For discussion
EC(98-99)20
on 13 January 1999
ITEM FOR ESTABLISHMENT SUBCOMMITTEE
OF FINANCE COMMITTEE
| HEAD 39 - | DRAINAGE SERVICES DEPARTMENT |
Subhead 001 Salaries
Members are invited to recommend to Finance Committee -
- the deletion of one permanent post of Deputy痃irector of Accounting Services
(D3) ($127,900 - $135,550); and
- the consequential reorganisation of the directorate structure of the Drainage Services Department.
PROBLEM
Upon completion of the residual work related to the closure of the Sewage Services Trading Fund (SSTF) and a review of the remaining duties, the Director of Drainage Services (D of DS) finds that the post of Deputy Director of Accounting Services (DDAS) (D3), internally known as Business Manager (BM), is no longer fully justified.
PROPOSAL
2.D of DS proposes to delete the DDAS (D3) post and to redistribute its residual responsibilities to the Deputy Director of Drainage Services (DD of DS) (D3) and the Assistant Director/Sewage Services (AD/SS) (formerly AD/Trading Fund) (D2) on a trial basis pending a review of the existing directorate structure.
JUSTIFICATION
3.On 12 May 1995, the Finance Committee approved the creation of one post of DDAS (D3), designated as BM, to assist D of DS in developing strategic business plans for the SSTF, managing the financial accounts of the trading fund and overseeing all trading fund operations, including expenditure on major capital works projects.
4.Upon closure of the SSTF on 1 April 1998, the financial and accounting roles of BM have diminished considerably. D of DS has reviewed the continued need for the BM post and concluded that it can be deleted and its residual responsibilities distributed to DD of DS and AD/SS on a trial basis as set out in the following paragraphs.
5.The BM post has been vacant since 1 September 1998 pending deletion. DD of DS has since taken over supervision of the Sewage Services (SS) Branch (formerly SSTF Branch) and the finance and supplies activities of the Department. In addition to his original responsibilities, he is required to co-ordinate and monitor the activities of the SS Branch in implementing the Strategic Sewage Disposal Scheme (SSDS) projects and to assist D of DS in ensuring the optimum utilisation of departmental resources to achieve the best results. AD/SS has taken over the administration of the sewage charging scheme in addition to his works-related duties. He is required to deal with matters relating to the charging policy, charging standards and the relevant legislation, and to oversee the Sewage Revenue Section which is responsible for the accounting aspects of the sewage charging scheme.
6.The initial signs reveal that these arrangements have greatly increased the responsibilities of DD of DS and AD/SS and they may not be able to cope with the additional workload in the long term. When the remaining stages of the SSDS and the housing infrastructural projects pick up steam from 1999-2000 onwards, we expect that their workload will further increase. D of DS will carefully monitor the workload situation and review the directorate structure of the Department in about a year's time.
| 7.The existing and proposed organisation charts of Drainage Services Department (DSD) are at
Enclosures 1 and 2 respectively. The existing and the revised job descriptions for the DD of DS and AD/SS posts are at Enclosures 3
to 6 respectively. | Encls. 1 & 2
Encls. 3
to 6 |
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
8.This proposal will lead to savings of $1,580,400 in notional annual salary cost at mid-point and $2,801,136 in full annual average staff cost, including salaries and staff on-cost. In addition, we will delete one Personal Secretary I post in notional annual salary cost at mid-point of $291,840 and full annual average staff cost of $451,884. There are no other financial and staffing implications.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
9.The DSD is a multi-disciplinary department established in 1989 to take charge of stormwater drainage and sewage services. On 11 March 1994, the SSTF was established by resolution of the Legislative Council under the Trading Funds Ordinance to fund DSD's expenses which were incurred exclusively on sewage services. To finance the operation of the SSTF, charging for sewage services was introduced on 1 April 1995.
10.On 19 November 1997, the Provisional Legislative Council resolved to close the SSTF with effect from 1 April 1998 and to fund sewage services under the General Revenue Account thereafter.
CIVIL SERVICE BUREAU COMMENTS
11. In view of the closure of the Sewage Services Trading Fund, Civil Service Bureau supports the proposal to delete the post in question and to implement consequential reorganisation of the directorate structure of the Department.
