Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interests in the items under consideration and in doing so state:

(1) the type of interest concerned; and

(2) the nature of the interest concerned

If any member requires advice on declarations of interests, they are advised to contact the Head of Democratic Governance in advance of the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest from members of the Committee.  It was noted that the Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive would leave the meeting before any matters relating to their grading were discussed.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 25 February 2015 as a true and correct record.

The Committee agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on 25 February 2015 be signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To present to the Committee proposals for a review of the Council’s senior management arrangements.

Members were aware that at the last meeting of the Committee, proposals had been agreed for the Hay Group to undertake a review of the senior management structure, following a series of changes that had taken place over the previous year.

Mr Jack, Chief Executive reported that the work had been undertaken by the Hay Group and that he proposed a new structure, the main points of which were:

·         A new post of Deputy Director of People – Children’s Social Care and Early Help which would manage the recently combined Early Help service and social care service and which had been evaluated by the Hay Group as falling with the Chief Officer structure

·         The permanent deletion of the Assistant Chief Executive of Built Environment following the secondment of the former postholder to Blackpool Coasting Housing Limited

·         Proposals to consult on the removal of the post of Deputy Director of People – Education, in light of the changes to the education landscape including the conversion of many schools to academies and working with schools on a new approach to interaction between the schools and the Council.

The Committee received a draft updated senior officer structure and Mr Jack highlighted that the proposed pay bands took into account the need to be affordable and contribute towards savings, while allowing the Council to attract and retain individuals with the organisational talent to achieve the Council’s aims.   He also referred to the need for the positions of Director of People and Deputy Director of People (Children’s Social Care and Early Help), to have a market supplement applied as these roles attracted higher than normal market values.

Members noted that the proposed pay bands for each post in terms of the minimum salary were based on the market lower quartile for the equivalent level of responsibility and the maximum salary based on median salaries in a similar respect.  It was also noted that structure review did not include the Chief Executive post although the report proposed for the current grade range to be reduced from eight spinal column points to five to be consistent with other Chief Officer positions.

During the discussion the question of succession planning was raised and it was noted that a Leadership Programme had been in place for the senior managers across the Council in order to develop capacity and to develop thinking at a strategic level.   In response to a further question, it was also confirmed that there were no plans to change the post of Statutory Finance Officer (Section 151 officer) and that Mr Steve Thompson would retain this responsibility, given the unitary status of the Council and its structure and operations.

At that point it was:

Resolved:  That under Section 100 (A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for consideration of matters remaining on the grounds that it would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.