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1. Introduction

Ashford Borough Council's management structure came into effect at the start of the Financial Year 2005/06.

2. The Key Features

The primary purpose of the Council’s management arrangements is to ensure that the organisation as a whole implements the policies and strategies that Members of the Council have approved, in an efficient and effective manner; and to support and advise Members in discharging their various responsibilities.

The management structure revolves around seven key Business Units:

• Cultural Services
• Environmental Services
• Financial Services
• Housing Services
• ICT/Customer Services
• Legal and Democratic Services
• Planning and Development

These services are focused on delivering quality services to the community and the Heads of those Services have substantial devolved responsibility for managing their own resources in line with agreed Service Plans and within the framework of the Council's Corporate Plan, Budget, Medium Term Financial Plan and other relevant strategies.

The management structure also incorporates:

(a) A Management Team comprising a Chief Executive, a Deputy Chief Executive and a Director for Community Engagement; and

(b) A "Corporate Core" of officers responsible for key cross-cutting "corporate" activities.

• Corporate Property
• Corporate Governance
• Policy and Communications
• Personnel and Development

Financial Services and Legal and Democratic Services also provide important "corporate" services (in addition to direct customer service) and the heads of those services can to that extent be considered to be part of the "Corporate Core".

The structure is expressed in the diagram at Appendix 1.

3. Management Team

The key roles and functions of the Management Team are summarised in the diagram at Appendix 2. The "Corporate Core" Managers will provide key support to the Management Team in discharging those roles and functions. The heads of the various services will also influence the strategic direction of the authority through their participation in regular Strategic Management Team meetings, Corporate Working Groups and other specific Task Groups.

Although there is no longer any formal Directorate structure within the organisation, each member of the Management Team supervises and mentors a defined group of services.

Chief Executive

• Planning and Development
• Policy and Communications

Deputy Chief Executive

• Financial Services
• ICT/Customer Services
• Housing
• Corporate Core

Director of Community Engagement

• Cultural Services
• Environmental Services
• Legal and Democratic Services

View the Management Structure Diagram