Elected members have agreed changes to executive leadership roles at East Lothian Council.
Some interim senior management reporting arrangements have been in place since the retirement of the previous Executive Director – Place.
It has been agreed that responsibilities will be reallocated between the council’s two remaining Executive Directors – Lesley Brown and Sarah Fortune - on a formal, permanent basis.
The two roles will remain at the same level with no change to remuneration or conditions, but be redesignated as ‘Depute Chief Executive Children and Communities’ and ‘Depute Chief Executive Resources and Economy’ to reflect their wider responsibilities.
Both Depute Chief Executives will continue to report to Chief Executive, Laurence Rockey. Along with Fiona Wilson - Director of the East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership – these senior officers will continue to make up the council’s Executive Team.
The Head of Children’s Services, Head of Community Services, Head of Education and Head of Housing will report to Ms Brown.
The Head of Corporate Support, Head of Development, Head of Finance and Head of Infrastructure will report to Ms Fortune.
The Head of Operations with the East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership will continue reporting to Ms Wilson.
The vacant Executive Director – Place post has been deleted.
Chief Executive Laurence Rockey said:
“The changes will ensure the council maintains effective and collaborative leadership, working alongside elected members and colleagues across the organisation to respond to the challenges and opportunities we face as an organisation, while continuing to deliver on our council plan.”
Council Leader Norman Hampshire added:
“It’s vital that the council has the senior leadership capacity to continue delivering on priorities for the benefit of people in East Lothian in a difficult operating environment and these changes support this.”