Issue - meetings

This report proposes changes to the corporate management team structure, seeking approval by Council, following consideration by Cabinet on 14 January 2020.

Discussion:

This report provided details of proposed changes to the corporate management team structure following consideration by Cabinet on 14 January 2020.

In particular, this related to the Children and Adults Directorate by deleting the post of Deputy Director Children and Adult Services, and creating two new Assistant Director roles, namely Assistant Director Children’s Services and Assistant Director Schools and SEND and in Regeneration, Culture, Environment and Transformation by deleting the post of Assistant Director Transformation and moving responsibilities currently undertaken by this role to other members of the Corporate Management Team.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Jarrett, supported by the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services, Councillor Mrs Josie Iles, proposed the recommendations set out in the report.

Decision:

a)    The Council approved the proposed changes to the Council’s Corporate Management team structure as detailed in paragraphs 3 and 4 and Appendices A and B to the report with effect from 17 February 2020.

b)    The Council approved the budget transfer between RCET and the Business Support department, to reflect the movement and reallocation of functions as explained in the report.

c)    The Council approved the changes to the Employee Scheme of Delegation (Part 4, Chapter 3 of the Constitution) as set out in AppendixC to the report, noting that the Leader of the Council will agree any changes to delegations relating to executive functions with effect from 17 February 2020.

d)    The Council approved the changes to Article 11 - Employees (Chapter 2 of the Constitution) as set out in Appendix D to the report and the Management Structure (Chapter 7 of the Constitution) as set out in Appendix E to the report with effect from 17 February 2020.

Background:

This report set out details of proposed changes to the corporate management team structure, this included:

·         Deletion of the post of Deputy Director Children and Adult Services, and creation of two new Assistant Director roles, namely Assistant Director Children’s Services and Assistant Director Education; and

·         Deletion of the post of Assistant Director Transformation, moving responsibilities currently undertaken by this role to other members of the corporate management team in the Regeneration, Culture, Environment and Transformation (RCET) Directorate, and the Business Support Department (BSD).

Full details of the proposed changes were set out in sections 3 and 4 of the report respectively. The report noted that given the rapid changes that had occurred in the sector in recent years, the need to support service improvement areas such as Children’s Social Care and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and to address the existing and future financial challenges, it was imperative that the Council’s operations, structure and activities were continually reviewed to strive for increased efficiencies and revenue savings. 

Reasons:

It is necessary to strengthen the senior leadership and management within the Children and Adults Directorate to improve services to Medway’s vulnerable children and families, and to do this with urgency and at pace. It is also important to review and change the organisation’s senior management structure, as and when opportunities for service improvement and revenue savings occur.