The Chief Officer Appointments Committee of Durham County Council was scheduled to consider proposals for the restructuring of the Chief Executive's Service management structure and the creation of a new Head of Service post for Commissioning and Market Development. The meeting was also scheduled to review the minutes from a previous meeting held on 22 May 2026.

Restructure of the Chief Executive's Service Management Structure

The committee was scheduled to consider a report detailing proposals to restructure the management structure within the Chief Executive's Directorate. This review was prompted by a voluntary redundancy expression of interest from the current Head of Corporate Affairs. The report outlined plans to delete the Head of Corporate Affairs post, with its functions being realigned to other senior roles.

Key proposed changes included:

• Deletion of the Head of Corporate Affairs Post: This post was scheduled to be deleted, with its responsibilities redistributed. The report indicated that this would result in a net saving of £85,531.
• Re-alignment of Functions:
  • Data and Intelligence, and Research and Intelligence functions were scheduled to transfer to the Head of Digital Services, with the post being retitled Head of Digital, Data and Insights. This was not expected to result in a change of grade.
  • The transformation function was scheduled to be realigned to the Head of Procurement, Sales and Business Services, with the post renamed Head of Business Services, Procurement and Transformation. This realignment was expected to result in an increase in the salary grade of this post from HoS3 to HoS2.
  • Partnerships and Community Engagement, Equality and Diversity, and Strategic Planning and Performance functions were scheduled to be realigned to the Director of Legal and Democratic Services. This was proposed to result in an increase in the salary grade of the Director of Legal and Democratic Services post from HoS1 to a Director grade, repositioning it within the Tier 2 structure.
  • Communications, Marketing and Design responsibilities were scheduled to be realigned to the Communications Marketing and Design Strategic Manager, who would report directly to the Chief Executive. This was expected to increase the salary grade of this post from SM2 to SM1.

The report recommended that the committee note these proposed changes, including the deletion of the Head of Corporate Affairs post and the subsequent re-alignments and regrading of other roles. It was also recommended that the committee note the overall budget saving of £85,531 resulting from these proposals, which would contribute to the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) savings targets.

Creation of Head of Service: Head of Commissioning and Market Development

The committee was also scheduled to consider a report on the creation of a new Head of Service post for Commissioning and Market Development. This role was proposed to lead the Council's strategic commissioning service and provide support to Corporate Directors across Adult and Health Services, Children and Young People's Services, and Public Health.

The report explained that this post was being created following the withdrawal of the North-East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) from a previously joint post arrangement. The new role was deemed critical for ensuring a strategic approach to commissioning and market development, aiming to realise economies of scale and influence the provider market for children's, adult, and health services.

The proposed role was job-evaluated at HoS2 level, with an associated salary of £123,477 (budgeted cost of £158,288 including on-costs). The report indicated that the costs for this post could be met through existing budgets released from the cessation of previous joint funding arrangements. The committee was recommended to approve the creation of this post.

Minutes of Previous Meeting

The committee was scheduled to review the minutes of the meeting held on 22 May 2026. These minutes would have covered previous business conducted by the committee.