Agenda item

To consider the report of the Chief Executive, (copy enclosed).

The Council considered the report of the Chief Executive (Head of Paid Service) setting out the findings of the organisational review undertaken by the Chief Executive and supported by the Local Government Association (LGA). The report detailed proposals for a new structure which aligned with the LGA Decision Making Approach (DMA) industry good practice.

Members were reminded that further outcomes of the review were set out in a report due to be considered by the Council at this meeting in private session.

The Chief Executive took Members through his report which provided detailed information regarding the Council’s current staffing structure from 2018 to date and how in response to concerns raised by Members he had sought, along with support from the LGA, to undertake a comprehensive review of the Council’s officer structure. He explained the importance of having the right structure and resources to ensure that the Council was achieving its ambitions, supporting Members and delivering on its corporate priorities. The Chief Executive outlined the key aims of the review which included addressing structural issues, reducing management layers, ensuring the Council was fit for purpose going forwards, improving efficiency, improved decision-making and accountability and getting the organisation well placed for any future Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).

Members noted that the LGA’s DMA approach had successfully been applied in over 400 organisations and focused on optimising factors such as spans of control and layers or tiers of management. Staff across all levels had contributed to the review with over half the workforce providing feedback.

The Chief Executive highlighted how the new structure outlined in the report aimed to remove any legacy complexity, address siloed workers and align with best practice standards. He then introduced Peta Newlin, Senior Advisor at the LGA.

Ms Newlin took Members through a presentation which set out the DMA, its methodology and approach which supported effective organisational design. She explained how the DMA was a robust, proven, framework used to help diagnose and design healthy management hierarchies. The DMA argued that only one layer of management was required for each level and the number of organisational levels were based on decision-making accountability. The presentation highlighted the context of the review, discussions that had taken place with Council staff and a summary of the DMA findings.

The Chairperson then moved the recommendation set out the report and this was duly seconded. He reminded Members that this report was to be received and requested that any detailed questions be raised under Agenda Item 8 – Management of Resources.

In response to a question regarding reference to hybrid working within the presentation, Members were advised that this related to the Council’s Working from Home Policy and ensuring consistency of application.

Responding to a query, Ms Newlin advised that the LGA was not suggesting any Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) as their report detailed recommendations to the Council. The Chief Executive clarified that there would be a monitoring process undertaken against the findings and he explained how the annual staff survey would also be used as a measure of the success.

Councillor W Stamp spoke regarding the previous transformations that had taken place and asked that her concern that the Council was going through another transformation be recorded. She also highlighted the cost of this Council, particularly the position it would be in 2027 / 28 and the need to ensure the views of staff were being considered.

At this point Councillor A S Fluker raised a Point of Order relating to the recommendations contained in the confidential report being in the public report. In response the Chairperson advised that he was satisfied that the Monitoring Officer had given assurance that the structure of the agenda was sound.

The Chairperson then moved the recommendation as set out in the report. Upon a vote being taken this was duly agreed. Councillors A S Fluker, U G C Siddall-Norman and W Stamp requested that their dissent be recorded.

RESOLVED that Members receive the engagement and findings of the Chief Executive and Local Government Association’s Decision-Making Approach organisational review.