Release Date:  02-May-2008

Proposals to restructure the top management team at Bristol City Council have won the backing of  the council's Cabinet.

The changes are being proposed by new Chief Executive Jan Ormondroyd to support the authority's ambitious transformation and improvement agenda.

Mrs Ormondroyd believes the new-look top team will provide more effective strategic working with other public bodies and agencies - and deliver better corporate leadership of the council's 16,700 staff.

The proposals were agreed by the city council's Cabinet on May 1st and will now be discussed at the Human Resources Committee on May 8th.

Strengthening leadership and partnership working

Under the proposed new arrangements, strategic directors would not only be responsible for running a department - but would provide leadership for partnership working with government, other public bodies, communities and the private sector on key issues.

The strategic directors would also each have a defined corporate responsibility for driving forward specific changes and improvements in service delivery and performance across all departments.

Many key services would be overseen by a new Deputy Chief Executive.

Salary ranges for most of the new-look strategic director posts would remain the same as at present and the changes to the top management team would be cost neutral.

Looking for the 'best in the business'

Cllr Helen Holland, Leader of the Council, said: “Councillors are ambitious for our city to realise its full potential at regional, national and European level. This requires its top team of officers to take a more strategic leadership role alongside other key agencies. I am pleased that our new Chief Executive has already stamped her mark on the organisation, gaining political support for change that can start to make a real difference to the way the council works with its partners.”

Jan Ormondroyd added: “Whilst there have been some recent improvements in performance, the council’s delivery and partnership working have sometimes been found wanting. We need to be more corporate and customer focused in our behaviour and do more to maximise efficiencies and be more effective. Our top team must be dynamic, focused and able to work in partnership with councillors, citywide stakeholders and local communities – in essence: the best in the business. I believe the changes I am proposing will help give us the tools to do the job.”

Existing directors will be invited to apply for the revised posts on a ring-fenced basis - although the new Deputy Chief Executive role and the Director of Business Transformation post will be advertised externally to attract the strongest possible field of candidates. The latter post would be on a three year fixed term contract.

Author:  Simon Caplan

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