Barnet Council and the deckchairs on the titanic

From our special Barnet Council Correspondent,

£2,600,000 musical chairs at the Council! http://committeepapers.barnet.gov.uk/democracy/reports/reportdetail.asp?ReportID=9386

Moving from Freer / Boland / Walkley setup to the proposed ... From 4 Deputy Directors and 23 Assistant Directors to 5 Deputy Directors and 21 Assistant Directors costs (drum roll)

"5.6 The posts at Appendix 1 have been evaluated and the estimated cost is £2.6m including on-costs and Directors have confirmed that this can be met within their existing service budgets. ( where was this money spent before?)"

"2.3 This restructure will address at the Senior Management team level:

• The large number of secondments; staff on acting up arrangements and the use of interims
• Capacity gaps
• Creating a management team cadre that is proportionate in the light of the downturn in public expenditure ( spend £2.6m more on a restructure AGAIN!)
• Clarity and consistency of role accountability across the Senior Management Team (<< are they having a laugh!)
• The capability to reshape the authority to respond to Future Shape requirements ( they haven't agreed what that is yet)
• It also recognises the additional responsibilities placed upon Local Authorities e.g. Transfer of responsibility from the LSC for 14-19 year olds"  

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Thanks to our special Barnet Council Correspondant for the blog. The Barnet Eye always welcomes guest blogs