Shake-up of council's top bosses

The proposals have to be approved by Cabinet

Some of Bristol's top-earning council officials could lose their jobs in a proposed shake-up.

Seven existing department heads - who earn about £100,000 a year - will be invited to reapply for five posts being created in the revamp.

Chief executive Jan Ormondroyd said the plan was not about cost-cutting.

One of the changes is the creation of the new City Development department, which combines leisure with planning, transport and sustainable development.

The five new posts will only be open to internal applicants only - but the two others, deputy chief executive and the director of transformation, will also be externally advertised.

Ms Ormondroyd said: "While there have been some recent improvements in performance, the council's delivery and partnership working have sometimes been found wanting.

"We need to be more corporate and customer-focused in our behaviour."

EXISTING DEPARTMENTS AND HEADS Children & Young People's Services (Heather Tomlinson) Culture & Leisure Services (Stephen Wray) Planning, Transport & Sustainable Development (David Bishop) Neighbourhood & Housing Services (Graham Sims) Adult Community Care (Annie Hudson) Central Support Services (Carew Reynell) Chief Executives Department (Terry Wagstaff)

She said much of the proposal had been written before she took up her post earlier this month, and that the council "lagged behind" others in terms of business transformation.

The proposals will be looked at by the council cabinet on 1 May and will then need to be approved by the human resources committee.

The five new departments will be: Health & Adult Social Care; Children, Young People & Skills; City Development; Neighbourhoods and Resources.

Between them, the five new directors and those in the two new posts will earn about £1,160,000.

Bristol City Council employs more than 16,000 people.