Purpose

The purpose of this report is to consider the changes to the structure within Legal Services in order to strengthen management capacity, provide enhanced professional oversight within the litigation function and ensure the service is appropriately structured to meet increasing demand and complexity across a range of litigation disciplines.

Decision

That the Chief Executive approves the:-

·       Establishment of a Senior Solicitor post within Legal Services at PMG 1; and,

·       Disestablishment of a vacant Corporate Support Solicitor Grade Q post within Legal Services.

Alternative options considered

DO NOTHING – this option has been considered and rejected on the basis that the current management structure within the litigation team does not provide sufficient senior capacity, resilience or professional oversight to respond effectively to increasing caseloads and complexity of work.  Maintaining the current arrangements would place continued pressure on the Head of Legal Services and Information Governance and would leave the litigation team without a management structure comparable to other legal disciplines within the service.