Brighton and Hove City Council is set to undergo a fundamental restructuring process.
The six existing directors’ jobs will go, to be replaced by four super directors responsible for commissioning services from a range of “delivery units”.
The changes are not intended to save money in the short term, but have been designed so they can adapt to current and anticipated budget cuts.
The new strategic directors would have the portfolios Place, People, Communities and Resources. They will be recruited both internally and externally.
There would also be seven commissioners, responsible for: adult social care; children and families; schools and learning; transport and planning; housing; culture and economic development; and regeneration and community safety.
And finally, there would be new delivery units in 11 key areas, which will have the freedom to operate in the most innovative and resourceful way.
The full proposals can be seen here.
John Barradell, the council’s chief executive, said: “Working in this way puts the needs of our residents’ right at the very heart of what we are doing.
“Essentially it means tipping on its head the old way of doing things – which was to see what resources were available – then to use them in the best way possible to serve the public.
“The new way is to assess what the public needs and ensuring resources can be made available to meet that need, wherever they exist.
“Taking the example of a child who was born and is now growing up in the city, just one strategic director would look at everything that could give a child the best start in life. This would doubtless include providing parental advice, building good housing, ensuring childcare is available, providing the best education, and offering sports, arts and culture opportunities.
“That strategic director’s concern would be making sure these things were available to help children to develop to their full potential and he or she would commission the services necessary.
“The commissioning model takes the best available services from the council’s public, private and third sector partners alongside its own resources.”
The proposal follows the new chief executive’s paper A Council the City Deserves which was published earlier this year. It will be debated by the council’s cabinet committee next Thursday.
