Barnet Council to hire two assistant directors for £200k annually

Barnet Council is set to allocate at least £200,000 annually for two new senior officer positions aimed at tackling the authority's financial challenges. The recruitment of these two assistant directors is intended to help address a projected budget deficit of £113.5 million by the 2027/28 financial year, according to analysis by the BBC’s Shared Data Unit.

Addressing Financial Sustainability and External Review

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One of the proposed roles is an 'assistant director of finance (deputy S151 officer)'. This position is a direct response to recommendations from an external assurance review commissioned by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). The review, conducted by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (Cipfa), was a condition of £135 million in exceptional financial support granted to the council.

The Cipfa review identified areas for improvement in procurement and internal audit, noting that procurement processes were sometimes reactive in high-pressure services like children's placements and temporary accommodation. This reactive approach, the reviewers argued, limited Barnet's ability to control costs and reduce reliance on expensive external services. The report also highlighted uneven capacity in procurement, pipeline management, and benefits tracking, which could affect value for money.

The second new role will be an 'assistant director' responsible for 'financial sustainability programme delivery'. This position will support existing efforts to achieve savings, manage demand, and transform services, aligning with the council's goal of becoming financially sustainable by 2029. The council stated that hiring external consultants would be less cost-effective and increase the risk of not meeting required timescales.

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An external review made 18 recommendations for the authority, which faces a projected £113.5m budget deficit.

Salaries and Reporting Structure

Salaries for these new positions are substantial. The 'assistant director of finance (deputy S151 officer)' role will have an annual salary between £100,818 and £122,824. The 'assistant director' for financial sustainability programme delivery is expected to earn between £104,044 and £126,754 per year. Both new recruits will report to Deborah Hinde, the council's executive director of strategy and innovation.

Council leader Barry Rawlings stated at a cabinet meeting on 16 September that the administration had accepted the recommendations from the MHCLG external review. He emphasised that achieving financial sustainability is paramount, as other council objectives depend on it. The hiring moves are recommended for approval by the council’s employment sub-committee.