Agenda item

(Chief Executive) To consider the attached report of the Head of Paid Service.

 

The Council is asked to note that Appendix 2 (advice from the Council’s appointed legal adviser on the new structure) will be circulated separately or tabled.

The Council considered a report from the Head of Paid Service regarding Directorate Restructuring.

 

The Directorate Restructure aimed to achieve the following:

 

(a)   make efficiency savings whilst protecting services to the public;

 

(b)  encourage cooperative working within and beyond the Council; and

 

(c)  embed an agreed set of values and behaviours into working practices.

 

Following a consultation process with staff and staff representatives, the proposals reduced the number of Director posts from 7 to 4 and the number of Assistant Director posts reduced from 18 to 16. There would be a salary increase for the Assistant Directors to account for their greater responsibilities.

 

The Head of Paid Service advised that the one-off costs of 371,400 associated with the proposed voluntary redundancies, meant the payback period for this new structure would be 12.6 months. The overall reduction in salary costs of top management would be £353,700.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(1)    That the revised Directorate Structure attached as Appendix 4 to these minutes reflecting the proposals recommended below be approved;

 

(2)    That the following posts be deleted from the establishment with effect from 1 April 2014, namely

 

·       Deputy Chief Executive,

·       Director of Corporate Support Services,

·       Director of Finance and ICT,

·       Director of Housing, and

·       Director of Planning and Economic Development;

 

(3)    That the post of Director of Environment & Street Scene be deleted from the establishment with effect from 1 June 2014;

 

(4)    That the post of Assistant to the Chief Executive be deleted from the establishment with effect from 15 June 2014;

 

(5)    That the termination of the employment of the Director of Planning and Economic Development on 31 March 2014, the Director of Environment & Street Scene on 31^st May 2014 and the Assistant to the Chief Executive on 15 June 2014 be agreed on the grounds of voluntary redundancy/early retirement, in accordance with the costs reported;

 

(6)    That four new Director posts be created with effect from 1 April 2014, namely;

 

·       Director of Communities,

·       Director of Governance (Solicitor to the Council & Monitoring Officer),

·       Director of Neighbourhoods (Deputy Chief Executive), and

·       Director of Resources (Chief Financial Officer /s151 Officer);

 

(7)    That the salary scale for the four new Director posts be agreed as reported;

 

(8)    That in accordance with  the views of the Restructuring Panel, the following appointments be agreed by Council with effect from the 1 April 2014,

 

·       Director of Communities,	A. Hall,
·       Director of Governance (Solicitor to the Council & Monitoring Officer)	C.O’Boyle,
·       Director of Neighbourhoods (Deputy Chief Executive)	D. Macnab,
·       Director of Resources (Chief Financial Officer /s151 Officer)	R. Palmer;

(9)    That the following posts be deleted from the establishment with effect from 1 April 2014, namely,

 

·        Assistant Director (Benefits),

·        Assistant Director (Revenues),

·        Assistant Director (Accountancy),

·        Assistant Director (ICT),

·        Assistant Director (Facilities Management & Emergency Planning),

·        Assistant Director (HR),

·        Assistant Director (Legal),

·        Assistant Director (Development Control),

·        Assistant Director (Forward Planning, Conservation & Policy),

·        Assistant Director (Building Control),

·        Assistant Director (Community & Culture),

·        Assistant Director (Housing Property),

·        Assistant Director (Housing Operations),

·        Assistant Director (Private Sector & Resources),

·        Assistant Director (Environmental and Neighbourhoods),

·        Assistant Director (Technical Services),

·        Assistant Director (Performance & Operations), and

·        Chief Internal Auditor;

 

(10)    That the post of Assistant Director (Democratic Services) be deleted from the establishment with effect from 15 June 2014;

 

(11)    That the termination of the employment of the Assistant Director (Facilities Management & Emergency Planning) on 31 March 2014 and the Assistant Director (Democratic Services) on 14 June 2014 be agreed on the grounds of voluntary redundancy/early retirement, in accordance with the costs reported;

 

