Report of the Local Government Efficiency Review Group

ut this figure varies from 22% to 57% across local authorities (see Figure
6.8).
6.6.4 The span of control of 1:4¾ for director to senior engineer/ senior planner is
reasonable when combined with the parallel ratio of 1:6 which directors also
exercise over administrative staff (leading to a combined span of control of
almost 1:11). However, there is significant variance in the director of
service staffing level across the country.
6.6.5 To ensure a more uniform approach that better reflects demand for
services, the Group recommend that director of service staffing levels
should be guided by a standard template. Such a template would be driven
by agreed criteria including, in part, the size of the local authority
(population/ geography etc.) and its characteristics. Allowance would need
to be made for the existence of major capital projects which benefit from
director-level leadership. Nonetheless, the overall levels at director of
service would be expected to drop significantly as a result of introducing a
staffing template.
6.6.6 Consequently, a number of directorates will need to be merged within
individual/ joint local authorities. There were 255 directors including heads
of finance in December 2006. This number rose to 268 by December 2008,
and subsequently fell to 240 by the end of 2009, a reduction of over 10% in
12 months. The Group recommends that there be a further overall
reduction of at least 20% in the number of directors to approximately 190,
based on need. This will require individual local authorities or authorities on
a joint basis to reorganise directorates through the amalgamation of service
areas under a smaller number of directors of service.
6.6.7 While technical areas are by their nature complex, the spans of control
across the sector for senior engineer/ senior planner : engineer/ planner of
less than 2:1 are not considered stretching. Likewise, the spans for
engineer/ planner to the combined area of technician and craftworker/
general services supervisor, at 1:1½ are low. The span between technician
and craftworker/ general services supervisor and the general operative level
is around 1:4. While a higher span may be desirable in this area, the
staffing is somewhat constrained by the need to comply with legislation
relating to health and safety, and restrictions on working alone.
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