THE council’s top directors will take on more roles in a major review of the authority’s constitution.

Councillors agreed to make alterations to director roles after a big shake-up of the council's structure helped to save taxpayer money.

Bracknell Forest Council chief executive Timothy Wheadon said: “As part of our internal transformation programme, several months ago we revised our management structure, allowing us to make considerable savings of £137,000.

“This in turn means we can reallocate those funds to essential services for our residents.”

Speaking at a meeting of the audit and governance committee, councillor Nick Allen said the changes were “all down to the fact we have changed our structure and it is about re-wording it to match our current structure.”

New posts set to gain more roles include an executive director of people and an executive director of delivery.

Nikki Edwards currently holds the executive director for people role, having previously been the director of children, young people and learning.

This means Ms Edwards’ new role will now include looking after services for children and young people as well as services in adult social care and housing.

The executive director of delivery is a post that will also assume more roles after being converted from the director of resources.

Gill Vickers currently holds the post on an interim basis, and the executive director will now oversee leisure, arts and culture services, as well as council contracts, “services related to the disposal of the dead, cemeteries and crematoria”, Bracknell market and more.

Other new responsibilities by the executive director include overseeing the “sale of aerosol paints to children”, “functions relating to explosives” and other public protection measures.

The director of environment, culture and communities will now be known as the director of place, planning and regeneration, meaning current director Andrew Hunter will officially oversee planning applications called in by councillors, applications with more than five objections, applications which would be contrary to the council’s development plan and more.

Mr Hunter can also revoke planning permission and will handle contentious tree preservation orders in the borough too.

A director of finance will now assume the previous roles held by the borough treasurer.

The changes were agreed at a meeting of the council’s audit and governance committee on Wednesday, October 31.