Pay rises in offing for council upper rungs, but wage bill slashed

finances: Angus Council changes would cut £108,000 from its upper echelon budget

Angus Council chiefs are about to share a £32,000 salary boost as the council prunes £108,000 from its upper echelon budget.

The local authority has trimmed its second tier below the chief executive – strategic directors – from three jobs to two, to save £140,000 from its wage bill.

But a recommendation to councillors is for a chunk of that money to go toward the two survivors and four others on the rung below due to an increase in workload.

Former strategic director Margo Williamson will put the changes before a meeting of the full council this week, in her first black-and-white action as incoming chief executive.

This will contain a reminder that “change will change” within the next three years.

The two remaining strategic directors, Mark Armstrong and Alan McKeown, will share a £9,000 hike and two increments on the chief officer pay grade, CO49 to CO51 to reflect “increased areas of accountability”.

They will helm the redesigned portfolios of “people” and “place”.

And two heads of service, for human resources and regulatory and protective services, will share £23,000 and an incremental change from CO33 to CO38 in line with “increased areas of responsibility”.

Mrs Williamson states the annual wage saving will be £108,000 and adds: “The next two-to-three years of public service are likely to see significant change.

“Scottish Government has made its expectations clear around a reform agenda which will see communities empowered and public authorities and bodies, as we know them, changing.

“There is a growing expectation of collaboration and partnership across boundaries, both geographical and in terms of current delivery models.

“The shape of our council to meet this agenda will require change.

“This change cannot be static but must be shaped and reshaped over the next few years.

“It will require attention to publicsector reform focused on People, Partnership, Prevention, and Performance.

“Any change made now is likely to require further change over the next two to three years.”

Head of service Vivien Smith will have a broader portfolio as head of strategic policy and transformation, and publicsector reform. The changes will take effect in June. An exercise to consider the number and nature of posts below the heads – service managers and below – is ongoing.

The next two-to-three years of public service are likely to see significant change. MARGO WILLIAMSON

Mark Armstrong would share a pay hike to reflect “increased areas of accountability”.