Top role overseeing care for elderly in Cumbria axed in council cost saving restructure

The latest management restructure within cash-starved Cumbria County Council will cut £310,000 a year from the authority's dwindling annual budget.

It will see its four director level positions cut down to three while two further assistant director posts have also been dropped.

News of the job cuts within the authority have emerged just months after it was revealed the council is striving to find ways to save £34.5m before 2022, in addition to the £214m it has already slashed from its budget since 2011.

The position made redundant has been that held by Brenda Smith, the council's corporate director adults.

This role was at the helm of orchestrating adult social care for Cumbria - known to be one of the most challenging briefs in local government as the aging population grows but funding fails to keep pace with demand.

A council spokesman said they would not comment on individual employees.

But they confirmed the duties traditionally carried out by the corporate director for adults would be consumed within two newly created roles.

"In line with council policy we do not talk about individuals, or their individual circumstances, as it is not appropriate," the spokesman added.

"Many of the responsibilities have been incorporated into the new post – executive director - people.

"The remainder is with the executive director - corporate, customer and community services.

"This change places a greater focus on people receiving services and the customers we serve in a more holistic way."

Those appointed to the three new executive director roles at the council following an internal selection process were confirmed to staff last week by chief executive Katherine Fairclough.

The restructure will see John Macilwraith, formerly head of children's services, become executive director people as well as the authority's deputy chief executive.

He will receive a pay rise of £6,000 in recognition of the 'increased layer of responsibility'.

Dawn Roberts will become executive director corporate, customer and community services, while Dominic Donnini takes on the role of executive director economy and infrastructure.

Neither will receive an uplift in pay.

The 14 assistant directors - down from 16 - are to remain within their pay band of between £85,000 a year and £98,000 a year.

However, a higher number of people will move into the top of the banding than under the previous structure.

Peter Thornton, cabinet member for health and social care, said staff restructures were the responsibility of council officers, but that the move to amalgamate roles that oversee social care for adults and children made sense.

"The test for this restructure will be whether it delivers a stronger and more cost effective service for this council but I am confident it has every chance of doing so," he said.

But the change was not welcomed in other quarters.

James Airey, leader of the council's Conservative opposition group, said: "I am concerned because these are two of the biggest, most important services in the county.

"Children's services has just started going in the right direction. Whether it's the right time to merge these two serious and important jobs remains to be seen.

"We have some very capable officers and we'll give them our support, but what we don't want to see is the excellent work with children's services going backwards in the future."

Cumbria's cash troubles: How much does the council need to save?

Cumbria County Council has already saved £214 million since 2011.

It has shed 1,800 jobs and cut services which were not mandatory.

But with further funding cuts on the way from central government, the council has to find ways to reduce its spending by another £70m by 2022.

A staggering £34.5m of this total is to be made during the 2018/19 year.

CN Group revealed where the axe would fall in February - with spending on library books and public health stripped back, and fees for care places for residents with dementia increased.