A council boss says a major leadership shake-up including redundancies is needed to tackle “great failings” at the “traumatised” authority and to make it fit for the future. Chief executive of Brighton and Hove City Council Jess Gibbons wants to “flatten” the organisation by removing and merging senior management roles to push decision making closer to the front line. The restructure of senior leadership, which was finalised this week following a consultation, has seen a dozen roles at the council axed at a saving of £1.
2 million and comes into effect on January 1. Ms Gibbons, who started as chief executive in March, said the more efficient and streamlined structure will enable the council to better deal with the “wicked” and “knotty” issues it faces including a housing crisis, “stark” inequalities in the city and the fallout from the damning report on Cityclean. A 17-page report on the council waste service by King’s Counsel Aileen McColgan was published in November 2023 after whistleblowers came forward alleging sex discrimination, racial harassment and other abuses.
Jess Gibbons became chief executive in March (Image: Justine Desmond) Ms Gibbons spoke of creating a “learning organisation which is connected, confident, creative and innovative, diverse and inclusive, healthy and psychologically safe and is one where the council thrives under all future administrations”. “When I first arrived in the authority a decision had been made before me.
