Agenda item

To consider the recommendations from the Leader and Executive and the Chief Executive.

All the final structure charts can be viewed in Appendix E

Councillor Theo Butt Philip proposed that the Council accept the recommendations.  This was seconded by Councillor Bill Revans. 

The proposal was carried.

RESOLVED

1.     To endorse the proposed organisational structure as set out in the report and its appendices, ahead of the decision by the Head of Paid Service.

2.     To note that where any proposed changes to service delivery, as a result of the organisation structure proposals, would impact on existing approved service standards, Executive have delegated authority to the relevant Service Director to revise the service standards and also complete a review of any impacted plans and policies (in consultation with their Executive Lead Member) before the end of May 2025. These were set out in Appendix B of the report.

This report by the Chief Executive set out the organisational structure proposals that would become effective on 1 April 2025.  The proposals would form a critical part in helping to achieve the ‘Vision for a sustainable Somerset Council’ as set out in Appendix E of the report.

There were no proposals to stop services, but the reduction in capacity would require a sharp focus, in line with corporate priorities, to prioritise resource on those things that mattered most.

The organisational restructure was part of the Council’s Improvement and Transformation Programme that was endorsed by Executive in February 2024 and would deliver total General Fund savings of £34m.  The programme was rapidly accelerating the pace of change towards delivering a radically different way of working as a Council, operating with fewer staff, whilst increasing our influence and impact.

The Lead Member for Transformation, Human Resources and Localities, Councillor Theo Butt Philip,  was invited to speak.  He thanked the Chief Executive for the report and re-iterated it was essential the Council become stable and sustainable.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Bill Revans, was invited to speak.  He thanked the Officers and Unions for their work in preparing the report.

During the discussion the following points were raised:

·     With regard to the planning service, Members said the quarterly report which had been considered by the Strategic Planning Committee recently was concerning with regard to staffing numbers.  This included staff in other departments that supported the planning officers.  There was concern there was a risk to the Council of the cost of appeals and cost of applications which were not being determined on time.  Such a risk could cost the Council more money in the long term.  Members noted there were a number of vacancies in the planning department and associated departments which the Council was trying to recruit to.  Also changes in the way applications were considered such as triaging may help to reduce the pressure on colleagues.

·     Members wished public facing services such as planning to be prioritised for investment.  Members noted the Council would have a pay review in the future which may help.

·     With regard to adult services members noted one-off grant money would be used to recruit officers.  Members queried how many staff were involved in this and whether it was sustainable. 

·     Members noted the workforce had contributed to the restructure and that should give Members confidence the services would be set up in a sustainable way.  

·     With regard to impact assessments, some members said it seemed older people and those with reduced mobility would be hardest hit by the changes to the services.  Thus, potentially breaking some of the Council’s own priorities.  Members noted that some services may be delivered differently, but no protected group should be unacceptably impacted upon.

·     Some Members believed the Council was underfunded.  There was concern the Council was changing and that it would not be better in future.  Members were pleased to see some posts had been reinstated as a result of the consultation.  But a reduction of in the region of 500 posts was regrettable.  Of particular concern was a reduced enforcement service, a reduced SEND service, changes to the waste services, a reduced climate control service and a reduced rights of way service. 

·     Members said the Council should continue to work with partners including parish councils and take opportunities to devolve some services. 

·     With regard to financial services, Members noted the vast amount of work they had had to do.  There was concern whether there were enough senior finance officers.  Members noted the vacancies available throughout the Council which would mean the structure would be effective.

·     There was concern some of the workforce were reliant on external funding, and whether such funding would continue.

·     There was concern each officer would be asked to do more work.  Although Members noted the proposed structure had been designed to avoid such a situation.

·     Members noted the Council would need to rely more heavily on AI.

·     Some Members were concerned whether the ombudsman would be able to report be favourably on the Council given the reductions that were being proposed.

·     Members said it was regrettable they had been put in a position of having to agree such a reduction to the structure.  

·     Some Members were concerned that if the restructure failed it would be too late to reverse the decision.  However, it was noted that the Council would continue to evolve and address any problems.

The Lead Member for Transformation, Human Resources and Localities was invited to speak again.  He agreed the that care services were proving to be very costly and he wished the Government to review the way such services were funded.

The Chief Executive said, after the restructure, the Council would reconsider how the services were carried out. 

Councillor Henry Hobhouse proposed an amendment to the recommendation, namely the removal the reinstatement of the Rights of Way Officer

Members noted the purpose of the report was to endorse the structure and the Chief Executive would note the content of the discussion above including the proposed amendment before his final decision was made.  The Chief Executive would discuss the detail of the proposed amendment with Councillor Hobhouse outside of the meeting. 

As the discussion continued, the following points were made:

·     It was noted the Section 151 Officer would no longer be a Service Director level member of the workforce.  However, there was considerable concern about the costs involved in letting the previous post holder go, only to have to re-recruit another officer.

·     The Chief Executive agreed to let Councillor Faye Purbrick details on the costs of letting certain officers go and the costs of hiring again.

·     Members were disappointed they were being asked to endorse the restructure rather than have an opportunity to scrutinise the new structures in their committees.  However, members noted they would have regular reports and regular opportunities to get involved in the Council’s structure.

·     Members thanked the workforce for the way they had handled such an uncertain time. 

·     In response to queries the Chief Executive said, as head of paid services, he was tasked with delivering a restructure which met the budget which had been set by Councillors.

·     The Chief Executive said lots of alternative structures for each team had been considered as part of the process including the consultation.

The Lead Member for Transformation, Human Resources and Localities was invited to speak again.  He said the workforce had lived with the uncertainty of a new Unitary Council and a restructure since 2019.  He thanked the workforce for their continued support.  He said it was sad to have lost valued staff because of the changes.  However, it was essential that the Council become stable and sustainable.

The Leader of the Council was invited to speak .  He also thanked the workforce, and he thanked the Council for a useful debate. 

Councillor Theo Butt Philip proposed that the Council accept the recommendations.  This was seconded by Councillor Bill Revans. 

Having been duly proposed and seconded, the Council Resolved:-

1.    To endorse the proposed organisational structure as set out in the report and its appendices, ahead of the decision by the Head of Paid Service.

2.    To note that where any proposed changes to service delivery, as a result of the organisation structure proposals, would impact on existing approved service standards, Executive have delegated authority to the relevant Service Director to revise the service standards and also complete a review of any impacted plans and policies (in consultation with their Executive Lead Member) before the end of May 2025. These were set out in Appendix B of the report.