Issue - meetings

Report attached.

It was moved by Councillor Gold and seconded by Councillor Rafiq and with all members voting in favour and the Mayor abstaining it was agreed that:

1.    The vacant post of Deputy Chief Finance Officer (Band E, £93k - £102k) be redesignated as Director of Finance (Band F, £104k - £113k) and redesignated as the Council’s Statutory Section 151 Officer. The Director of Finance will be a direct report to the Chief Executive with the Finance function becoming part of the Corporate Core Department under the Executive Director (Strategy & Transformation).

2.    The post of Director of People & Inclusion (Band D, £84k - £91k) be re-graded at Chief Officer Band E (£93k - £102k) to reflect the post’s expanded portfolio, as set out in the report. Delegate authority to the Chief Executive and the Cabinet Members for Finance and Communities and HR and Corporate Affairs, in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and S151 Officer, to consider responses received from the consultation and produce a final version of the structure.

Report of the Cabinet Members for Finance and Communities is attached.

Councillor Richard Gold, Cabinet Member for Finance and Communities, presented the report which set out proposals in relation to the future substantive leadership of the Council’s Finance function. Members noted it would strengthen the structure of senior finance officers whilst maintaining relevant expertise and ensuring subject matter experts were in place. Proposals had been market tested and similar structures were in place at other Councils. Members discussed the proposals and noted the cross-party support.

Decision:

Cabinet:

1.    Recommended to Council that the vacant post of Deputy Chief Finance Officer (Band E, £93k - £102k) be redesignated as Director of Finance (Band F, £104k - £113k) and redesignated as the Council’s Statutory Section 151 Officer. The Director of Finance will be a direct report to the Chief Executive with the Finance function becoming part of the Corporate Core Department under the Executive Director (Strategy & Transformation).

2.    Noted that following this appointment the Executive Director (Finance) role will be disestablished.

3.    Recommended to Council that the post of Director of People & Inclusion (Band D, £84k - £91k) be re-graded at Chief Officer Band E (£93k - £102k) to reflect the post’s expanded portfolio, as set out below. Delegate authority to the Chief Executive and the Cabinet Members for Finance and Communities and HR and Corporate Affairs, in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and S151 Officer, to consider responses received from the consultation and produce a final version of the structure as set out in recommendation 5.

4.    Approved the redesignation and re-evaluation of the post of Chief Accountant (Band B, £69k - £75k) to Assistant Director (Finance) (Band D £84k - £91k) as a basis for consultation. This role will take on the duties of the Deputy S151 officer.

5.    Agreed in principle the commencement of consultation with affected staff in relation to the changes set out in this report and to delegate authority to the Chief Executive and the Cabinet Members for Finance and Communities and HR and Corporate Affairs, in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and S151 Officer, to consider responses received from the consultation and produce a final version of the structure.

Reasons for the decision:

The proposal sets out the long-term plan for leadership of the Council’s Finance function, following the appointment of the Interim Executive Director and within the context of the wider leadership structure within the Corporate Core. In recommending options, consideration has been given to the overall leadership capacity and structure required for the function beyond the S151 role and the benefits of integrating Finance within the Corporate Core Department to ensure the full coordination of all Council back-office functions.

Other options considered and rejected:

It would be possible to maintain the current finance structure and seek to recruit to existing posts on a substantive basis, however the recruitment market has not supported this structure to date.