Personnel Committee

Read the Minutes

Present:

• Councillor Priest - In the Chair
• Councillors Ashley, Commons, Fairweather, S. Murphy, S. Newman, Ramsbottom and Stevens

PER/07/14 Minutes

Decision

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 26 April, 2007.

PER/07/15 Manchester Adult Education Service - revised management structure

A report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Regeneration) was submitted setting out proposals to re-configure and restructure Manchester Adult Education Service (MAES) including the re-alignment and establishment of senior management positions within the new structure which included the top two tiers of management.

Decision

1 To endorse and approve the proposals set out in this report to re-configure and restructure MAES.

2 To approve the disestablishment of the following senior management positions in the current MAES structure:

(i) Deputy Head of MAES 
(ii) Head of Teaching and Learning 
(iii) Head of Service Development 
(iv) Resource & Finance Manager

3. To approve the re-alignment of the post of Head of MAES at a salary of circa £65,000 with responsibility for the leadership and management of the Adult Education Service.

4 To approve the establishment of new senior management positions:

(i) District and Partnership Manager at Grade 10 + 20% (£43,938 - £46,929);
(ii) Curriculum and Quality Manager at Grade 10 + 20% (£43,938 - £46,929); 
(iii) Resource and Performance Manager 

5. To delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive - Regeneration in consultation with the City Treasurer and the Head of Corporate Personnel, to determine salary and reporting arrangements for the post of Resource and Performance Manager in line with the outcomes of the current review of the City Council's financial management arrangements.

6. To delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive (Regeneration) in consultation with the Head of Corporate Personnel to develop detailed job descriptions for the post of Head of MAES and the other senior management posts, and progress arrangements for the appointment to these posts in line with established Council policies, subject to an external partner being involved in the recruitment process for the Head of MAES.

7. To delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive - Regeneration in consultation with the Head of Corporate Personnel to agree and implement changes to grades for all other posts below the levels recommended in this report and to effect appropriate arrangements for making appointments to these posts.

PER/07/16 Research and Intelligence capacity

A report of the Chief Executive and City Treasurer was submitted setting out proposals to enhance and focus the City Council's research and intelligence capacity through the creation of new posts of Head of Corporate Research and Intelligence in the Chief Executive's Department and National Census Coordinator in the City Treasurer's Department. This latter post would be responsible for preparations for the 2011 National Census and ensure that the results of the Census were accurate and verifiable in terms of the Council's wider governance and financial responsibilities.

Some concern was expressed by members regarding the impacts from the appointment of the Head of Audit to the post of National Census Coordinator on the Council's internal audit function in view of existing difficulties experienced in recruitment experienced audit staff, and it was suggested that this was a matter that the Audit Committee would wish to carefully monitor.

Decision

1. To approve the establishment of new posts of:

(i.) Head of Corporate Research and Intelligence at a salary of £60,000, reporting to the Assistant Chief Executive (Performance);
(ii.) National Census Coordinator at a salary of £57,171.
2. To delegate authority to the Assistant Chief Executive, in consultation with the Head of Corporate Personnel, to finalise the job description for this post and progress appointment in accordance with established City Council policy and practice.

3. To approve the appointment of the current Head of Audit and Risk Management at his current salary of £57,171 to the new post of National Census Coordinator.

4. To delegate authority to the City Treasurer, in consultation with the Head of Corporate Personnel, to review and implement revised arrangements for the overall management of the internal audit and risk management functions following the appointment of the Head of Audit and Risk Management to the post of National Census Coordinator.

PER/07/17 Corporate Technology - review of senior management roles

A report of the Head of Strategic Information and Technology was submitted proposing revised senior management arrangements for Corporate Technology in order to support the delivery of strategic priorities for the service and to communicate the future direction of ICT service provision as informed by the ICT Service Improvement Project.

Decision

1. To agree the proposed organisational arrangements for ICT services as set out, to include the centralisation of services as appropriate to improve business outcomes and deliver efficiencies.

