How will the new authority be organised? – Management structure

The organisational structure will function in a way that allows joined-up working that will involve collaboration across the directorates and between service areas to ensure best value services meet the need of customers and stakeholders.  

A small, strategic executive management team made up by the chief executive and four executive directors will have responsibility for the three broad theme areas of people, place and performance, plus adult care. These three streams are designed to focus on the key corporate responsibilities of the new authority as opposed to more traditional service based designs.

People - This directorate will focus on enabling people to reach their full potential. This will include providing a good education and tailored support to our most vulnerable residents – children and young people, those with particular care needs, and those who are likely to be an offender or a victim of crime or accident.

Place - This directorate will focus on providing quality environments and convenient access to services that enrich the quality of all our residents’ lives. Its aim will be to ensure that our neighbourhoods and surroundings are safe, green and clean, that our network of customer and cultural services is easy to reach and use, and that our forward planning and regeneration strategies maximise the potential for our communities to thrive and prosper.

Performance - This Directorate will focus on ensuring that the council fulfils its corporate and community leadership functions effectively. Its aim will be to provide appropriate support to staff, managers, and elected members to carry out their jobs effectively, and to manage the council’s finances, assets and democratic processes. It will also lead the local authority’s engagement with communities and partner organisations.

As well as their responsibility for one of the main functional groups, each executive director will also be responsible for the strategic oversight and coordination of all service provision within one of the area committees. This will make sure that there is shared ownership of both functional and locality issues at the highest managerial level. It will also mean that the three area committees will have a clearly identified executive director link. It is likely that the Executive Director of People will be the designated Director of Children’s Services as required by law.

Adult services will be delivered in partnership through our joint arrangements with the NHS. The aim is to ensure that everyone can reach their full potential.  The executive director of adult services is responsible to both the Care Trust and local authority executive board. Adult services functions are managed by Northumberland Care Trust on behalf of the local authority. An executive director of adult services will report directly to the chief executive.

As the single largest employer within Northumberland, the new unitary council will set an example to others and be seen as an ‘excellent employer’ or ‘an employer of choice’.  The new unitary council will also deliver its wider social responsibility to provide support and opportunities to a range of groups within its community e.g. work experience for young people and generally supporting the local economy.  The main objective for the new council as an employer is:

‘To develop a modern, flexible and responsive workforce and organisational framework to support the council’s pursuit of excellence, the best possible customer service and value for money and to be seen as an excellent employer of choice’.

The new council will build on existing plans to rationalise and modernise the existing property portfolio and to develop modern, fit-for-purpose office accommodation for staff and the public.

A key part of this strategy is to support and encourage new, more flexible ways of working which will use modern technology to reduce the demand on office accommodation by encouraging staff to make greater use of remote working including mobile and home working.

Offices will be built or refurbished to high standards with a range of modern facilities. Offices will be largely open plan, providing opportunities for a range of work styles and new technology to minimise reliance on paper based systems.

The new authority will be supported by modern technology and accommodation in keeping with the world-class vision.

Related Documents

• Northumberland Council Management Structure