FOURTH REPORT OF SESSION
2007-08 FROM THE HOUSE COMMITTEE
SENIOR MANAGEMENT RESTRUCTURE
1. The Committee have considered
proposals for changes in the structure of Black Rod's department
and the management of the Refreshment Department, to take effect
from Sir Michael Willcocks' retirement from the post of Black
Rod in May 2009.
2. The Committee notes that the
Clerk of the Parliaments has reviewed the responsibilities of
Black Rod's post, and accepts his conclusion that a very significant
increase in Black Rod's responsibilities has taken place in recent
years, not least through the acquisition of additional buildings
on the Parliamentary Estate and the heightened security needs.
3. It is, therefore, proposed
that the senior management team should be strengthened with a
new post of Director of Facilities. This would allow the post
of Black Rod to focus on the traditional aspects of the role as
Gentleman Usher, Secretary to the Lord Great Chamberlain and Serjeant
at Arms, including security, order in the House, the doorkeepers,
ceremonial duties, events, public access and the Sovereign's residual
estate at Westminster. The new Director of Facilities would have
responsibility for works, accommodation, facilities and services,
and would also be the Management Board member responsible for
the Refreshment Department.
4. Both Black Rod and the Director
of Facilities would need to work closely together and to be easily
and readily accessible and responsive to Members. Both post-holders
would be members of the Management Board.
5. The Director of Facilities
would need to have appropriate experience and expertise and the
post is likely to be linked to a senior civil service grade.
The cost of the new post of Director of Facilities will be in
the order of £100,000 per annum, dependent upon advice on
the grading of the post, and the background and experience of
the individual recruited.
6. The Committee agreed to make
the following recommendations to the House:
a) that a new post of Director
of Facilities should be created, with responsibility for works,
accommodation and certain facilities and services. The new post
would also be the Management Board member responsible for the
Refreshment Department. The post should report directly to the
Clerk of the Parliaments.
b) that, following the appointment
of a Director of Facilities, Black Rod should have responsibility
for security, order in the House, ceremonial duties, events, public
access and the doorkeepers, together with duties relating to the
Sovereign's residual estate in the Palace of Westminster. The
post-holder should continue to report directly to the Clerk of
the Parliaments, and would be a member of the Management Board.
c) that the Head of Catering Services,
who at present reports to the Director of Human Resources, should
report in future to the new Director of Facilities.
7. The Committee agreed that,
having made its recommendation in principle, it would return to
the issue to consider in more detail the allocation of responsibilities
between the two posts, and to note the revised management structure
consequent on the changes.
8. The House is invited to
agree to the recommendations in paragraph 6.
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