Report of the Chief Executive attached
Minutes:
Further to Minute No. 46 of the Council meeting held on 22 September 2017, the Council considered a further report of the Chief Executive which provided details of the proposals for changes to be made to the Council’s Management Structure, including the expansion of shared services with Chorley Borough Council.
As a consequence of the resolution of Council in September 2017, several further joint party working groups and learning sessions had taken place. Members had requested clarity around costs and risk, and in particular the proposals for shared statutory officers with Chorley. Information had subsequently been provided to Members to clarify risk and with regard to the Shared service agenda, and they had been made aware of the work carried out by the Local Government Association on similar proposals. As a result of the consultation, a new organisational leadership model had been developed for the Council to consider within the report.
The report set out in detail the financial implications of the new structure and projected savings as a result of jointly appointing a number of shared directors with Chorley Council. This included the sharing of both the Council’s Section 151 Finance Officer and Monitoring Officer and formation of a Joint Member Panel which would recruit to joint posts at a senior level. The posts at tiers 3 and 4 would be appointed jointly by the Chief Executives at Chorley Council and this Council.
It was moved by Councillor Peter Mullineaux and seconded by Councillor Colin Clark:
That the recommendations set out in the report be approved.
During the debate, some Members of the Council indicated that although they still had some reservations about the proposals in the report, more clarity had been made on the general points of concern and they now felt reassured that the proposals should be moved forward to meet the current needs of this Council. The Leader of the Council was happy that an annual review be undertaken to ensure that the structure continued to be fit for purpose.
RESOLVED (For: 43, Against: 0, Abstention: 2):
That:
1) approval be given to the implementation of the proposed new management structure shown in paragraph 7.3 of the report and the amendment of the Council’s Pay Policy 2017/18 to reflect the proposals in paragraph 8.2 of the report;
2) the ambition to create a culture of continual improvement, growth and opportunity providing an environment where staff feel supported and proud to work be endorsed;
3) the Council continue to work to develop a close working relationship with Chorley Borough Council with the ultimate aim and joint ambition to develop full shared services serving two independent and sovereign councils;
4) approval be given to the creation of the following Senior Shared Services Officer posts:
· Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Resources and Transformation)
· Director of Legal and Democratic Services
· Assistant Director of Legal Services
· Director of Finance and Assurance Services
· Assistant Director of Finance and Assurance Services
· Director of Policy, HR and Communications
5) the new post of Director of Finance and Assurance Services (Shared Services) be designated as the Council’s Statutory Finance Officer, in accordance with Section 151 of the Local Government Act 1972;
6) the new post of the Director of Legal and Democratic Services (Shared Services) be designated as the Council’s Statutory Monitoring officer, in accordance with Section 5 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989;
7) Officers be requested to bring back a further paper to Council, which will set out detailed proposals for amended policies and procedures required to effectively implement the Shared Service programme and bring forward a revised Shared Service Agreement for further consideration;
8) approval be given to the appointments process for shared posts set out in the Shared Service Joint Committee Report (set out in Appendix 1 to the report). For Shared Chief Officers (Tier 2 and Statutory Officer posts) this would involve a Joint Member Panel been drawn equally from both Councils (Leader, Deputy Leader and Leader of the Opposition) and this process will run parallel to the points referred to in resolution 7 above.
9) the Chief Executive be granted delegated authority to implement the Council’s approved Redundancy Policy in accordance with the guidelines within the policy; and
10) substitute members be permitted to attend the Shared Services Joint Committee (one named substitute Member to be appointed, for each political group, at each Council).