A BOURNEMOUTH council boss is to have her statutory social care roles transferred elsewhere.

Jane Portman, executive director for adults and children and formerly deputy chief executive, was appointed the borough's head of paid service after the role of chief executive was made redundant in March.

In a report to the audit and governance committee, which meets on Thursday, the council says it is "not considered best practice" for the statutory chief officer roles for adult and children's social care to be held by the head of paid service.

Therefore, it proposes these roles "will become the remit of a service director post" reporting to Ms Portman, who is now to be titled "managing director".

The social care roles would be transferred to Sue Ross, service director of children’s social care.

There was some controversy when the former chief officer Tony Williams was made redundant in March, with some questioning whether the role had really been made redundant - entitling him to a redundancy package - if its statutory duties would be taken on by Ms Portman.

However, the council has denied this. In a statement, a spokesman said: "The role of managing director is fundamentally a different role, carrying out significantly different responsibilities, to that of the former chief executive post.

"Not only would Jane Portman undertake the statutory duties of head of paid service, she would also retain the strategic overview of adult social care and children’s social care.

"This includes being the lead role for the council on the work on the integration of health and social care across Dorset with our health partners in the delivery of the sustainability and transformation plan.

"Additionally, the managing director will also have direct line management and accountability for Public Health."

The spokesman added: "Reductions in the costs of chief executive and other senior manager posts was a fundamental part of the financial model which underpinned the Future Dorset proposal to create a new unitary council.

"However, the council took the decision to implement this arrangement earlier than necessary in order to mitigate immediate budget pressures and save the council £164,000 per year."

According to the report, Ms Portman would maintain "strategic oversight" of her former role.

The report indicates that the decision to grant her the title 'managing director' stems from the need to clarify "the status of the position when conducting official business outside the council".

It concludes: "It is proposed that this is adopted as the permanent senior officer model for Bournemouth council. This will be reviewed in the light of further developments arising from either local government reorganisation in Dorset or the partnership working with the Borough of Poole."