Recent retirements will see a shake up at the top of Pembrokeshire County Council (writes Katy Jenkins).

A restructure of senior management at County Hall looks likely to go ahead after it was approved by the senior staff committee on Monday (June 25).

Four of six recommendations made by chief executive Ian Westley will go to full council for further approval while two were within the remit of the committee.

These were that management of the tourism team be assigned to the head of culture and leisure, following the retirement of the head of regeneration and that the interim head of ICT post be advertised as a permanent or open-ended contract with a salary range of £59,375 to £65,310.

At the committee meeting, Mr. Westley said that consideration of senior management was being reviewed more generally, but his report regarding restructure ‘deals with some short term and possible issues raring because of recent retirements.’

Pembrokeshire council’s heads of public protection and regeneration have both recently left the authority.

The committee were also reminded of a peer review of regeneration services which recently concluded with initial ‘feedback’ urging an emphasis on delivery.

Clr. Reg Owens raised collaborative working with neighbouring authorities, asking if the retirements were an ‘opportunity to amalgamate’ posts?

Mr. Westley said it had been considered but not found to be suitable at this time.

The changes agreed for full council discussion include making the director of development post the director of regeneration and community services, with no change in the grade of post.

Another change would be reconfiguring the head of highways and construction post to become the head of infrastructure, reporting into the director of community services.

This will see the post regraded, with potential pay increase, to recognise the increased responsibilities of line management of future works, community regeneration and Bridge Innovation Centre.

These were previously under the director of regeneration’s umbrella.

Another redesigned post with increased grading will be the head of environmental services and public protection, reporting to the director of community services.

Management of the public protection team will be an additional responsibility and the “post of head of public protection will be deleted,” states Mr. Westley’s report.

The director of finance will be renamed director of resources with the European team brought into his remit, again formerly part of the head of regeneration’s work, with not change to the post grade.