Perth and Kinross councillors have unanimously approved £2.3 million worth of cumulative savings by axing four top jobs from the council.
The leadership structure has been whittled down from 18 to 14 as part of a radical shake-up.
The proposal - recommended for approval by chief executive Thomas Glen - was rubber-stamped by Perth and Kinross Council's (PKC) Finance and Resources Committee on Tuesday, June 20.
The cuts to PKC's leadership structure will result in cumulative savings of almost £2.3 million for the council by 2026/27.
PKC chief Thomas Glen asked councillors to give their support to the council's new operating model based around the corporate plan approved by councillors at the end of last year.
PKC's Corporate Plan sets out seven key priorities which include: tackling poverty, tackling climate change, and working in partnership with communities.
The new leadership structure will slash PKC's most senior leadership team from five to three.
The current executive leadership team consists of:
- Executive Director - Communities
- Executive Director - Education and Children’s Services
- Chief Operating Officer
- Chief Officer Health and Social Care
- Executive Lead - Strategic Planning and Transformation
The new executive leadership team will be reduced to:
- Chief Officer, Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP)
- Director - Strategy, People and Resources
- Director - Economy, Place and Learning
And the number of heads of service will be cut from 13 to 11 strategic leads with an interim post to support PKC's Transformation and Change programme. PKC's Transformation and Change programme was launched last year as part of a commitment to empower communities to address local needs.
The current 13 posts are:
- Head of Finance
- Head of Legal and Governance
- Head of Property
- Head of Corporate IT and Revenues
- Head of Services for Children, Young People & Families
- Head of Education
- Head of Business Resources (Education and Children’s Services)
- Head of Culture and Communities
- Head of Innovation
- Head of Business Resources (Communities)
- Head of Environment and Consumer Services
- Head of Development and Planning
- Head of Housing
These will be replaced with strategic leads for:
- Finance and Business Support
- Property Services
- Legal and Governance
- Customer and Digital Services
- Strategic Planning, People and Performance
- Housing and Communities
- Environment and Infrastructure
- Economy, Development and Planning
- Children, Families and Justice
- Education and Learning
- HSCP Senior Management Team
- Projects and Programmes (interim)
Chief executive Thomas Glen's report - which went before the committee - outlined an intention for the changes to be made throughout the current financial year.
In his report, Mr Glen added: "Any team members who are supported through voluntary severance will similarly be expected to leave the organisation by the end of March 2024."
In a statement issued by Perth and Kinross Council prior to the meeting, Mr Glen said: "Over the past few years the pace of change for local authorities has only increased. The pandemic, the cost of living crisis, and the changing expectations of our residents who want us to work more flexibly to address local needs specific to their area, mean that we are getting involved in different ways of working than we have in the past.
"At the same time demands for traditional services are increasing and the people in need of those services have wider and more complex needs. And all of this comes as we face reductions in the resources we have available to meet those demands."
Mr Glen added: "Since joining Perth and Kinross Council 18 months ago, I have been struck by the passion and commitment of our teams, and the tremendous impact they can make when they work in partnership with our communities at a local level. Whether it’s a network of safe, warm, welcoming places to help people need throughout the winter, providing access to a minibus to get a community transport group off the ground, upgrading play parks with community fundraising, or working day-to-day with individuals and local groups to make a difference, it is by working together and empowering communities that our real strength lies.
"Our new leadership structure and operating model is intended to make these kinds of examples commonplace. Focussing our resources where they will make the most difference, and empowering staff at all levels to make decisions focussed on early intervention, preventing issues arising and prioritising those in greatest need."
On Tuesday council leader Grant Laing tabled the paper for approval. It was seconded by convener Stewart Donaldson and approved by the committee.
