'Service and People First' is the focus of the programme, which aims to deliver more efficiency savings (£50m over five years), provide increased opportunities for workforce development and ensure the Council focuses on service users at all times.
To help meet the objectives, councillors also approved a move from the Council's current departmental structure to a service-based structure built around five key areas: finance and customer services; corporate services; environmental services; learning and leisure services; and housing and social work services.
As a result of the changes, the seven current departmental directors will be replaced with five executive directors. They will be supported by 21 heads of service (a reduction of two). These changes will generate estimated annual savings of £464,000.
"It is planned that these changes will be the start of an ongoing process to ensure North Lanarkshire Council can continue to work and deliver high-quality, efficient and effective services," said Council leader Jim McCabe. "It is impossible for any organisation to stand still in the 21st century, particularly when we are driven by the need to continuously improve the services we provide for local people. And seven years on from our last major review - and 10 years since local government reorganisation - it is now time to look at how we best position the Council and the put the appropriate infrastructure in place to further develop and successfully meet future challenges."
All changes will come into effect by the end of March 2007.
