Birmingham City Council has announced a restructuring of its top team following the news that chief executive Stephen Hughes is to retire.
Council leader Sir Albert Bore published details today of a consultation on the restructuring of the team, which will look at the role of the chief executive and the future of children’s services.
Mr Hughes announced today he will retire in February 2014, when he turns 60.
‘The most urgent issue facing the council is the need to establish permanent management arrangements for our children’s services following the departure of the previous director,’ said Sir Albert.
‘The service delivery is currently inadequate and strong leadership is needed, as we all know, to restore practice standards and assure partners, inspectors Ofsted and the Government that this situation will be turned around.
‘A strong, focussed service leadership is also required to win the loyalty and respect from staff and give confidence to the political leadership.
‘We believe we have in Peter Hay, who has been asked to manage the service in the interim, such a person.
‘Our proposal, therefore, is to assimilate Peter Hay to this role alongside his current role as strategic director of adults and communities.
‘Subject to consultation, this would be as director of a new people directorate, essentially a merger of the current children, young people and families and adults and communities directorates.’
