To receive any apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Carroll.

To receive any declarations of interest

Councillor Saunders declared a prejudicial interest in the item ‘Regeneration Programme Management’ as there was a potential conflict with his employer. He left the room for the duration of the discussion and voting on the item.

Terry Baldwin and Karen Shepherd declared interests in the item ‘Pay Reward Options 2017/18’ as offficers of the council. Officers were present at the start of the item to introduce it and answer questions, then left the room during Member deliberations.

To consider the minutes of the meeting held on 13 February 2017

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Part I minutes of the meeting held on 13 February 2017 be approved.

To consider the above report

Members considered a new service delivery model for the council and adoption of a new strategic leadership model comprising a Managing Director (Head of Paid Service) and two Executive Directors. The salary band for the Managing Director role was proposed as £130,000-£150,000. Market comparisons were shown in tables 6 and 7 of the report. The Managing Director would be the Head of Paid Service and the Director of Adult Social Services (DASS). The current Strategic Director of Corporate and Community Services would become the Executive Director – Place. The remaining Executive Director post would be recruited internally or externally. Members noted four proposed amendments since the structure had been discussed at Cabinet, as detailed in paragraph 2.9 of the report.

It was noted that the delay in the completion of the transfer to Achieving for Children (AfC) to 1 August 2017 was due to the corporate authority timetables of Richmond and Kingston.

In response to a question from Councillor Dudley, the Head of HR explained that the council was last restructured in January 2016 but salary bands were not looked at until July 2016. The role of Director of Adults, Children and Health was introduced at £120,000-£140,000 and an allowance of £15,000 for the role of Managing Director was approved. Therefore the current salary of the Managing Director was £140,000 (£125,000 plus £15,000). The role was currently a ‘first among equals’ post on a temporary basis to July 2017. Councillor Dudley asked if the approval of Managing Director could be sent to Full Council in June 2017 rather than March 2017, so that it was closer to the completion with AfC. It was noted that the transfer to Optalis was still due to take place on 3 April 2017. The appointment of Kevin McDaniel as Director of Children’s Services (DCS) was also planned for 3 April 2017 to ensure a seamless transition in August 2017, and was linked to the other proposed structure changes. Kevin McDaniel was due to receive an incremental increase in salary from £88,500 to £100,000. It was noted that under the legislation, the council could employ a DCS and second them to another organisation, but the DASS had to remain a local authority employee at Chief Officer level.

It was noted that the Deputy Director of Finance role reported to the Executive Director – Place, but had a dotted reporting line to the Managing Director as the S151 officer. Councillor Saunders commented that this duality was not uncommon in private sector structures.

Members requested that the structure chart, once finalised, include initials of councillors where there was more than one councillor with the same surname.

Members considered the salary band for the role of the Managing Director, noting that the actual salary would be discussed in Part II, with the decision minuted in Part I.

Councillor Jones commented that the council had changed significantly over the last few years, it would be useful to know the size of the leadership teams for the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 128.

To consider passing the following resolution:-

“That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting whilst discussion takes place on items 6-9 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1-7 of part I of Schedule 12A of the Act"

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting whilst discussion takes place on items 6-9 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1-7 of part I of Schedule 12A of the Act

To consider the Part II minutes of the meeting held on 13 February 2017

To consider the appendices to the above report

To consider the above report

To consider the above report