2. To re-designate and re-grade the post of Customer Relations Manager, currently paid at £44,314, to Business Relations Manager at a revised salary of £51,465 to reflect the increased responsibilities and its position within the Senior Management Team of ICT.

3. To agree the re-grade of the post of Applications Manager to circa £55,000 and to delegate authority to the Head of Corporate Personnel, in consultation with the Executive Member for Finance and Human Resources, to agree a higher commencing salary in the case of the appointment of an exceptional candidate.

4. To re-designate the post of Computer Services Manager to Technology & Infrastructure Manager to reflect the services provided by this team.

5. To delegate authority to the City Treasurer, in consultation with the Head of Strategic Information and Technology; the Head of Corporate Personnel, and the Executive Member for Finance and Human Resources, to agree the remaining structure for ICT below the level set out in this report.

PER/07/18 Manchester Improvement Framework - appointment of senior and specialist change management resources

A joint report of the City Treasurer, Director of Manchester Improvement Programme and Head of Corporate Personnel was submitted seeking approval to the establishment of a framework through which the Manchester Improvement Programme can secure in-house senior change management capacity to drive forward a programme of radical modernisation of services.

Decision

1. To agree to the establishment of a framework to secure additional resources on an employed basis at an appropriate level within a salary range of £40,000-£55,000 when a need is identified in support of the delivery of specific MIP projects.

2. To agree that when appropriate, fixed term contracts are offered.

3. To delegate authority to the Head of Corporate Personnel, in consultation with the City Treasurer and Director of the Manchester Improvement Programme, to determine salary arrangements for persons appointed via this framework within the range above and to exercise this delegation as described in the report.

4. The City Treasurer, Head of Corporate Personnel, and the Director of the Manchester Improvement Programme to provide the Executive Member for Finance and Human Resources with regular reports on appointments and salary arrangements made under the terms of this framework.

PER/07/19 Education Improvement Partnerships - proposed post of Education improvement Partnerships Coordinator

A report of the Director of Children's Services was submitted providing the Committee with an overview of Education Improvement Partnerships (EIPs) and setting a proposal to establish the post of EIP Coordinator which will take a lead role in supporting the EIP Strategy Group and developing EIPs within Manchester.

Decision

1. To agree the establishment of the post of Education Improvement Partnerships (EIP) Coordinator at a salary of £50,000 per annum.

2. To delegate authority to the Director of Children's Services, in consultation with the Head of Corporate Personnel, to develop the job description and person specification for this post.

3. To delegate authority for the Director of Children's Services, in consultation with the Head of Corporate Personnel, to develop and implement detailed structural arrangements for the remainder of the service.

PER/07/20 Mixed Community Regeneration Projects

A report of the Director of Housing and Services and City Solicitor was submitted setting out proposals to strengthen, support and resource the delivery of the mixed community regeneration projects funded using Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Private Finance Initiative (PFI) funds to ensure that there is capacity to meet the challenges of the next five to seven years.

Decision

1. To agree to the redefinition of the post of Programme Manager (Grade 10 + 15%) to Head of Partnerships and Investment to a salary of £50,000, and the re-definition of the Principal Strategy Officer (Special Projects) Grade 10 to Design Manager Grade 10 + 15% (£42,117 - £44, 985).

2. To agree to the establishment of the new post of Delivery Manager, Grade 10+15% (£42,117 - £44,985), within the Housing Services Directorate.

3. To agree to the Assistant City Solicitor (Special Projects) undertaking the enhanced role set out in the report on a salary range of £57,000 - £60,000.

4. To delegate authority to the Director of Housing Services, in consultation with the City Solicitor, the Head of Corporate Personnel and the appropriate Executive Members, to develop revised job descriptions for these posts and arrange for the post of Delivery Manager to be advertised in line with City Council policy.

5. To agree that the Director of Housing Services review the existing structure and other positions in the structure at Grade 10 and below in consultation with the Head of Corporate Personnel under the Scheme of Delegation of Staffing Proposals.