Personnel Committee

Read the Minutes

Present:

• Councillor S. Murphy - In the Chair 
• Councillors Battle, P. Murphy, E. Newman and Jeff Smith.

PER/06/8 Minutes

Decision

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 3 May, 2006.

PER/06/9 City Solicitor's Division Management Structure

The Committee considered a report of the City Solicitor and the Head of Personnel seeking agreement to strengthen the senior management structure in the City Solicitor's Division to ensure that there is capacity to meet the challenges of the next five years.

The Chair emphasised the importance of these changes being contained within approved budgets, and the City Solicitor outlined to the Committee how expenditure would be offset against savings accruing from (a) bringing certain legal work back in-house (b) increases in income generation (c) service agreements with Council Departments, and (d) from other service efficiency savings.

Decision

1. To approve the re-structure of the City Solicitor's Division as proposed.

2. To approve the establishment of four Heads of Group (£48,500 - £51,500) and two deputy posts (Grade 10 + 15% - £42,117 - £44,985) within the Legal Services Section.

3. To approve the formal establishment of the post of Head of Statutory Services at a salary of £55,725.

4. To approve the arrangements for the Constitutional and Corporate Services Section to be headed by the Assistant City Solicitor/Deputy Monitoring Officer at a salary of £55,725 and to note the revised arrangements for Members' Services.

5. To approve the re-grading of the post of Head of Democratic Services from Grade 10+10% to Grade 10+15% (£42,117-£44,985).

6. To delegate to the City Solicitor in consultation with the Head of Corporate Personnel authority to develop job descriptions for the new and revised posts proposed in the report and effect arrangements for appointment in line with normal City Council policies and practices to include external advertisement as indicated in the report.

7. To delegate to the City Solicitor in consultation with the Head of Corporate Personnel authority to make such consequential changes to the management structure of City Solicitor's as are necessary on the outcome of the recruitment to the senior management posts, including the re-grading of the Principal Solicitor, Prosecutions and Licensing to Grade 10 + 5% (£38,466 - £41,079).

PER/06/10 Establishment of post of Head of Strategic Marketing

Consideration was given to a report of the Chief Executive outlining proposals to disestablish the post of Marketing Director and create a redefined role of Head of Strategic Marketing .

Decision

1. To approve the disestablishment of the existing post of Marketing Director and the establishment of a new post of Head of Strategic Marketing at a salary £70,000 per annum and to delegate authority to the Assistant Chief Executive: Culture, in consultation with the Head of Corporate Personnel, to develop a revised job description and effect arrangements to make an appointment to this post.

2. To grant authority to the Assistant Chief Executive: Culture, in consultation with the Head of Corporate Personnel, to develop proposals for the appropriate support post for the new role.

PER/06/11 Race Equality in Manchester - Workforce Monitoring and Action Planning Report 2005

A report was submitted seeking endorsement of the proposed response and Action Plan of the City Council to the requirements of the Race Relations amendment Act, 2000.

Decision

To note and endorse the report and approve it's publication in accordance with the requirements of the Race Relations Amendment Act.

PER/06/12 Part Restructure of Valuation and Property Services

Consideration was given to proposals for the establishment of a new Property Services Team within the Valuation and Property Services Division that will deliver efficiency savings identified in the Service Improvement Programme

Decision

1. To endorse the broad principles outlined that provide a framework for the delivery of a comprehensive review of the Council's land and property assets which focuses on improving premises to meet service delivery needs, generating efficiency savings from better use of property and the disposal of surplus and under-performing assets which do not contribute to delivery of the Council's objectives.

2. To approve the establishment of a new post of Deputy Head of Valuation and Property Services - Property Review (Special Grade £60,000 per annum) and delegate authority to the City Treasurer, acting in consultation with the Head of Valuation and Property Services and the Head of Corporate Personnel, to make appointments to this new post in line with the relevant Council policies.

3. To agree that the City Treasurer, in consultation with the Head of Valuation and Property Services and the Head of Corporate Personnel, be delegated with authority to determine the remaining posts required in the Property Review team including the number and grades of the posts, job descriptions and person specifications, and to recruit to these posts.

PER/06/13 Monitoring the Sexuality of the Workforce

A report was submitted on the introduction of corporate monitoring of the sexuality of the workforce.

Decision

1. To approve a timetable to achieve corporate monitoring of the sexuality of the existing workforce on a phased basis by April 2007, with monitoring as part of recruitment to commence as soon as processes can be put in place.

2. To approve the monitoring of the sexuality of the existing workforce being incorporated alongside re-monitoring of ethnic origin and disability.

PER/06/14 Senior Financial Management Roles

The Committee considered a report of the City Treasurer proposing the assignment of two new financial management posts in order to enhance both corporate and service financial management capacity and control within Manchester City Council

Decision

1 To approve the assignment of a new post of Deputy Head of Financial Management at a salary of £65,000 per annum reporting to the Head of Financial Management, Corporate Services Directorate, responsible for the formulation, implementation and strategic financial advice for the large number of high level projects and initiatives currently being undertaken by the City Council.

2 To approve the assignment of a new post of Head of Finance, out placed in the Neighbourhood Services Directorate, at a salary of £65,000 per annum responsible for formulating and implementing strategic financial management proposals on all budget matters for Neighbourhood Services. This post will report to the City Treasurer in terms of line and strategic management and be a member of the Strategic Director of Neighbourhood Services' management team.

3 To grant delegated authority to the City Treasurer, acting in consultation with the Strategic Director of Neighbourhood Services and the Head of Corporate Personnel, to develop detailed job descriptions and person specifications for these new posts and make appropriate arrangements for advertising and effecting permanent appointments to these posts in line with established Council policies.

PER/06/15 Children's Services Directorate: Education Services Management Team

A report of the Director of Children's Services was submitted updating Members on the development of an integrated senior management structure for the Children's Services Directorate that will enable the service to fulfil its revised strategic objectives and statutory obligations, and proposing the establishment of three new Head of Education Service posts to form the management team of education services with the Chief Education Officer and Deputy Chief Education Officer.

Decision

1. To note progress to date in the integration of management functions in the Children's Services Directorate including the intended development of district working arrangements.

2. To approve the establishment of three posts of Head of Education Services at salaries of £70,000

3. To grant delegated authority to the Director of Children's Services in consultation with the Head of Corporate Personnel and the Executive Member for Children's Services to develop detailed job descriptions and progress arrangements for the appointments to these posts in line with established Council policies.

4. To delegate authority to the Director of Children's Services in consultation with the Head of Corporate Personnel to agree and implement changes to the structure and grades for all other posts below the levels recommended in the report.