City council announces organisational redesign
Proposals to redesign the council’s senior management and organisational structure have been put forward by the council’s Chief Executive, seeking to streamline the organisation, better align to priorities and deliver savings of around £2.4m.
A report going to the council’s Strategy, Finance and City Regeneration Committee (next Thursday 14 March) details how the proposals are designed to ensure:
- A structure that reflects the council’s vision of 'A better Brighton & Hove for all’ and deliver the outcomes set out in the 2023-2027 Council Plan
- Increases collaboration and reduces duplication to promote ‘One Council’ working
- Seeks to provide increased opportunity to lead through connection and partnership across the organisation with our communities and strategic partners
- Addresses the current narrow remits of some posts at Executive Director level and provides the basis for a more streamlined structure that will provide savings and support longer term financial sustainability
New directorates and senior leadership roles
Key to streamlining the council’s structure would be a reduction from five to four council directorates to organise teams and services.
- Corporate Services
- City Services
- Families, Children and Learning
- Housing, Care and Wellbeing
Phase 2 of the proposed redesign will review how services are organised and other opportunities for efficiencies and collaboration. The council is also looking to bring forward a culture change programme to support new ways of working.
Chief Executive Will Tuckley said: “This is the right time to reflect on our organisational shape and ensure it can best meet the challenges and opportunities ahead.
“Last month the council decided our budget for the year ahead, which included the need to make over £30million of savings.
"It’s vital that we put the organisational structure on a sustainable financial footing and while doing so look at how we can change and improve what we do and how we do it.
“When talking to our staff about the budget process many staff suggested ideas on how the organisation could work differently, with many responses suggesting that greater levels of collaboration and integration of services were needed.
“These proposals mark the first phase of our organisational redesign and it will be for Jess Gibbons, incoming Chief Executive to take forward the next phase.”
Offering value for money and delivering services effectively
Council Leader Bella Sankey said: “This is the first major reshape of Brighton & Hove City Council in eight years.
"Since 2016, there’s been two local elections, three changes in administration and an unprecedented global pandemic as well as a cost of living crisis.
“We believe that the way we work needs a refresh to ensure that we deliver the high quality, compassionate, services residents deserve.
"We want to ensure our hard working and talented staff have an organisational structure and culture that empowers them to drive our city forward. We want to be an outward facing council, that is agile and responsive.
“These proposals being brought forward by the Chief Executive would put the council on the strongest financial footing for the future and I look forward to Jess Gibbons joining us as the new Chief Executive and taking forward the next phase of our redesign.”