Members are asked to consider whether they have any disclosable pecuniary and / or any other relevant interest in connection with any of the items on this agenda and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of the interest.

There were no declarations of interests.

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 and 2 of Part I of Schedule 12A (as amended) to that Act. The Public Interest test had been applied and favours exclusion.

The Chief Executive introduced the report which sought agreement to release a number of Chief Officers under the terms of the Council’s Voluntary Severance and Early Retirement Scheme (VS/EVR), in order to enable a restructure at Chief Officer level to ensure that the Council had the capacity and capability to deliver the Council’s regeneration and growth plans and improve service delivery to residents.

It was proposed that the recommendations be taken separately but this was defeated when put to the vote.

It was also proposed that an additional recommendation be added that costs savings be achieved, noting that some posts subject to deletion are intended to provide required resources elsewhere and that future income generating regeneration and growth requires early investment. This was voted on and agreed.

Resolved - That:

(1)   the request for voluntary severance from the Director of Change and Organisational Design be agreed and that this post be deleted in the revised structure in line with the costs at Appendix One to the report.

(2)   the request for voluntary severance from the Interim Director of Highways and Streetscene be agreed and this post be deleted from the revised structure in line with the costs at Appendix One to the report.

(3)   the request for voluntary severance/early voluntary retirement from the Assistant Director of Integrated Commissioning be agreed and this post will be deleted from the proposed structure in line with the costs at Appendix One to the report.

(4)  the Committee considers the emerging requirements for the Regeneration and Place Directorate to deliver the significant regeneration and economic growth agenda and delivery of the local plan and authorises the Chief Executive to take the necessary steps to finalise the structure proposals with any costs arising.

(5)   a reduction in costs during the restructure is delivered, noting that some posts subject to deletion are intended to provide required resources elsewhere and that future income generating regeneration and growth requires early investment.