(12)    That the following new  posts be created with effect from 1 April 2014,

 

·         Assistant Director (Human Resources),

·         Assistant Director (Benefits),

·         Assistant Director (Revenues),

·         Assistant Director (Accountancy),

·         Assistant Director (ICT & Facilities Management),

·         Assistant Director (Governance & Performance Management),

·         Assistant Director (Legal Services),

·         Assistant Director (Development Management),

·         Assistant Director (Neighbourhood Services),

·         Assistant Director (Technical Services),

·         Assistant Director (Forward Planning & Economic Development),

·         Assistant Director (Housing Property),

·         Assistant Director (Housing Operations),

·         Assistant Director (Private Sector Housing & Communities Support),

·         Assistant Director (Community Services) and

·         Chief Internal Auditor;

 

(13)    That in accordance with Council restructuring practice, the direct assimilation of current post holders into the new Assistant Director positions be agreed as follows;

 

Current Post Title	New Post Title	Name
Assistant Director (HR)	Assistant Director (HR)	P. Maginnis
Assistant Director (Benefits)	Assistant Director (Benefits)	J. Twinn
Assistant Director (Revenues)	Assistant Director (Revenues)	R. Pavey
Assistant Director (Accountancy)	Assistant Director (Accountancy)	P.Maddock
Assistant Director (Legal)	Assistant Director (Legal Services)	A Mitchell
Assistant Director (Development Control)	Assistant Director (Development Management)	N. Richardson
Assistant Director (Community & Culture)	Assistant Director (Community Services)	J. Chandler
Assistant Director (Housing Property)	Assistant Director (Housing Property)	P Pledger
Assistant Director (Housing Operations)	Assistant Director (Housing Operations)	R. Wilson
Assistant Director (Private Sector & Resources)	Assistant Director ( Private Sector Housing and Communities Support)	L.Swan
Assistant Director (Forward Planning, Conservation & Policy)	Assistant Director (Forward Planning & Economic Development)	K.Polyzoides
Assistant Director (Environmental & Neighbourhoods)	Assistant Director (Neighbourhood Services)	J. Nolan
Assistant Director (Technical Services)	Assistant Director (Technical Services)	Q. Durrani

 

(14)    That in accordance with Council restructuring practice, the direct assimilation of current post holder, B. Bassington, into the new Chief Internal Auditor position be agreed;

                                                                                               

(15)    That a temporary post of Assistant Director (Economic Development & Asset Management), for a fixed term of one year, reporting to the Director of Governance, be created with effect from 1 April 2014;

                                                                                              

(16)    That the appointment process for the temporary Assistant Director (Economic Development & Asset Management) be by internal advertisement in the first instance and be conducted by the Director of Governance (Solicitor to the Council & Monitoring Officer) as soon as practicable;

 

(17)    That the appointment process for the new Assistant Director (ICT & Facilities Management) be ring-fenced to the current holder of the post of Assistant Director (ICT) and conducted by the Director of Resources (Chief Financial Officer/s151 Officer) as soon as practicable;

 

(18)    That the appointment process for the new Assistant Director (Governance & Performance Management) be by internal advertisement in the first instance and conducted by the Director of Governance (Solicitor to the Council & Monitoring Officer) as soon as practicable;

 

(19)    That the salary scale for the new Assistant Director posts and the Chief Internal Auditor be agreed as reported, subject to job evaluation;

 

(20)    That the legal advice from Essex Legal Services as to the processes adopted be noted;

 

(21)    That the Chief Executive be designated as the Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer for Epping Forest District with effect from 15 June 2014;

                                                                                   

(22) That the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with fellow Directors, reports to Council , via the Constitution & Member Services Scrutiny Panel, reviewing all officer delegations prior to the implementation of the new structure on the 1 April 2014;

 

(23) That Members note the overall reduction in the costs of top management of £353,700 and that this provides a payback period of 12.6 months for the one-off costs of £371,400;

 

(24) That the necessary adjustments are made to the Continuing Services Budgets and District Development Fund for 2014/15.