Negotiations are underway to fix leaving packages with head of housing services Chris Broughton and head of building works Andy Hill. Their jobs are to be combined in a revamp of the housing service.
The moves emerged as the council awaits an Audit Commission report into corporate governance. Councillors were given an informal briefing on the findings last month, and meet again this week for formal feedback.
Rotherham has been under pressure since a fiasco over its funding for the National Local Government Forum Against Poverty, which revealed serious deficiencies in project control.
Last year, the council invited the Improvement and Development Agency to report on all aspects of its work. It found very little had been done on Best Value.
New chief executive Ged Fitzgerald was appointed from outside in response to an IDeA recommendation, with a brief to lead the current shake-up.
A further IDeA report last Septem-ber found weaknesses in the housing department. It said: “The council’s strategy contains little real analysis of the current challenges and long-term options. The general condition of stock is low, there is substantial outstanding debt and a lack of local demand.”
It described “widespread disillusionment” in housing from previous restructuring, and cited insular and competitive attitudes. “Many of the same managers have been recycled and are felt to be ineffective, leaving staff morale at a low ebb.” The client/contractor split was hampering change and muddling messages, it added.
Source
Housing Today
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