Agenda item - Senior Management Structure

[To approve revisions to the Senior Management Structure of the Council]

1. That with effect from the 1 April 2017, the Strategic Director, Place (Grade 15) would assume the role of Deputy Managing Director. The post holder would use the title of Deputy Managing Director or Strategic Director, Place as necessary depending on the circumstances and audience be approved (there will be no changes to renumeration as a result of this decision).

2. That the Director of Finance (Grade 14) be appointed the Strategic Director, People (Grade 15) with effect from 1 September 2017 (or before if the current postholder leaves earlier) be approved. To be kept under review for efficiency and effectiveness.

3. That the current Strategic Director, People’s temporary contract be extended from 30 June 2017 to 31 August 2017 be approved.

4. That the current Service Director, Children and Young People (Grade 13) be appointed Director of Children’s Services (Grade 14) with effect from 1 September 2017 (or before if required) and be the designated Director of Children’s Services (DCS) statutory role be approved.

5. That the current Service Director, Adult Social Care (Grade 13) be appointed Director of Adults Services (Grade 14) with effect from 1 September 2017 (or before if required) and be the designated Director of Adults Services (DASS) statutory role be approved.

6. That in the short term the current Director of Finance be released for up to 3 days per week to help the West Midlands Combined Authority by covering the role of Corporate Services Director following the departure of the existing postholder on 31 March 2017 be approved.

7. That the Chief Accountant (Grade 12) be redesignated Director of Finance (Grade 13) from 1 September 2017 (or before if required) until further notice – dependent on the review of the Strategic Director, People role be approved.

8. That with effect from 1 April 2017 the Chief Accountant be designated the Section 151 Officer of the City of Wolverhampton Council and West Midland Pension Fund until further notice be approved.

9. That the current Director of Finance will be the Deputy Section 151 Officer for the West Midlands Pension Fund andwould lead on West Midland Pension Fund on behalf of the Chief Accountant be approved.

10. That the newly appointed Section 151 Officer (former Deputy Section 151 Officer) would advise on the appointment of a new Deputy Section 151 Officer, to be appointed by the Managing Director (Head of Paid Service), with effect from 1 April 2017 be approved (this attracts no additional renumeration).

11. That the approval of any future changes to the Section 151 Officer and Monitoring Officer would be upon recommendation of the Head of Paid Service for the approval of full Council.

12. That the Deputy Section 151 Officer(s) and Deputy Monitoring Officer(s) would continue to be appointed by the Head of Paid Service as previously agreed by Council be approved.

13. That the release of the current Strategic Director, Pensions (Grade 15) be approved by reason of business efficiency on 30 September 2017, with no redundancy being triggered but pension released.

14. That the redesignation of the Strategic Director, Pensions post (Grade 15) to Director of Pensions (Grade 14) with effect from 1 October 2017 be approved.

15. That the Assistant Director, Actuarial and Pensions (Grade 13) becomes the Director of Pensions (Grade 14) with effect from 1 October 2017 be approved.

16. That a Special Appointments Committee be created in due course to appoint to the post of Director of Education (Grade 14) comprising five Labour and two Conservative Councillors in accordance with the Constitution be approved.

17. That the following Councillors, or their nominees if they were unable to attend, be appointed to serve on the Special Appointments Committee to appoint a Director of Education:

Councillor Roger Lawrence

Councillor Peter Bilson

Councillor Andrew Johnson

Councillor Claire Darke

Councillor Milkinder Jaspal

Councillor Wendy Thompson

Councillor Paul Singh

18. That the creation of a Service Director, Public Service Reform (Grade 13) be approved.

19. That a Special Appointments Committee be created in due course to appoint to the post of Service Director, Public Service Reform comprising five Labour and two Conservative Councillors in accordance with the Constitution.

20. That the following Councillors, or their nominees if they were unable to attend, be appointed to serve on the Special Appointments Committee to appoint a Service Director, Public Service Reform as follows:

Councillor Roger Lawrence

Councillor Peter Bilson

Councillor Andrew Johnson

Councillor Milkinder Jaspal

Councillor Rita Potter

Councillor Wendy Thompson

Councillor Paul Singh

21. That the redesignation of the Head of Housing post (Grade 11) to Service Director, Housing (Grade 13) with effect from 1 October 2017 be approved.

22. That a Special Appointments Committee be created in due course to appoint to the post of Service Director, Housing comprising five Labour and two Conservative Councillors in accordance with the Constitution.

23. That the following Councillors, or their nominees if they were unable to attend, be appointed to serve on the Special Appointments Committee to appoint a Service Director, Housing as follows:

Councillor Roger Lawrence

Councillor Peter Bilson

Councillor Andrew Johnson

Councillor Milkinder Jaspal

Councillor Linda Leach

Councillor Wendy Thompson

Councillor Paul Singh

24. That these recommendations were subject to trade union consultation.

25. That savings of a minimum of £263,000, arising from the senior management restructure, be incorporated into the 2018 - 2019 general fund budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy be approved.

26. That savings of a minimum of £150,000, arising from the senior management restructure be incorporated into the West Midlands Pension Fund 2018 - 2019 budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy be approved.

27. That it be noted the senior management structural changes would further increase opportunities for creative solutions and increased performance of the Council’s business activities.

28. That it be noted the Managing Director would consult with employees and trade unions to implement the changes contained within this report.

29. That it be noted a further delegated review of operational Housing structures would take place by the Managing Director following the appointment of the Service Director, Housing.

30. That it be noted the current Director of Education would be leaving the Council on 7 April 2017.

31. That it be noted a structural review of Education would take place upon the appointment of a permanent Director of Education – to be advertised shortly.

32. That it be noted a further delegated review of operational structures within the West Midlands Pensions Fund would take place by the Managing Director following the appointment of the Director of Pensions.

Having declared an interest Mark Taylor, Tim Johnson, Claire Nye and Linda Sanders left the meeting room and took no part in the consideration of this item.

Councillor Roger Lawrence presented the revisions to the Senior Management Structure of the Council for approval. The underlying improvements in performance, creativity, delivery and customer focus were the driving force for these proposals.

Councillor Roger Lawrence proposed the recommendations. Councillor Milkinder Jaspal seconded the recommendations and advised that recommendation 8 and 9 had been revised and were agreed as detailed below.

Councillor Roger Lawrence and Councillor Wendy Thompson commended the work of Julien Kramer, Linda Sanders and Geik Drever.

The Mayor also went on to thank Linda Sanders for her services to Children and Young People in Wolverhampton and extended best wishes to Julian Kramer for the future.

Resolved: