PAPER B1
Purpose
: For Decision
Committee : EXECUTIVE
Date : 22
OCTOBER 2002
Title : REORGANISATION
OF COUNCIL'S MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE AND RETIREMENT OF STRATEGIC DIRECTOR OF
FINANCE AND INFORMATION AND COUNTY TREASURER
REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR RESOURCES
INTRODUCTION
The Strategic Director of
Finance and Information and County Treasurer has indicated that he is prepared
to retire early on 31 March 2003 provided mutually satisfactory terms can
be agreed.
This report proposes a
reorganisation of the Council’s service delivery structure as a consequence of
the early retirement of the Strategic Director.
The Appendix to this report
contains exempt information in that it is likely to disclose information
relating to a particular employee under the terms of Paragraph 2 of Part 1
of Schedule 12A Local Government Act 1972.
SUMMARY/PURPOSE
Members will be aware that the
current management structure comprises four Directorates; Education and
Community Development, Social Services and Housing, Corporate and Environment
Services; and Finance and Information, plus the Fire and Rescue Service.
Whilst the four Strategic
Directors are considered Corporate Managers, two have the resources/central
support services backgrounds. With the wider range of duties and
responsibilities and increasing requirements of Central Government, and of this
Council in pursuing its corporate objectives and delivering a Community
Strategy and the Corporate Plan, it is suggested that a Strategic Director with
a technical background in the natural and built environment would substantially
enhance the ability of the Council to meet the local and national agenda.
The weaknesses in service
delivery in this area were recognised by the Council in its recent self
assessment. The Council has made
substantial improvements in the operational delivery of, for example, the
highways service. The need is now to
reflect the change of priorities in the most senior management tier.
The recommendation will bring
together the management of the resources of the Council, alongside the legal,
Member support, corporate policy and communications functions frequently
associated with the corporate centre.
This Director will provide a powerful driver for organisational development
over the next few years as well as being a substantial and coherent resource
for the continual improvement of service delivery.
The Directorates of Education
and Community Development, Social Services and Housing, and the Fire and Rescue
Service remain unaltered. It is,
however, anticipated that service delivery in these Directorates will be
enhanced by the strengthening of the Strategic Management Team and the
rationalisation of the provision of Corporate and Environment Services.
The proposal in this report
does not necessitate any operational changes.
It is concerned with improving the skills mix at a strategic management
level and to reflect that change by reorganising whole service units. The current and proposed service delivery
streams and line management responsibilities with effect from November 2002 are
set out in the schedule at Appendix 1.
These changes can flow from
the retirement of the Strategic Director of Finance and Information and County
Treasurer. The post-holder has indicated that he is prepared to retire early on
31 March 2003, providing mutually satisfactory terms can be agreed.
One significant change which
the proposal will bring about is the move of the statutory duties of the Chief
Financial Officer (frequently known as Section 151 responsibilities) to be
discharged by the Head of Finance and Business Services, reporting to the
Strategic Director for Corporate Services.
This is not an unusual arrangement.
It is suggested that the
opportunity of the restructure be used to add an explicit reference to Economic
Development, European and Regional Issues within the Corporate Policy and
Communications Service. This reflects
existing arrangements but clarifies the presentation of the structure.
OUTCOME OF CONSULTATIONS
Consultation has been
undertaken with the District Auditor (who has raised no objections to the
proposal) and with affected post-holders, directly affected by the proposal.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
The cost of reorganising the
senior management structure will be minimal and contained within existing
budgets as set out in the confidential appendix.
LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
The organisation of strategic
and operational managerial and service delivery structures are a matter for the
Council to determine and there are no legal issues which arise.
S112 Local Government Act 1972
requires the appointment of such staff, on reasonable terms and conditions, as
are necessary to discharge its functions.
EVALUATION AND RISK MANAGEMENT
The recommendations seek to
further develop the ability of the Council to deliver improving services and
achieve corporate objectives. There are
no significant identifiable risks that this purpose will not be achieved or
that any other policy or objective of the Council will be inhibited.
Any reorganisation has the
potential to be disruptive for staff and service users. The recommendations propose movement of
whole services within the strategic management tier. This will have minimal effect on staff and on service delivery,
which will be managed by ensuring staff are informed about the changes as they
are implemented.
Option
(i) does not remain if option (ii) is not approved and option (iii) is not
acceptable to the post holder.
OPTIONS
The Executive may :
(i)
Recommend
to the Full Council the early retirement of the Strategic Director of Finance
and Information and County Treasurer on the grounds of the efficiency of the
service.
(ii)
Recommend
to the Full Council that the period of added days of additional service as set
out in the appendix is added under the compensatory added years regime.
(iii)
Recommend
to the Full Council that some other period of added years, or none, are
granted.
(iv)
Recommend
to the Full Council to approve the revised management structure, subject to
approval by Full Council of the necessary voluntary early retirement and the
appointment of a Strategic Director of Environment Services.
(v)
Maintain
the existing management structure and/or current post-holders.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Approve
options (i), (ii) and (iv)
BACKGROUND PAPERS
None.
Contact Point : Max Burton,
Head of Personnel and Training Services F 823121
|
M J A FISHER Head of Paid Service |
R R BARRY Portfolio Holder for
Resources |