Interim Leadership Services: Case Study

Region: South East
Role: Interim Section 151 Officer
Duration: 12 months

Background

The council was facing a projected budget deficit of £25 million over the next three years, driven by rising service demand, legacy inefficiencies, and outdated operating models. The Chief Executive brought in an experienced interim s151 officer to stabilise the financial position and lead a transformation of the council’s financial and operational structures.

Objectives

• Address the structural budget deficit.
• Work with the Transformation Director to implement a new Target Operating Model across key service areas.
• Improve financial governance and forecasting.
• Identify and deliver efficiency savings without compromising service quality.

Approach

The interim s151 officer began with a rapid diagnostic review, conducting a thorough financial health check within the first 30 days. This involved identifying inefficiencies in procurement, staffing, and contract management, as well as benchmarking the council’s performance to highlight areas of overspend and underperformance.

Following this, a programme was designed alongside the Transformation Director to implement and modernise the council’s structure. The TOM focused on centralising support services such as HR, Finance, and IT, streamlining decision-making processes, and creating agile service delivery teams aligned with community outcomes. Digital tools were introduced to automate manual processes and enhance data visibility, enabling more informed and timely decision-making.

To address the budget deficit, a cross-departmental savings programme was designed, which was mainly led by the s151 which resulted in £18 million of in-year savings. These were achieved through contract renegotiations, vacancy management, workforce reshaping, and rationalisation of property assets. A three-year MTFS was also developed to ensure long-term financial sustainability.

Outcomes

• £22 million in total savings delivered within 12 months.
• Balanced budget achieved for the first time in five years.
• Audit outcomes improved, with external auditors noting “significant progress in financial resilience.

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Email: localgovernment@gatenbysanderson.com