for our key frontline services, means that a new business plan for 2017 – 2027  ...  view the full minutes text for item 88