Interim structure following voluntary redundancy

In May, I shared an update following the end of the voluntary redundancy programme. There were over 200 requests and HR have now notified those applicants where there was a clear decision.  

This is our first step to becoming a smaller organisation with fewer people overall and the starting point, implemented with immediate effect, is a reduction in the senior management structure. 

Some of the approved voluntary redundancy applications were from senior leaders, overseeing large business areas, including three assistant directors.  These are: 

• Les Pursglove – assistant director for health/environmental protection and healthy place 
• Tim Smith – assistant director for commercial services 
• Tracy Darke – assistant director for economy and place  

This represents a 20% reduction in the number of assistant directors, from 15 to 12, with further changes likely from April 2025.  There will also be a reduction in the wider senior leadership, which includes some heads of service and service managers. 

A great deal of consideration was given to these decisions, to ensure stability and consistency for all the services and colleagues who will be affected by the change in senior management. 

An interim structure of the organisation will help to manage the change.  This structure is fluid, flexible and subject to change, but the most up-to-date version will always be available on the HR extranet. 

This structure is expected to be in place until 31 December 2024 in the first instance and all the teams who are affected by the change will have more detailed information and plenty of opportunity to ask any questions they might have.