Agenda item
Organisational Structure
[Note – on the original agenda this item was placed in the Exempt Reports section but the final report is unrestricted so it has been moved up the agenda.]
Minutes:
The Chair noted and agreed the reasons for urgency for consideration of the report as set out:
The report was not prepared in time for publication five clear days in advance of the meeting. However, it seeks input from the Committee on a key aspect of the Council’s organisation and it may be considered that this is a matter of priority which should not wait until after the next meeting of the Committee.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 19:50 for ten minutes to allow Members to read the report.
Stephen Halsey, Head of Paid Service, introduced the report on the review of the organisational structure in the Education, Social Care and Wellbeing directorate. He highlighted that officers were keen to hear the Committee’s thoughts on what was being proposed. He stated that a further report could be presented back with the final proposals to allow the Committee to express their view on the specific plans that were developed.
Robert McCulloch-Graham, the Corporate Director, Education, Social Care and Wellbeing highlighted that the directorate was very large and was growing significantly with the recent inclusion of public health services. The changing focus in other areas such as adult social care was also having an effect. However, there were benefits to a large directorate with the ability to share back-office support staff and officer knowledge and skills as well as simpler internal communications and this balance would be considered as part of the review.
Members reviewed the paper and expressed disappointment that the review did not appear to have progressed significantly beyond the report presented to the previous meeting and questioned whether there was enough urgency considering the importance of the issue. Officers responded that the review was progressing but that it was a large scale project involving a large number of internal and external stakeholders including the social work college, health sector partners, agencies and more. The intention was to have a report ready as soon as practically possible but that it had to be robust and lasting. The report to the next meeting would include more details of the plans themselves.
Discussing specific points, Members highlighted that:
· The next progress report should contain that additional information
· Officers might wish to examine if there were further ways the Committee Members could be involved in the discussions.
· The final options report should include timelines.
Officers agreed to provide more information on the proposals and their reasoning and to work with Members to provide suitable reports to future meetings. Officers would consider the most appropriate ways that the Members could feed into the development of the proposals.
Finally, it was noted following advice from Service Head Legal Services to the Committee that the decision rested with the Head of Paid Service but he highlighted how he valued the input of the Committee.
RESOLVED
1. To note the report.
2. To note that the Corporate Director ESCW and the Head of Paid Service will present a further report to the next meeting of the HR Committee following appropriate advice on the options.
Supporting documents: