Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 2 - Wallasey Town Hall. View directions

Contact: Andrew Mossop  Principal Committee Officer

Items
No. Item

1.

Members' Code of Conduct - Declarations of Interest

Members are asked to consider whether they have any disclosable pecuniary or non pecuniary interests in connection with any item(s) on this agenda and, if so, to declare them and state the nature of the interest.

Minutes:

Members of the Committee were requested to declare whether they had any disclosable pecuniary interests and/or any other relevant interest in the item on this agenda and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of such interest.

  

No such declarations were made.

2.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 70 KB

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 21 September, 2015.

Minutes:

The Committee were requested to approve the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting of 21 September, 2015.

 

Councillor Green expressed his concern that this was the first time the Committee had met since September, 2015.

 

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting of 21 September, 2015, be approved.

3.

Chief Officer Structure - The New Operating Model pdf icon PDF 181 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chief Executive introduced a report which set out a proposal for a new organisational structure; a key phase of implementing the new operating model for the Council to enable the organisation to deliver the 20 Pledges for 2020 described within the Wirral Plan.

 

The operating model was based on three key themes: improving outcomes for residents, securing excellent services and being a well-run organisation. This initial phase of the model was focussed on an organisational restructure, and would be supported by a new organisational development and culture change programme to further develop the Council’s approach and capacity to deliver the Wirral Plan.

 

The Council’s existing senior management structure was implemented in 2012. The Council now had in place the Wirral Plan, further developed partnerships and devolution. The Council required a new structure to ensure it had the capacity and resources in the right place to deliver its plans whilst also addressing the financial challenges ahead of making savings of over £132m over the next five years.

 

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development outlined the principles of the proposed new structure and the alignment to new roles in the proposed new operating model.

 

Councillor Green whilst accepting much of the analysis of the Chief Executive for the proposed new structure expressed concerns about the way in which it was to be implemented. He also voiced concerns at the inconsistency in that one of the Council’s top priorities in its 2020 Plan was the building of 3,500 new homes and, the only proposed redundancy arising from the proposed new structure was the Head of Housing, with the proposal that this role be dissipated across three elements of the proposed new structure. The public would be angered to see this with the early release of pension costs being paid for from their Council Tax payments.

 

Councillor Green also expressed concern at the slotting in to new roles and that the public would also be rightly angry at proposals giving a number of people significant pay increases.

 

Councillor McLaughlin expressed concern over the disconnect between the Directors for Health and Care and for Children not having direct influence over delivery.

 

The Chief Executive assured the Committee that on the delivery side there would be an accountability framework and that through performance management both these Directors would have to assure themselves that services were being delivered to a satisfactory standard. This framework was still being worked out around the Children’s Service but had already been worked out for the adult care side. They were working with providers to focus on quality assurance and not just on procurement. He explained how the proposed new model would help in delivering on the housing strategy with the proposed Strategic Commissioner for Environment having a very good team of staff already in place. He acknowledged that accountability was critical not just in Children’s and Adult services but across all services. Accountability statements would be in place with agreed targets, budgets and management arrangements.

 

Councillor Rennie commented  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Exempt Information - Exclusion of Members of the Public

The public may be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information.

 

RECOMMENDED –

 

That in accordance with section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business, on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined by paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to that Act. The public interest test has been applied and favours exclusion.

Minutes:

On a motion by Councillor Phil Davies, duly seconded, it was -

  

Resolved - That, under section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined by paragraph 1 (in that it relates to an individual) of Part I of Schedule 12A (as amended) to that Act.

5.

Exempt Appendix 10 pdf icon PDF 43 KB

An exempt appendix to Item 3 - The New Operating Model is attached.

Minutes:

The Committee considered the exempt appendix to the report regarding the redundancy and pension costs for the Head of Housing.

 

Councillor Phil Davies expressed his concern that the information within the appendix had been made public a week ago on a local website and he had made his concerns known to the Head of Legal and Member Services. Until the Committee had made its decision these figures should be kept confidential and it was unfair to the officer concerned that they had been put in the public domain.

 

The Chair then asked the Committee if it wished to remove the exemption on this appendix and the Committee agreed that it should be.

 

On a motion by Councillor Phil Davies, seconded by Councillor McLachlan, it was then –

 

Resolved (4:3) – That the redundancy and pension costs for the Head of Housing be agreed.