The Chair introduced the item, informing the Employment and Appointments Committee that the proposal before Members included the acceptance of a request for Voluntary Severance / Early Retirement from a chief officer.

Mr Eric Robinson, Chief Executive introduced his report that provided the opportunity to create a more streamlined structure at Director level, which in turn provided financial savings for the organisation. He added that subject to the Committee’s agreement of the proposal, the functions currently led by this Chief Officer would be reorganised within the Council.

The report contained information that was attributed to individual officers and in particular their financial and/or business affairs and was therefore exemptby virtueof paragraph(s)1 and 3 of Part1 ofSchedule 12Aof the Local GovernmentAct 1972.The publicinterest testhad beenapplied and, at time of agenda publication,favoured the exemptionbeing applied. Mr Tony Williams, Head of Human Resources informed that should the Committee support the recommendations as contained within the report, this exemption would be lifted.

The Chair questioned the Chief Executive as to whether any adverse effects would be felt by remaining staff in the service area(s) affected. Mr Robinson informed that line managers would not be affected and that the work responsibilities of the officer in question would be transferred to the Director of Public Health

A Member questioned the Chief Executive as to costs associated with the revised structure, and pointed out the apparent lack of job descriptions, roles and responsibilities for the senior posts as affected. The Member sought assurance that the Panel reviewing requests for voluntary / early retirement were provided sufficient analysis and evidence of the impact of such requests, seeking further assurance that the process had been undertaken in an open, fair and transparent way.

Members questioned the attending HR Officers on matters relating to individuals affected by the restructure. The Officers having responded, the Chief Executive stated that cost savings in the area of senior management remained an ‘annual challenge’. He further informed that job design must be right for each role (particularly in the sensitive area of Children’s Services).

The Head of Human Resources informed the Committee that as part of the voluntary severance programme 200 applications had been received, with 46 individuals being let go. Procedures were the same as in other organisations, however in the case of Senior Officers, such matters must be considered by the Committee.

With the inclusion of an additional recommendation to remove the report’s exempt nature, the Chair moved, duly seconded by Councillor Paul Stuart that the report recommendations (as amended) be approved.

On a show of hands, the motion was carried 4:3.

Resolved (4:3) – That

(1)  the request for Voluntary Severance/Early Voluntary Retirement of the Acting Corporate Director of Strategy and Partnerships be approved;

(2)  the revised Chief Officer structure for the Council be approved;

(3)  the Chief Executive be authorised to consult with the Strategic Commissioner: Environment about the proposed deletion of the post and the proposed redeployment to Assistant Director: Place (AD1) as a suitable alternative role in the structure in accordance with the Council’s procedures.

(4)  the deletion of the Deputy Director of Public Health post, and the appointment of the current Deputy Director into the Director post (Director 2 on the Council’s pay scales), subject to confirmation by Public Health England, be approved;

(5)  the creation of post of Lead Commissioner: Safer Wirral Service at Assistant Director 1 level on the Council’s Chief Officer pay scales be approved, and a recruitment process for that post be commenced;

(6)  the change in grade of Assistant Director: Commercial Management from AD2 to AD1 on the Council’s Chief Officer pay scales, be approved; and

(7)  the exemption be lifted in respect of the financial implications and costs of pension release and that this be published in the minutes of the meeting.