Management roles shift at Capel council

The Capel Shire Council has undergone a restructure in its management hierarchy “to minimise operational risk and maximise the effectiveness of the local government workforce.”

Discussed and voted on behind closed doors at the last council meeting, the restructure included the removal of one senior management role.

According to Capel shire chief executive Ian McCabe, this coincided with the end of a fixed-term contract.

“One other contract management role was altered to better define the role but new resources will deliver additional services in community development, communications, governance and risk and ranger services, improving operations and service delivery to the community,” he said.

“Local Government is highly regulated and a complex environment with many compliance requirements making risk management a critical activity.”

The closed doors session lasted almost an hour with standing orders suspended and resulted in the motion being carried with a majority of six to two.

Councillors Jennifer Scott and Barry Bell asked their vote against the motion to be noted in the minutes but refused to comment on the nature of their opposition while shire president Murray Scott could not be reached for comment.

Mr McCabe said the changes came into effect on March 1, with three new roles created and additional hours applied to two other roles.

“The Shire of Capel is very efficient local government,” he said.

“These changes are part of council’s response to continually improving the business and workforce of the Shire of Capel.”

The recruitment process for two new positions is under way.