Council moves forward with senior management arrangements

Shropshire Council is continuing with the next phase of its senior management restructure as the council moves forward with changes to the way it delivers services.

The role of councils up and down the country is changing in response to Government funding cuts and Shropshire Council is taking innovative steps to secure essential frontline services for residents, such as setting up its own trading company, ip&e group, to create public profit which can be invested back into the council.

Since Chief Executive, Kim Ryley, moved to Cheshire East Council in July 2012, the council’s Corporate Director – People, David Taylor, has been acting as the council’s head of paid service.

Council leader, Keith Barrow, said at the time of Kim’s departure that any new management structure needed to be carefully considered so it would best meet the needs of the council and residents.

It is now being proposed that a new Operations Director is appointed, who will oversee the management team and drive forward customer-focused service delivery.  This will be an interim post to oversee the next stage in the council’s transition.  The role will be considerably more operational and people-focused than that of the previous Chief Executive position.

The current head of paid service, David Taylor, who is retiring in spring 2013, will, until his retirement, focus on improving services for vulnerable people, a key priority for the council.

Two senior positions will also be established – Head of Adult Social Care and Head of Children’s Services – as part of the restructure.  It is hoped that these positions may be taken on by existing service managers in these areas, and will not result in any extra payment.

Leader of the council, Keith Barrow, said:

“It’s quite obvious that we need to change the management structure to reflect the way the council is changing, and this is a natural step forward.  The new post of Operations Director will replace the Chief Executive role, and will have a significantly lower salary, whilst still being very attractive to high-calibre applicants.

“This restructure won’t cost the taxpayer a penny.  It will result in a lower wage bill for the council, saving taxpayers money, and setting our county in good stead for the future.”