£100k slashing of senior staff budget at Anglesey Council

A proposed senior staff restructure should save ratepayers on Anglesey over £100,000 a year.
On Monday, the council’s executive approved amending the constitution to allow the changes, which include deleting one of the two Assistant Chief Executive roles.
The last major reshuffle, in 2015, saw the authority save £300,000 by scrapping three corporate director roles as funding cuts started to bite.
Annwen Morgan and Dr Caroline Turner were subsequently appointed as Assistant Chief Executives but, since Dr Turner’s decision to take up a new role as Powys’ Chief Executive earlier this year, one of the posts has remained empty.
Since then, Mrs Morgan has taken over as the new Chief Executive, with former head of economic development Dylan Williams taking up the newly retitled Deputy Chief Executive role.
On Monday, members formally recommended the changes which include changing job descriptions, removing two Head of Function roles and creating five director roles which, the report states, will bring the council’s spend on its Senior Leadership Team down from £682,000 to £568,000.
The final decision will be made by the full council when it meets in January but, according to the authority, if inflation is taken into account this would mean that the council’s spend on senior staff would have almost halved since 2014/15.
A council spokesperson said, “In the current financial crisis facing local government, we are continually seeking to make efficiency savings.
“The recent departure of former assistant chief executive, Dr Caroline Turner, provided an opportunity to restructure our senior management.
“This has led to a significant financial saving, but more importantly it will ensure that the authority remains fit for purpose to meet future challenges and continues to improve its governance and performance.”

By Gareth Williams – Local Democracy Reporter