Meeting documents

Purpose of Report

1. This report provides a final update on the LGR programme before Vesting Day on 1st April.

Current Position

2. Day 1 planning is now complete with the last few weeks in March finalising a whole host of day 1 priorities including the rebranding of customer access points, new uniforms for staff in these locations, Members locality support arrangements, staff email addresses and ID badges, stationery etc.

Senior Management Structure

3. As you will be aware the advertisements for five of the eight Head of Service vacancies was placed and has now closed. For the five posts, around 100 applications have been received. Interviews for the candidates short listed will be held as planned on 29th March, 2nd and 3rd April.

HR

4. Ringfences for the Tier 4 appointments have now been finalised and interviews have started beginning with the Area Action Partnership co-ordinator posts. The interviews for all posts which haven’t been slotted in are to be completed by 9th April 2009.

5. A newsletter will be issued advising staff and Members of appointments made to the Tier 4 posts each week.

Day 1 Planning

6. A detailed briefing is in the process of being prepared for Members which will cover a whole host of day 1 issues. Within each of the old District main offices accommodation will be available for Members together with a designated member of staff member who will be available to help Members. This support will compliment the main support for Members which will be available in County Hall. In each of the old District office’s there will also be a designated Senior Locality Officer who will also be available to help Members with any queries although the Members Locality Support Officer should be the first point of contact.

7. Further details on this will be available in the Members briefing which will also include, an overview of services and key contacts, details on the Senior Locality Officers and telephone numbers for any service queries

8. During the first few weeks of April members of the County Councils extended management team will also be present at each of the old District officers to help manage the transition period following Vesting Day.

Communications

9. The Member’s seminar planned for 26th March (12.00pm and 6.00pm) will provide Members with an update on the plans for 1st April and will provide am opportunity to ask any last minute questions on arrangements for 1st April. This seminar will be attended by members of the extended management team from some of the key service groupings.

10. It is planned to continue to run Member’ seminar after the 1st April and the next one is booked for 22nd April (12.00pm and 6.00pm) on the new Comprehensive Area Assessment.

Recommendations 11. Cabinet are asked to note the contents of this report.

Contact: Roger Goodes Tel: 0191 383 5714

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