By Bill Heaney
The processes, decisions and actions that enabled five senior Glasgow City Council officers to take significant early retirement and redundancy payouts fell short of the behaviour and standards expected of public servants.
Between 2021 and 2024, five senior officers left the council, including the former Chief Executive.
The restructuring proposals appear to have been approved by some individuals who directly benefited.
And now the chief executives of all Scotland’s 32 councils, including West Dunbartonhire, have been told by the Auditor General not to let it happen again, although the announcement contains no information on whether to money wrongly paid out will be recovered.
Given the seniority of the officers leaving, restructuring proposals should have been considered by the relevant council committee for councillors to scrutinise.
The absence of independent scrutiny from councillors and formal documentation, including details of how decisions were made and evidence of value for money, is deeply concerning.
The action taken by the new Chief Executive has been welcomed by the Accounts Commission.
Glasgow City Chambers and West Dunbartonshire Council HQ in Dumbarton.
After councillors became aware of the departures, an internal investigation was actioned, leading to the commissioning of an independent review. The council accepted and implemented its recommendations.
Andrew Burns, Deputy Chair of the Accounts Commission said: ‘The actions taken by a group of senior staff at Glasgow City Council fell short of the values and principles every public sector worker and councillor are expected to follow.
“There was a failure to address and document how potential conflicts of interest were considered. And a failure to demonstrate how the guiding principles of working in the public sector – in particular selflessness, integrity and objectivity – had been applied.”
‘It is alarming to see reports which need to consider the lawfulness of actions within councils, and such circumstances do little to reassure taxpayers about how public money is being used.
“All councils need to undertake restructuring, particularly with financial pressures, growing demand and an ageing workforce.
“Given the issues highlighted in this report, the Accounts Commission will write to all council chief executives and leaders to highlight the importance of good governance, value for money and transparency in decision making.”
West Dunbartonshire Council refused yet again to comment on questions from The Dumbarton Democrat who would have asked had we been allowed to speak to them if there had been any similar situations arising with them in recent times.
For example after the fine dining and golf with contractors at Cameron House Hotel and posh city restaurants expose since when a number senior officials have left the council with “golden handshakes”.
The Council claim they have not banned The Democrat, just that they refuse to answer questions put directly to their communications staff, which is headed by a former local newspaper reporter who, it was disclosed recently, earns £129,000 a year.
Anyway, the following report and others in relation to fine dining and a major management reshuffle appeared in The Democrat in 2019. The Council still does not communicate directly with us.
BIG SHAKE UP IN COUNCIL MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE
The new management structure for West Dunbartonshire Council which was announced today by Chief Executive Joyce White.
By Bill Heaney
Major changes have taken place today in the management structure for the “under the microscope” West Dunbartonshire Council.
Two of the big names whose activities were investigated in regard to wining and dining with a contractor who was awarded £ millions of work with the Council but were cleared by police of any criminal activity have dropped off the senior management chart.
Chief Executive Joyce White told councillors in a memo earlier today: “I am writing to update you that I will be introducing changes to our senior management structure for the Council over the next four weeks.”
She said: “This begins today with the alignment of Strategic Leads for Resources (Finance, Revenue & Benefits and Internal Audit), People and Technology (HR, OD & Change, ICT and Health and Safety) and Regulatory (Democratic Services, Legal, Planning and Building Standards) reporting directly to me.
“This key change will allow me to directly benefit from the advice of Stephen West, Victoria Rogers and Peter Hessett and their key professional services as we transform the Council to meet significant budget pressures over the next three years.
“This new model will create capacity for Angela Wilson, Strategic Director Transformation & Public Service Reform, to drive continuous improvement across the organisation, as well as to lead changes to our Procurement Service to ensure this Council achieves the highest possible compliance rates.”
She added: “There are further changes underneath Richard Cairns, Strategic Director for Regeneration, Environment and Growth.
“Ronnie Dinnie, Strategic Lead for Environment and Neighbourhood Services, has retired from the Council after more than three decades of public service.
“I’’d like to take this opportunity to thank Ronnie for his contribution during that time, and pay particular tribute to the major infrastructure projects he successfully delivered in this area such as the new Clydebank Leisure Centre, the restoration of Levengrove Park, Clydebank Community Sports Hub, and the Knowleburn Flood Prevention Scheme.
“As you may be aware the roads element of Ronnie’s service has already transferred to Gail Macfarlane, Strategic Lead for Shared Services Roads and Transportation with Inverclyde Council.”
The Roads and Transportation portfolio was formerly held in Dumbarton by Raymond Walsh, who no longer figures on the management structure chart and no reference is made to where he has gone.
Council communications boss Malcolm Bennie has been given an extended role which includes looking after the bins, a department which could find itself subject to extensive public criticism if much talked about collection frequency comes to pass.
Joyce White said: “Facilities Management (Building Cleaning, Janitorial Services and Catering Services) will transfer underneath Malcolm Bennie, pictured left, Strategic Lead, in a new Communications, Culture, Communities and Facilities service area from 1 August.
“In the medium-term Richard [?] will retain direct management of the Greenspace and Waste areas while consideration is given to future joint working opportunities.”
Ms White circulated an illustration of the new management structure which is shown above.
She said: “I’m confident this new structure will deliver transformational leadership to this Council and ensure we continue to improve the lives of the residents who live in West Dunbartonshire.
“Thank you for your continued support and please share this information with anyone who does not have access to a computer.”
Surely you mean that the former local newspaper hack is paid £129k. Earning such a salary is an entirely different thing.