Issue - meetings

The Chief Executive thanked Members for the opportunity to explain the new leadership team proposals currently undergoing consultation.  She explained that it was important that the people affected by any restructure, were advised first.  Those affected had now been advised and all staff had been emailed and two staff briefings had also taken place.

The Chief Executive explained that the current structure and meetings schedule was “top heavy” and that the proposed new approach was “flatter” and moved away from a directorate approach, towards a single leadership team, with a decrease of full time equivalents (FTEs) at Senior Management Group level from 16 to 12. 

The Chief Executive explained the key changes and the rationale behind the new Head of Service (HOS) roles adding that there would be no line management between HOS and Directors.  HOS would have autonomy, responsibility and accountability to run their service areas, allowing Directors to concentrate on driving forward corporate priorities and large projects, such as the Old River Lane development.  However, Directors and the Chief Executive would each mentor three HOS, ensuring that they had the support mechanisms in place to operate effectively. 

The Chief Executive explained that the Director vacancy would not be advertised until the consultation period had ended on 3 February 2016. 

Councillor P Ruffles questioned whether the Council had experience of working this model or whether the Chief Executive had seen it work in other councils.  The Chief Executive explained that she had worked in an organisation where this management structure had been in place and was confident in the proposed structure, with HOS having responsibility and autonomy. She referred to other large issues which would impact on the Council in the future, such as devolution, housing and the need for Local Government to shape itself and work more with its external partners.  The Chairman referred to the Council’s Director of Transformation during the Changing the Way We Work process. 

The Chief Executive explained that the restructure had been shared with some external partners, such as those in shared services and at the end of the consultation period, any comments received would be considered.  She explained that if any substantive changes were made as a

 result of the consultation, they would be discussed with the Executive.

Councillor S Bull expressed concern regarding the 25% reduction in SMG posts.  The Chief Executive said that for a council the size of East Herts, the organisation was top heavy in terms of its SMG posts and that she had aimed to put services together which made sense from a resident viewpoint, e.g. a new Head of Housing, Health and Community Safety.

In response to a query from Councillor I Devonshire regarding the savings to be achieved by a reduction from 16 to 12 and whether projects such as the Old River Lane would necessitate being managed by the creation of a team, the Chief Executive explained that there would be broadly, a saving of around £200,000 from the restructure.  She further stated that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 508