Purpose

A Senior Finance Manager was appointed to the Project Delivery Unit in January 2026 to ensure the provision of Finance support within the Project Delivery Unit, supporting the delivery of the Local Regeneration Fund (LRF, formerly LUF), Capital Regeneration Projects (CRP1) and Community Regeneration Partnership (CRP2) programmes, and supporting the capacity of the corporate Finance team including during year end 2025/6.
The July 2024 Cabinet report set out the proposals and funding for the Project Delivery Unit. The Unit will provide the capacity for the organisation to delivery major projects and capital schemes, including those funded by Government. Cabinet allocated funding to appoint staff to the Project Delivery Unit on a fixed term basis for up to two years, which ends on 11 November 2026. A review of the PDU is currently underway which may extend the team, in which case any further extension to this appointment will be subject to a separate decision.
Fixed term posts that require very significant skills and experience can be challenging to recruit to. Recruitment has been attempted for this role on a number of occasions however these have been unsuccessful, though efforts are continuing. As a result it was decided to seek a suitable candidate on a consultancy basis, using the same size budget allocated to the recruitment of the post.
The post will be appointed via the Essex Temporary Worker framework.
Reflecting the reduced ongoing requirements for Finance resource in the team now following 2025/6 closedown, the appointment will be continued on the basis of 3 day working weeks, increasing to 5 day working weeks at period of high Finance demand, accounted for in the costs stated in this decision.

Decision

To extend the appointment of an interim Senior Finance Manager via the Essex Temporary Worker Framework, for a further period through to 11 November 2026 and to a maximum value of £28,500 (exc VAT), to provide this crucial resource within the Project Delivery Unit whilst recruitment to a permanent position continues by the Finance team.
The post will be funded from the Project Delivery Unit budget via the existing allocation for the post.

Alternative options considered

This is temporary contract and thus is not subject to TUPE. Based on the current construction programmes the post will no longer be required after 31 March 2028.