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Published Delegated Executive Decisions

Welcome. This system contains information about published delegated executive decisions, including exemptions.

Decision Number: 0004 2013/14

Executive Portfolio:
Regeneration, Housing, Planning and Community Safety
Decision Number:
0004 2013/14
Exempt / Confidential Item:
No
Ward(s) Affected:
None
Declarations of Interest Received:
None
Title:
Restructure of the Strategic Events Team
Summary of Decision:
To restructure the Strategic Events Team following consultation with staff and their unions.
Proposed Decision:
To restructure the Strategic Events Team to that set out on the Proposed Structure attached.
Summary of Reason for Decision:
There has been a reduction in funding for Strategic Events (£170,000 for 2013/14) and a resultant reduction in workload. Savings are also required from the staffing budget, the Service has been reviewed and a new structure proposed.
Reason for Decision:
As a result of the Central Government cuts in funding, St.Helens Council has had a reduction in its grant funding of £36 million up to 2012/13 and is anticipating a further £14 million over the next 2 years. Following the review of the Regeneration, Housing and Culture Department various savings have been identified to meet the shortfall in funding. One of the identified savings is the Strategic Events programme and Team. This year the Strategic Events budget has been reduced by £170,000 and in addition the Teams salary budget reduced by £50,000 to address the resultant reduction in workload. As a result the staffing levels have been reviewed. The present structure consists of:- - Strategic Events Manager - Senior Communications and Marketing Officer - Events & Promotions Officer - Communications Development Officer - Events & Mayoral Services Officer x3 - Support Services Assistant x2 - Graduate (12 month contract) Meetings were held with the relevant Officers and their Union representatives on 6th and 19th March 2013 and formal consultation was entered into on 19th March. One response was received from Unite, a response to their comments are attached to this Decision. The review of the Service did not include the Manager nor the Events & Mayoral Services Officers (the justification for this is included in the attached Restructure Events Response.doc) nor did it include the Graduate post which is a fixed term contract due to be completed in the next couple of months. The proposed structure to achieve the required savings is:- - Strategic Events Manager - Events & Promotions Officer x2 - Events & Mayoral Services Officer x3 - Events & Promotions Assistant The result is that the 3 posts of: Senior Communications and Marketing Officer; Events & Promotions Officer; Communications Development Officer will be reduced to 2x Events and Promotions Officers. And that the 2 Support Services Assistants will be reduced to 1x Events & Promotions Assistant, which is a reduction in two posts within the Team. There will be 2 postholders whose posts will be deleted from the establishment. These officers will be redeployed into any appropriate vacant posts (if available) or otherwise will be made redundant.
Risks Associated with this Decision:
Staffing restructure will result potentially inredundancies of employees and a negative impact on the perception of the Service
Measures to Redress Risk:
The temporary loss of image by reducing the staffing structure of the Strategic Events Team will be short felt (if noticed at all by the wider St.Helens community). Given the balance of cuts having to be made the approach by this Council to spread the impact Council wide is one that minimises the negative impacts of public perception.
Anti Poverty / Human Rights / Agenda 21 Implications:
None
Attachments:
Please Contact Mark Dickens - Ext 6606 for more details.