Decision details

To establish a 1.0FTE Service Manager secondment post within the Programme Management Team up to 31st March 2025 and recruit to the post, all costs to be fully funded from the North East Derbyshire UK Shared Prosperity Fund administration budget.

To establish a 1.0FTE Service Manager secondment post within the Programme Management Team up to 31st March 2025 and recruit to the post, all costs to be fully funded from the North East Derbyshire UK Shared Prosperity Fund administration budget.

The Senior Management Team restructure and appointment of the Assistant Director for Transformation and Communication in February 2022 resulted in the Programme Management Team no longer having a Service Manager. The intention was to review the situation as the new Department (which ultimately included the Economic Development, Performance and Programmes Services) became established.

An Interim Programme Management Team Leader position was created within budget in March 2022 to undertake some senior Service duties. To enable the AD to focus on their own core function, greater depth of ongoing support is needed from this role in directly managing the Service, particularly in areas such as preparing the Service Plan, completing performance reports, operational management of staff and funding programmes and ensuring senior representation at meetings. It is therefore appropriate to establish an interim secondment Service
Manager position to ensure the necessary breadth of responsibilities are undertaken, for commensurate pay.

Due to budget limitations it is not possible to currently establish a permanent position; an interim position will be advertised until March 2025, recognising that within that time expected emerging changes in the Department’s establishment will enable a review of how best to allocate core staffing budgets to ensure a fit for purpose structure. It is not believed that an immediate staffing review within the existing teams is appropriate at the current time for financial and operational reasons.

The cost of this secondment period is £66,711 for 2024-25, with potential of £5,324 per month if it is possible to advertise sooner and recruit in February/March 2024. To ensure no increased financial burden to the Council resources, these costs can be fully covered funded from the funds generated through the North East Derbyshire UK Shared Prosperity Fund administration budget.

Both HR and Finance have been consulted about the changes and any comments they have made have been incorporated in the explanations above. The post will be advertised internally within NEDDC.

Other options for the interim structure have been explored but this option is the most effective and will enable the Programme Management Team to improve the service it provides at a cost which is affordable.