Agenda item

Report of Managing Director

Cabinet received a report of the Managing Director presenting the key management and organisational changes required to deliver the council’s priorities.  

The Managing Director explained that it followed that the council’s structure should support the new priorities.  The structure had been reviewed with the objective of delivering a bold and progressive future for Watford.  There were six drivers for these changes:

1.     Renewing momentum for corporate performance to ensure high standards were maintained across the organisation

2.     The need to revitalise leadership throughout the organisation both in support of the Managing Director and across the Leadership Team

3.     Joining up the place shaping agenda

4.     Bringing expertise for digital Watford and service transformation.  To deliver the pace of change with new knowledge and expertise

5.     To address capacity issues

6.     To better mirror the political structure developed by the Mayor and Cabinet e.g., joining housing and property under one portfolio holder.

With regard to the recommendations in the report the Managing Director outlined that the Deputy Managing Director would take direct responsibility for integrating the place shaping agenda.  The Head of Service transformation would be joining up customer service, ICT and digital transformation to make sure the council did not fall behind again.

The Managing Director continued that there would be four disestablished posts.  These were the Head of Regeneration and Development whose functions would join with housing under the Deputy Managing Director.  The Head of Corporate Strategy and Client Services whose client services functions would transfer to the Head of Community role.  The Economic Development Manager whose role had been about developing an economic development strategy and building networks - there was now a need to convert the resource to delivering the strategy.  The fourth post was the Section Head of Communications. 

The Managing Director explained that there would be two business management changes: the Integrated Finance Review Board and Digital Watford Board.  The Shared Director of Finance had carried out a review of the finance service.  The Integrated Finance Review board would join up the management of revenue, capital and project financial reporting.  It would give focus in order to deliver the financial outcomes needed.  The Digital Watford Board would catalyse change and drive transformation.

The existing council structure had been successful, and had delivered £5m savings and created a platform for success.  The new structure would take the organisation to the next level.

The Mayor commented that everybody involved in posts affected were people who were well regarded.  The two new management boards were important to effect a culture change with members and staff working together.  The process of change would be done through Human Resources and if members had any questions on the progress of the change they should contact the Managing Director.

In response to a question from Councillor Bell, the Managing Director confirmed that the timing of the new Deputy Managing Director starting and the disestablishment of the Head of Regeneration and Development post would be around October or November this year.

Following a question from Councillor Bell, the Shared Director of Finance confirmed that the costs of the change would be met within budget being carried forward from 2015/16.  There would be no strain on current budgets.

Councillor Bell asked about the purpose of the two new boards and what role members would have within them and how they would be scrutinised.

The Managing Director explained that the arrangement would mirror the Property Investment Board (PIB) with Cabinet members working with responsible leadership team officers and some external advice to drive change and implementation.  PIB had been successful in generating £4.6m in capital receipts and this had been re-invested.

The Mayor commented that there could be a role for members to be engaged in the digital Watford work to test out changes.  The Finance Review Board would feed into Budget Panel and key decisions which came to Cabinet would be subject to call-in.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet:

1.        approves the new corporate structure as set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

2.        approves the establishment of a new post of Deputy Managing Director to enhance the level of leadership of Watford’s place shaping agenda, integrate the key functions and drive up corporate performance.

3.        approves the establishment of a new post of Head of Service Transformation to lead the customer service and digital Watford change management, ensuring our future technology strategy is developed and delivered and catalyse the reengineering of back office services.

4.        approves the disestablishment of the posts of Head of Regeneration and Development, Head of Corporate and Client Services (this post from 1/4/17), Section Head of Communications (this post from 1/4/17) and Economic Development Manager.

5.        approves the establishment of the Integrated Finance Review Board to be chaired by the Mayor, terms of reference to be agreed with the Mayor and Portfolio Holder for Resources and Customer Services.

6.        approves the establishment of the Digital Watford Board, chaired by the Portfolio Holder for Resources and Customer Services, terms of reference to be agreed with the Mayor and Portfolio Holders.