Decision details

This report will consider proposals for the reorganisation of the Council's organisational structure.

67/2005 The Cabinet agreed to endorse the principle of undertaking a reorganisation of the Council in the light of the Children Act 2004 and the requirement to make budget savings and supported the proposals in Appendix 2 as the basis of consultation with the addition of:
· 2 service manager posts in the Children's Care division of the Children's Services directorate
· The division of Social Regeneration and European Affairs from the Economic Development service manager post (creating an additional service manager post)
· The combination of Trading Standards and Community Safety and Emergency Planning.

68/2005 The Cabinet agreed that the new structure should comprise four directorates: Children's, Community Services, Regeneration and Development and Finance and Corporate Services.
69/2005 The Cabinet agreed that the new structure should be finalised in the context of reducing employee costs by at least £750,000 per annum.
70/2005 The Cabinet agreed to the appointment of the directors of the new structure, including a Director of Children's Services designate, prior to the second stage of consultation on detail.
71/2005 The Cabinet agreed to require the existing Directors of Education and Leisure and Health and Community Services to co-operate in the setting up of integrated children's services for the period of 2005/2006.
72/2005 The Cabinet agreed that the Assistant Director Service Development post in Community Services be kept under review on the same basis as the rest of the new structure rather than following the result of the Stock Options Appraisal.

These proposals reflect a considered response to the new responsibilities the Children Act 2004 places upon the Council and also the need to make staff savings as agreed by the Council in the 2004/2005 revenue budget.