Decision details

This item will be considered at the Special Executive meeting on Monday 15 December. This supplement is therefore being published giving the required 28 days’ notice and urgency provisions are not required.

Decision changed from key to non-key

Resolved

(1)          That following a review by the Transformation Joint Working Group and agreement by the Joint Arrangements Steering Group, the business case for options to deliver three-way joint working (annex to the minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be endorsed for consideration by Council with the following recommendations.

(2)          That, subject to South Northamptonshire and Stratford on Avon District Councils resolving in similar terms, Full Council be recommended to:

                      I.        Agree an ‘in principle’ move towards scenarios 2 and/or 4 as set out in the appended business case and its supporting papers.

                    II.        Agree that the appended business case is used as the basis for public, partner and stakeholder consultation and, subject to the outcome of that consultation not leading Members to a change of view, request that a full and final business case, taking account of the responses received to this consultation, is brought to the February 2015 Council meeting.

                   III.        Agree in principle and subject to consideration of consultation responses to include all services within the potential scope of joint working (as set out in the appended business case scenarios 2 and 4, section 6), subject to prior approval of individual business cases on a service by service basis

                  IV.        Agree in principle and subject to consideration of any consultation responses that any moves towards a confederated approach are undertaken on an incremental basis and that the first phase of services considered for inclusion are back office or support services.

                   V.        Request that additional tax and pensions advice is sought to ensure that any implementation costs associated with the confederation approach are fully quantified in any final business case.

                  VI.        Request that additional legal advice is sought to prepare governance arrangements for scenarios 2 and/or 4. This is to include arrangements such as a shareholders’ agreement and exit strategy and also the necessary transitional requirements (e.g. steering groups, shadow boards or joint committees) to oversee the establishment of joint working and/or confederation approaches. These proposals should be included as an appendix to any final business case.

                 VII.        Request that a full organisational development strategy is developed for adoption to ensure that Members and employees have the requisite skills to operate within a shared service or confederation approach should the final business case be approved.