Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the meeting held on 11 May 2016

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 11 May 2016 be approved as correct records. 

Items which in the opinion of the Chairman should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.

There was no item raised as a matter of urgency.

Chief Executive to report [Report to be circulated when available].

The Committee considered the Report of the Chief Executive (CX/16/21), circulated prior to the meeting in accordance with Regulation 7(4) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, on proposed changes to the Council’s Senior Management/Organisational Structure consequent upon recent staff departures and revised operating methods and accountability for service outcomes.

The Report outlined the current senior management structure introduced in May 2011 and the changes now proposed: reflecting the Council’s revised approach to organisational change over the coming years which would require a fundamental appraisal of what the Council did and how it worked, operating within a systems-based approach, while allowing for a clear focus on the Council’s main service accountabilities – Adults Services, Children’s Services and Highways – with ‘place shaping’ and universal population services in a new Community Health, Environment and Prosperity portfolio.

In summary it was proposed that, in place of existing Strategic Directors, there would be four Chief Officer roles covering:

·         Chief Officer for Adult Health and Care (responsible for Adult Social Care and services integrated with Health);

·         Chief Officer for Children’s Services (responsible for education, including Early Years, Children’s Social Care and Early Help Services);

·         Chief Officer for Community Health, Environment & Prosperity (responsible for Public Health, Economic Development, Trading Standards, Post-16 Education and Skills, Transportation, Strategic Planning, Environment, Flood Protection, Working with Communities, Youth and Library Services Commissioning, Community Resilience, Research and Intelligence and Performance Management);

·         Chief Officer for Highways and Capital Development

with ‘Corporate Services’ senior posts reporting, as now, to the Chief Executive namely:

·         County Treasurer (Section 151 Officer) (responsibilities unchanged);

·         County Solicitor  (Monitoring Officer) (responsibilities unchanged);

·         Head of Digital Transformation and Business Support (change in nomenclature to reflect the importance of Digital Strategy in supporting organisational change);

·         Head of Organisational Development (responsible for business planning and the  HR function), and

and Heads of Service posts in Adult Health and Care, Children’s Services and Community Health, Environment and Prosperity reporting to the aforementioned Chief Officer posts, set out in Appendix II to Report CX/16/21.

Members acknowledged the reasoning behind the proposals which were broadly welcomed, noting also, and subject to the following, that the proposals did not suggest significant changes to the roles and remits of other Senior Officers  and Heads of Service, where current post holders would in the main remain in situ with their current portfolio, albeit with some minor changes of responsibilities and job titles as set out Appendix II to Report CX/16/21 (attached) and with the existing Head of Communities be re-designated as the Head of Organisational Development.

Members also noted that the proposed structure had been the subject of extensive informal discussions with affected staff and Staff Side/Employee representatives. Should the proposals now submitted be endorsed, a period of consultation would follow with a view to a further report being made to this Committee for determination of detailed proposals and processes during September/October (and by the County Council as required) and the new leadership arrangements  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.