The Chief Executive sought approval to amend the senior management structure and to commence formal consultation with relevant JNC officers on the proposed structure.

He informed Council that a new pay and grading structure was approved in November 2017, whereby additional tiers were added to the existing pay scale, to provide more flexibility in the structure to meet future challenges and to more ably respond to market forces and improve recruitment and retention.  Council in February 2018, approved various changes to the JNC senior management structure which included the deletion of the Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development, the reduction of a Head of Service post in the Communities Directorate, and the deletion of the former Corporate Director in the Operational and Partnerships Directorate.  The changes resulted in a revised management structure in the Communities in a revised management structure in the Communities Directorate and the creation of the Chief Executive’s Directorate. 

The Chief Executive reported that further changes to the senior management team have taken place with the departure of the previous Chief Executive in December 2018 and the appointment of the previous Corporate Director Communities to the Chief Executive position, initially on an interim basis in January 2019 and permanently in May 2019.  He stated that this has meant that during this period, interim arrangements have prevailed in terms of the management of the Communities Directorate and for the Head of Finance and Performance (and Section 151 Officer).  Interim arrangements have ensured that services have continued to run satisfactorily during this time, it was clear that they are not sustainable in the long term and that permanent arrangements are required to ensure the Council has the capacity and resilience to meet the numerous challenges it faces moving forward, including substantial budgetary reductions and a significant change agenda to help ensure that public services can be sustained and are fit for purpose.  He informed Council that in order to achieve stability in the Communities Directorate, a recruitment process for the position of Corporate Director, will be undertaken in accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (Wales) Regulations 2006 (as amended).

He reported on a proposal that the current Head of Finance and Performance (and section 151 officer) post, which is currently vacant, is re-designated to that of Chief Officer Finance, Performance and Change.  The post will continue to report directly to the Chief Executive as part of the Chief Executive’s Directorate and will assume additional responsibility for aligning the Council’s financial resources with its corporate change programme.  He stated that the Council has a statutory obligation to have a nominated Section 151 Officer and an appointment to this post was essential.  He informed Council of the proposal that the salary range for the role of Chief Officer Finance, Performance and Change be £91,121 to £97,469.  The role will encompass responsibility for the current Head of Partnerships, which includes, IT, digital transformation, programme management and customer services.

He also reported on a proposal that following a review of Human Resources and Organisational Development, that this service report to the Head of Legal and Regulatory Services, and consequently this post be re-designated Chief Officer Legal, Human Resources and Regulatory Services.  There was no change in the grading of this post and it would continue to report directly to the Chief Executive as part of the Chief Executive’s Directorate.  In accordance with section 143A of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011, Councils are required to seek views from the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (IRPW) on changes to chief officer salaries.  The IRPW in which IRPW will consider the proposals at their next meeting on 25 October 2019.

RESOLVED:           That Council:

1)     Approved the proposal to redesignate the existing Head of Finance and Performance to Chief Officer Finance, Performance and Change;

2)     Authorised the Chief Executive to commence a formal consultation with relevant JNC officers in the Chief Executive’s Directorate;

Authorised the Chief Executive to determine the final structure and appoint to it in accordance with the Council’s procedures for recruitment of JNC Officers.