Management shake-up to save council £300,000

SAVINGS of more than £300,000 will be achieved by a shake-up of Warrington Borough Council’s senior management structure to be put to the council’s executive board on March 16.
Leader of the council Terry O’Neill will tell the board the restructure is part of wider ranging proposals to enable the authority to make savings of £30 million over the next three years.
The council has already made savings of £92 million on its revenue budget over the last five years.
The last major review of the senior management structure was undertaken in 2013 and since then there has been significant policy and financial change directly impact the council, Cllr O’Neill says.
“It is therefore an appropriate time now to review the senior management structure and to re-prioritise resources in order to the meet the council’s pledges and to ensure the appropriate implementation of the council’s approach to becoming more enterprising, being digitally driven with improved customer engagement and the ability to improved customer engagement and the ability to deal with the demand management processes.”
Staff, trade unions and stakeholders have been consulted through a document called “Future Proofing our Organisation” and a separate consultation document sent to staff directly affected by the proposals.
Some responses were received from staff and trade unions and this have been considered, says Cllr O’Neill. The proposals are reflective of this feedback where it was considered appropriate.
A number of posts are to be axed – including the current executive director of resources and strategic commissioning/deputy chief executive, who recently resigned to move to another authority.
The director of finance and information services post is to be deleted and replaced by a new post –  director of corporate services.
Other posts to be deleted including the assistant director, partnerships and performance and assistant director, human resources, assistant director, regulation and public protection, assistant director, early help and assistant director, children and young people’s targeted services.
A number of new posts are being created and there are some changes to pay scales and although the council’s pay and grading structure for senior managers has not been agreed by the recognised trade unions, positive discussions are ongoing between the council and the unions.
The new structure is set to be implemented from  June 1 and any compulsory redundancies that arise will be dealt with in line with council policy and procedures relating to restructuring and reorganisation, redundancy and redeployment.
Cllr O’Neill says the redesigned senior management structure provides the basis for future proofing the council and the focus to enable the vision of becoming more enterprising and digitally driven, with improved customer engagement.  The proposal also presents an opportunity to make savings which can be re-invested in priority areas across the council.