19 November 2010
There is to be a senior management shake-up at the Department for Communities and Local Government following the departures of two directors general, it was announced yesterday.
Joe Montgomery, DG for regions and communities, will leave the department in January 2011 to pursue a career in sustainable urban development.
Last week, it was announced that Irene Lucas, DG for local government and regeneration, would leave DCLG next March.
Following these departures, two other DGs will head up two new policy groups as part the effort to streamline management at the department.
David Prout, currently director general for communities at the department, will lead the localism group. Richard McCarthy, currently director general for housing and planning, will lead the neighbourhoods group.
A third DG with responsibility for finance and corporate services is currently being recruited.
Montgomery said: ‘I am excited by the DCLG’s new agenda of localism, decentralisation and the Big Society. I feel, however, that it is time for me to make my own contribution to public service and the Big Society in new ways.’
Overall the number of DCLG staff working at director level is to be reduced from 21 to 15.
DCLG permanent secretary Sir Bob Kerslake told staff last month that up to 40% of jobs at the department might go. Following the Comprehensive Spending Review, administrative budgets for the department are to cut by 33% over the next four years.
