COUNCILLORS have this week made positive moves to implement a new management structure at the town hall.

The plans, which will be recommended to the finance committee in a couple of months, will see up to 14 members of staff having to formally apply for positions which they currently hold in a temporary or acting capacity. The most significant of these jobs is that of chief executive/town clerk - currently held by the city's treasurer, David Corker.

Mr Corker jointly took on the duties with the then Director of Development, Charles Wilson, after the former town clerk, John Burrows controversially left the town hall through what has been described as a "clash of management styles".

It is understood the council will be seeking external applicants for the post but all current holders of these positions will be free to submit their applications for the selection panel's consideration. Surprisingly ten of the 14 temporary roles are at the director level or service head level and it is thought councillors were unhappy with the interim nature of the structure as it stands and that a more permanent arrangement would help lead the council in the new millennium.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.