Report of the Watford 2020 Programme Manager

The report provides an update on the latest position with the council’s service transformation programme.

The scrutiny committee received an update from the Watford 2020 Programme Manager which provided the latest progress on the Watford 2020 programme. 

The Programme Manager highlighted some of the key headlines shown in the report.  He advised that there had been some delay to the housing project due to resourcing issues, sickness and the implementation of the Homelessness Reduction Act module.  The Programme Board had reviewed the project and was satisfied the project was back on track.  Several service-led projects had started and the designs would be presented to the Programme Board. 

The Programme Manager informed the scrutiny committee that there was one risk and this was shown in the report.  The team was struggling to complete the recruitment to the Business Analyst and Project Manager posts.  They had recently filled two out of the five posts.  Another advert had been placed and further interviews would be arranged for suitable applicants.

The Head of Corporate Strategy and Communications commented that generally recruitment was difficult, due to Watford being close to London, where higher salaries could be found in the private sector and London boroughs.  However recently it had been noted that some people appeared to be choosing to make lifestyle changes and apply for posts on lower salary but they were closer to home and not having to commute.

The Watford 2020 Programme Manager confirmed the pay bands for the two roles.  He added that many people carried out these roles on a consultancy basis and were paid a day rate.

In response to a question about the implications of the risk, the Programme Manager advised that the money budgeted for the unfilled posts was still available and therefore was showing as a saving.  Currently there was no risk and the programme was still on time.  However if it was not possible to recruit to more of the posts there could be a risk to the overall programme and a new approach to the resourcing of the programme would have to be considered. 

A question was posed about internal applicants.  The Programme Manager said that there may be potential secondment opportunities.  Two officers had already been in contact about the Business Analyst roles.  The team would prefer people with experience, but may consider one or two people with less experience if places needed to be filled.

The Portfolio Holder commented that the Watford 2020 Programme Manager had transferred from another service and had shown it could be successful.  He felt there could be others within the council with the talent to carry out these roles. 

Following a question about the financial benefits, the Watford 2020 Programme Manager advised that the detailed information was in the Outline Business Case which had recently been agreed at Cabinet.  Some of the areas highlighted in the report included commercial ideas, savings through digitisation and automating processes and centralisation and consolidation of functions.  The detailed design work which had just commenced would narrow down the areas where savings and efficiencies could be achieved. 

A comment was made about the number of abbreviations within the report.  The chair said this had been mentioned to officers and it was suggested that a glossary could be provided.

The Portfolio Holder noted the comment but did not want officers to write lots of different reports for the various meetings where the information was presented.  He referred councillors to the council’s intranet where the Programme Manager had set up a very informative section, which was regularly updated.

Reference was made to the recently cancelled all-member briefing about Watford 2020 and when a new meeting would be arranged.

The Watford 2020 Programme Manager said that it was important that all councillors had an oversight of the programme.  He would arrange for a new briefing to be set up.  He added that he was happy to respond to councillors’ questions between meetings.

RESOLVED –

that the Watford 2020 update be noted.