Cuts to senior management roles at Lewisham Council are due to be voted on next week (February 26).  

Four bosses are at risk after the new chief executive got rid of eight director roles, including director of law, director of environment, director of strategy and communication, director of corporate governance and policy, director of strategy and partnerships, director of human resources and organisational development, director of public protection and safety, and director of culture and community development. 

According to a newly published report, the posts will be replaced by four new roles, including director of culture, learning and libraries, director of communities, partnerships and leisure, director of public realm, and director of law, governance and HR. 

A new assistant chief executive role, which will be paid between £108,000 and £115,000, was created in the shake-up.  

Directors are paid between £97,000 and £103,000.  

In a report, due to be presented to full council next week, chief executive Kim Wright said: “I have been impressed by the commitment, competence and dedication that I have seen from officers and there is clearly huge ambition and pride amongst the workforce.  

“There is much great work to build on and huge potential to release.  

“It is a privilege to be chief executive and head of paid service here.  

“My view that has formed is that in order to build on these strengths, better harness the organisation’s potential and deliver the corporate strategy at pace, there is a need for change to refocus some areas of our work, realign some services and refresh the organisation’s culture.  

“In practice, this will mean, alongside continuing to deliver the corporate strategy and ‘business as usual’ services, my focus, and that of the senior leadership team, will be on the following seven priority areas over the next year.” 

Priorities include working more collaboratively, financial management, residents, and communications.  

Ms Wright said: “These changes are to enable the organisation to better address the challenges we face while harnessing and maximising the opportunities available to us. 

“From staff surveys, member and staff feedback along with my personal face-to-face interactions, it is clear to me that there is a need to develop and embed a culture that encourages collaboration, creativity and leadership at all levels.” 

According to the report, the staff cuts will bring in a net saving of £271,000.  

Councils around the country have been cutting staff to fund local services.  

Last month, Blackpool announced that it would have to cut 75 jobs, most of which would be voluntary redundancy, to close a £5 million funding gap.   

Stoke-on-Trent City Council said it plans to cut 78 jobs to pay for children and adult care.