Decision details

Decision:

1.        To approve the creation of a permanent new role of Joint Assistant Director of Finance effective from 20 January 2025.

2.        To delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Finance & Resources to make any changes to the role, following the outcome of consultation with staff and the Union.

3.        To agree that the post of Joint Assistant Director of Finance will be a shared post with Waverley Borough Council which will be governed by the existing principles of the Inter-Authority Agreement.

Reasons:

1.        To respond to the unsustainable gap created at the Assistant Director level arising from the restructure of the former Executive Head of Finance to the Strategic Director.

2.        To ensure there is sufficient capacity to achieve successful implementation of the Guildford Borough Council improvement plan.

3.        To deliver the capacity and capability to enable timely, effective, transparent and consistent decision making at all levels of both organisations, including at the most senior leadership levels.

4.        To deliver the capacity and capability needed to embed successes in ongoing collaboration efforts and enhance the pace of future collaboration, transition to shared services and continuous improvement in service delivery and realisation of cashable and non-cashable savings.

5.        To lead the restructure of the Finance Services which will reduce dependency on expensive interim staff, drive alignment of the systems, policies and procedures of the two functions and implement succession planning and career development opportunities and provide resilience for the two functions.

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

1.        Options 1 (Do nothing) and 2 (Create a post for both councils).

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

None.