Staffing Committee

16 December 2024

Appointment of Corporate Director’s Place Directorate.

For Decision

Cabinet Member and Portfolio:

Cllr N Ireland, Leader of the Council, Climate, Performance and Safeguarding

Local Councillor(s):

Cllr Biggs

Cllr Parry

Executive Director:

J Britton, Executive Director for Place Services

Report Author: Emma Harris-Cormack

Job Title:	HR Business Partner

Tel:	01202 228962

Email:	emma.harris-cormack@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

Report Status: Public (the exemption paragraph is N/A)

Brief Summary:

Following a restructure of the Place Senior Leadership Team, consideration be given to the appointment of Corporate Directors for the following posts:

Corporate Director -Strategic Director – Weymouth 2040

Waste Recycling and Resource Recovery

Corporate Director for Highways and Engineering

Corporate Director Planning

Recommendation:

To approve the interview panel’s recommendation for the appointment of

Corporate Director role Strategic Director – Weymouth 2040

Waste Recycling and Resource Recovery

Corporate Director for Highways and Engineering

Corporate Director Planning

Reason for Recommendation:

As required by our constitution, the role of Corporate Director requires the approval of the Staffing Committee, as it is a Chief Officer role within the council.

Report

The Place Directorate is responsible for many key services including highways, waste management and planning - the services that shape how many people view the council.

A review and restructure of senior management arrangements in the Place directorate has taken place to move senior leadership capacity from business-as-usual operations towards strategic priorities and particularly towards the priorities of the new administration for economic growth and supporting Dorset’s economy,

Consequently, this has led to 4 new Corporate Director posts in the Place Directorate Senior Leadership team structure.

Corporate Director role Strategic Director – Weymouth 2040 - to create strategic leadership capacity to lead on long term economic development and growth in Weymouth, Portland, Chickerell and the Dorchester corridor, to address county-wide issues around housing supply, economic growth and social mobility. This role will be strategic and cross-cutting, with a remit to work in partnership across the whole council and the stakeholder community in Weymouth, Portland and Chickerell and lead a virtual team from across the council, not a new silo department.

Waste Recycling and Resource Recovery, this role will be more specifically focused on waste reduction and recycling to provide the leadership this area will need to tackle the challenges it faces, modernise, improve the customer experience and achieve cost savings. The Greenspace team which undertakes highway verge maintenance and arboriculture will sit alongside Waste, with the added practical links of vehicles, depots and direct works.

Corporate Director for Highways and Engineering will continue to lead the Highways service with the addition of Coastal and Flood Engineering. There is an important principle of professional practice and quality management in bringing civil engineering and construction functions together.

Corporate Director Planning will continue to lead the Planning Service with the addition of The Conservation Team and National Landscape team. This will solidify the increasingly important links between planning and biodiversity new gain, nutrient neutrality.

2.	Recruitment

There was a 45-day consultation period for formal consultation with all in scope employees which began on 26th September consulting with employees and Trade Unions on proposals for a changed organisational structure for the Place Directorate.

In scope employees were invited to express an expression of interest form for the positions in scope and subsequently invited to an interview for their preferred role.

Appointment process

The appointment process consisted of a professional conversation with

Jan Britton Executive Director Place

A member led panel interview with

The Leader

Cllr Biggs

Cllr Parry

Financial Implications

The posts will be paid at Corporate Director salary level and costs managed within existing budget.

Natural Environment, Climate & Ecology Implications

None

Well-being and Health Implications

None

Other Implications

None

Risk Assessment

HAVING CONSIDERED: the risks associated with this decision; the level of risk has been identified as:

Current Risk: Medium

Residual Risk: Low

Equalities Impact Assessment

The posts have been recruited to in accordance with the council’s equality and diversity policies.

Appendices

None

Background Papers

None

Report Sign Off

12.1	This report has been through the internal report clearance process and has been signed off by the Director for Legal and Democratic (Monitoring Officer), the Executive Director for Corporate Development (Section 151 Officer) and the appropriate Portfolio Holder(s)