Issue - meetings

To consider the report.

Contact: Deborah Lucas, Head of People’s Services

1)      That the update from the Strategic Director for Strategy, Commissioning and Public Health on senior management changes be received and noted.

2)      That approval be given to establish the post of Service Director – Customer and Communities, and that the structure of Service Directors therefore be increased by one full-time equivalent.

3)      That, pursuant to (2) above, a Member Appointment Panel be convened on a 3:1:1 ratio to recruit to the post of Service Director for Customer and Communities.

4)      That the reconfiguration of Service Director roles within Adults, Housing and Health Directorate, to include the post of Service Director for Learning Disabilities and Mental Health, be noted.

5)      That, pursuant to (4) above, a Member Appointment Panel be convened on a 3:1:1 ratio to recruit to the post of Service Director for Learning Disabilities and Mental Health.

6)      That approval be given to the extension of contracts for the part-time posts of Service Directors in the Adults and Health Directorate in order to ensure the provision of adequate capacity during the transitional period.

The Committee received an update on recent changes to the senior management structure within the Council. The report advised that (i) an appointment had been made to the post of Service Director for Innovation and Strategy in May 2019 (ii) the post of Service Director for Environment was currently subject to advertisement and that an interim Service Director had been appointed to oversee the role (iii) it was proposed that two part-time Service Director posts be reconfigured into a single new Service Director role focussed upon mental health and learning disabilities, and that a new Head of Service for regulated in-house care services be created and (iv) it was proposed that a new full-time post of Service Director for Customers and Communities would be created, to replacing an existing part-time Service Director role.

The report advised that the changes and proposals reflected upon the recommendations arising from the peer challenge in relation to increased leadership capacity, building on the community plus model, and creating an environment which would best facilitate collaborative working.

The Committee were also informed that responsibility for Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing would be transferred to the Strategic Director for Adults and Health, in order to allow the Strategic Director for Economy and Infrastructure to focus upon other priority areas, and that the Directorate would be designated as ‘Adults, Housing and Health’.

A senior management structure chart, setting out the proposed changes and amendments, was attached at Appendix 1 of the considered report.

The Committee discussed the proposed restructuring and the rationale for the changes to the existing structure. It was agreed that the proposals be progressed in support of creating a long term structure which is fit for purpose.

RESOLVED –

1)    That the update from the Strategic Director for Strategy, Commissioning and Public Health on senior management changes be received and noted.

2)    That approval be given to establish the post of Service Director – Customer and Communities, and that the structure of Service Directors therefore be increased by one full-time equivalent.

3)    That, pursuant to (2) above, a Member Appointment Panel be convened on a 3:1:1 ratio to recruit to the post of Service Director for Customer and Communities.

4)    That the reconfiguration of Service Director roles within Adults, Housing and Health Directorate, to include the post of Service Director for Learning Disabilities and Mental Health, be noted.

5)    That, pursuant to (4) above, a Member Appointment Panel be convened on a 3:1:1 ratio to recruit to the post of Service Director for Learning Disabilities and Mental Health.

6)    That approval be given to the extension of contracts for the part-time posts of Service Directors in the Adults and Health Directorate in order to ensure the provision of adequate capacity during the transitional period.