To hear from Althea Loderick, the new chief executive of Southwark Council.
Note: This item had to be deferred from the last meeting.
Minutes:
The committee heard from Althea Loderick, Chief Executive, Southwark Council.
By way of introduction Althea informed the committee of her areas of focus since her arrival at Southwark, which were getting to know the borough, the people, the businesses, the partners, voluntary, community and faith sector. Undertaking Ward visits, which would continue.
Althea outlined her priorities upon arrival to the borough in relation to:
· Cost of Living Crisis
· Design and deliver the Council delivery plan – significant area of focus.
· Development of a new Borough Plan (Southwark Borough Plan to 2030) which expresses the vision for Southwark as a place in 2030. The plan to be co-developed across the council and with council partners, businesses, residents and communities.
· Southwark Stands Together, the council’s commitment to tackling racism, discrimination and inequality in Southwark, and for her as chief executive a real focus on what that means for the workforce and the way in which the council works.
Althea stated that one of the things that attracted her to Southwark was that it was already a high functioning council, as such upon arrival she did not see the need to make lots of changes, however she stressed the importance of the council being the right shape and operating the right way to achieve the priorities that she was here to deliver. This would mean paying attention to what would be necessary to ensure that the council was a people powered council, and to ensure that those values of equality and fairness ran through the way the organisation operates and that the council was structured appropriately to deliver on the plan as one council working collaboratively, and in partnership across the council and across all that makes up Southwark.
Following the Chief Executive’s initial address, questions, comments and discussion were held along the following lines:
· Request for feedback to ward members, arising from issues raised during Ward visits
· Change in governance arrangements in relation to diversity and inclusion/ Southwark Stands Together.
· Conversations to date around future use of 160 Tooley Street in light of change in how office space and use has changed [since the Covid 19 pandemic].
· Change in flexible working arrangements.
· Borough Plan to 2030, including how work will be undertaken with Overview and Scrutiny Committee in respect of the development of the plan.
· Promoting a culture of problem solving and innovation, being set from the top to address long standing problems organisationally, and in different communities, and services.
· Cost of running 160 Tooley Street, and any long term vision for a purpose built Town Hall.
The following key points were made in response to some of the questions asked:
Ward visit feedback
· Chief Executive’s PA provides initial feedback to Chief Executive, and then follows up with her on how matters have been dealt with.
Use of Office Space (Tooley Street)
· Programme underway which involves reviewing the use of all council buildings/council estate.
Governance around Southwark Stands Together
· Chief Executive will be chairing the oversight board for delivery of the Southwark Stands Together work streams (previously chaired at director level reporting to the chief officer team).
Changes to flexible working arrangements
· Flexible work continues to be available where it is appropriate for those arrangements to be in place.
· No intention to completely abandon flexible working.
· Impact of changes to flexible working arrangements in terms of adverse effects on staff is being monitored. Expecting to receive feedback from staff and through the trade unions.
· Working with Director of HR to ensure there is consistency and fairness in respect of management decisions in respect of work life balance applications.