A shake-up of Angus Council’s committee structure is on the cards following a think tank recommendation.
However, the council’s top official has warned such change could lead to “reputational damage”.
The think tank also proposes changes to the way committees operate to achieve savings.
Angus councillors will be asked to agree changes to the committee structure from January at Tuesday’s special meeting in Forfar.
There are currently 10 committees, excluding the quarterly full council meeting, and the changes would bring that figure down to nine including five in a revised form.
However, a joint report by chief executive Richard Stiff and legal services head Sheona Hunter said: “In particular there are risks that the implementation of new arrangements will lead to uncertainty about decision making processes and cause delay or interruption to the business of the council.
“This might lead to reputational damage and possible adverse appraisal by bodies responsible for scrutinising the council’s operations.
“To mitigate these risks appropriate guidance and support will be provided to all elected members, and conveners and vice-conveners in particular.”
The member/officer group (MOG) that has recommended the new structure was headed by councillor Rob Murray.
There would be five “thematic committees” under the restructure.
They are:
* Social work and health.
* Children and learning (education and social work children’s services).
* Communities (the corporate services with the remit for neighbourhood services and infrastructure services).
* Development and enterprise.
* Policy and resources (strategic policy and corporate services).
Based on the new committee structure, members will also be asked to determine the arrangements for their pay from the provision of £547,920.
The scrutiny and audit committee would continue in its current form, while development standards, the civic licensing committee and the licensing board would also remain unchanged.
MOG also considered a number of changes in the operating arrangements of council committees and the council, including:
* Job outlines for conveners and vice-conveners and establishing a finance convener.
* Revision of report templates and writing guidance to reduce the length and complexity of reports.
* Avoidance of reports that require only to be noted, thereby reducing agenda length and printing costs and concentrating members’ attention and time on matters requiring discussion and decision.
* Developing the provision and use of digital versions of reports and supporting papers in meetings.
* Revising the council’s approach to scheduling committees to reduce attendance and travel requirements.