ADVICE OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON DIRECTORATE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
12.The Standing Committee on Directorate Salaries and Conditions of Service has advised that the proposal is appropriate.
---------------------------------------
Works Bureau
January 1999
Enclosure 3 to EC(98-99)20
Existing Job Description
Deputy Director of Drainage Services
Rank : Principal Government Engineer (D3)
Major duties and responsibilities
Responsible to the Director of Drainage Services for -
(1)directing the administrative, professional, technical and general support services in the Headquarters divisions and ensuring that these services are properly co-ordinated to support the development of the Department;
(2)co-ordinating and monitoring the activities of the Operations and Maintenance Branch, Projects and Development Branch and Electrical and Mechanical Branch in implementing the department's programme plans and policy objectives;
(3)controlling all technical matters including the formulation and review of technical standards and procedures;
(4)monitoring the progress of drainage projects and sewerage projects outside the Strategic Sewage Disposal Scheme and controlling expenditure of these projects;
(5)planning and ensuring the effective deployment of financial and staffing resources; and
(6)developing administrative and human resources management policies and overseeing the management of all professional and technical grades staff under the control of the department.
Enclosure 4 to EC(98-99)20
Revised Job Description
Deputy Director of Drainage Services
Rank : Principal Government Engineer (D3)
Major duties and responsibilities
Responsible to the Director of Drainage Services for -
(1)directing the administrative, financial, professional, technical and general support services in the Headquarters divisions and ensuring that these services are properly co-ordinated to support the development of the Department;
(2)co-ordinating and monitoring the activities of the Operations and Maintenance Branch, Projects and Development Branch, Electrical and Mechanical Branch and Sewage Services Branch in implementing the department's programme plans and policy objectives;
(3)controlling all technical matters including the formulation and review of technical standards and procedures;
(4)monitoring the progress of all drainage and sewerage projects including those under the Strategic Sewage Disposal Scheme and managing and controlling project estimates and funding requirements;
(5)planning and ensuring the effective deployment of financial and staffing resources;
(6)developing administrative and human resources management policies and overseeing the management of all professional and technical grades staff under the control of the department; and
(7)ensuring proper control of departmental funds and accounting systems to meet the financial needs of the Department.
Enclosure 5 to EC(98-99)20
Existing Job Description
Assistant Director/Sewage Services
Rank : Government Engineer (D2)
Major duties and responsibilities
Responsible to the Business Manager for -
(1)directing the planning, design and construction of the Strategic Sewage Disposal Scheme (SSDS) Stage I and related sewerage projects;
(2)performing as Project Director and overseeing the implementation and project management of SSDS Stage I and related sewerage projects;
(3)acting as the Director's Representative and monitoring the performance and efficiency of consultants engaged on SSDS and related projects;
(4)planning the remaining stages of SSDS;
(5)advising and formulating policies on the organisational structure, staffing levels and skills for the implementation and operation of SSDS;
(6)overseeing the operation of the sewage charging scheme, including all matters relating to the assessment and collection of trade effluent surcharge.
(7)developing an asset management system for all the sewerage facilities;
(8)assisting the Business Manager in the overall management of the Trading Fund; and
(9)providing technical input into the preparation of annual accounts and business plans.
Enclosure 6 to EC(98-99)20
Revised Job Description
Assistant Director/Sewage Services
Rank : Government Engineer (D2)
Major duties and responsibilities
Responsible to the Deputy Director of Drainage Services for -
(1) directing the planning, design and construction of all the four stages of Strategic Sewage Disposal Scheme (SSDS) and related sewerage projects;
(2) performing as Project Director and overseeing the implementation and project management of SSDS and related sewerage projects;
(3) acting as the Director's Representative and monitoring the performance and efficiency of consultants engaged on SSDS and related projects;
(4) co-ordinating DSD's input to the joint Hong Kong Special Administrative Region/Mainland Expert Group on Sewage Disposal;
(5) developing and maintaining an asset management system for all the sewerage facilities;
(6) formulating departmental strategies and assessing resource requirements to cope with the strategic housing policy objective;
(7) directing the implementation of drainage infrastructural projects to support the housing development programme; and
(8)overseeing all policy and operation matters relating to the sewage charging scheme, including all matters relating to the assessment and collection of trade effluent surcharges.
