Decision details

To approve the new Resources DMT structure. (Appendix 1a)

To approve the senior finance restructure and notably the establishment of an additional Head of Service post (Head of Project Finance) and Project Finance team necessary to support delivery of projects of strategic significance. (Appendix 5)

To approve team restructures in HR, the DPO and the Commercial & Integrated Landlord Services teams. (Appendices 2, 3 and 4)

To update job descriptions for the Finance Managers within the Children & Young People’s Social Care & Health directorates and the acting Finance Manager in MonLife to ensure there is clarity around the line of accountability to the Chief Officer for Resources, S151 Officer and Deputy S151 Officer for professional, technical and statutory finance matters and to ensure effective Authority wide financial control, management and governance.

That full implementation of the restructure proposals will yield an overall initial saving of £32,000 in financial year 19/20. This is expected to rise to a minimum of £150k for financial year 20/21 and a minimum of £250k for financial year 21/22.

For the approved establishment to grow by 16.86 full time equivalents, 2 of these not being filled in the short-term, a breakdown and rationale for which is included in para 3.10.

For the funding model to see a fall in budgeted external professional fees of £25,000, a reduction in budgeted overtime of £17,000 and commercial income of £201,000. In so doing an appropriate internal economy of scale / skill mix will be created that will bring additional certainty / staff welfare benefit to programme and project delivery.

That changes that have an impact on service level agreement / charging relationships with schools will not be implemented unless / until it is clear that schools support the proposed change and understand / accept any charging adjustments that fall to their school budget shares.

That any costs associated with the implementation of the structure (e.g. redundancy costs) fall upon the overall Resource directorate budget to fund but should this prove insufficient, that corporate funding be sought to cover any one off severance costs.

That the Chief Officer for Resources proceed with the implementation of the new structure and make any amendments that might become apparent during the process in consultation with the Cabinet member for Resources.