Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interest and the nature of that interest that they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.

Members declared interests in the following agenda items:

11. Joint Public Protection Service - Draft Business Case.

Councillor Nicholas Turner, Declaration, as a personal licence holder.

14. Joint Public Protection Service - Draft Business Case - Exempt Appendix.

Councillor Nicholas Turner, Declaration, as a personal licence holder.

The Chairman to report on any requests to submit petitions or to address the meeting.

There were no petitions or requests to address the meeting.

To receive communications from the Chairman.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 29 October 2015.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 29 October 2015 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Chairman to advise whether they have agreed to any item or urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

There were no items of urgent business.

The following items of business contain exempt information as defined in the following paragraphs of Part 1, Schedule 12A of Local Government Act 1972.

1     Information relating to any individual

2     Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual

3     Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

4     Information relating to any consultations or negotiations, or contemplated consultations or negotiations, in connection with any labour relations matter arising between the authority or a Minister of the Crown and employees of, or office holders under, the authority.

Members are reminded that whilst the following items have been marked as exempt, it is for the meeting to decide whether or not to consider each of them in private or in public. In making the decision, members should balance the interests of individuals or the Council itself in having access to the information. In considering their discretion members should also be mindful of the advice of Council Officers.

Should Members decide not to make a decision in public, they are recommended to pass the following recommendation:

“That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business, on the grounds that they could involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4 of Schedule 12A of that Act.”

Resolved

That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business, on the grounds that they could involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4 of Schedule 12A of that Act.

Please note that any applications will follow as the closing date is after agenda publication.

The Chief Executive submitted an exempt report which sought consideration of applications for voluntary redundancy/early retirement arising from the first phase of the management restructure.

Resolved

(1)          As set out in the exempt minutes.

(2)          As set out in the exempt minutes.

(The Democratic and Elections Team Leader left the meeting at the conclusion of this item)

Please note that any applications will follow as the closing date is after agenda publication.

The Committee considered the application that had been received for the post of Director – Operational Delivery. The committee saw the applicant and asked a number of questions.

Following the interview the committee evaluated the application and considered the supporting information from the recruitment consultant, Berwick Partners.

Resolved

(1)       That Cherwell District Council and South Northamptonshire Council appoint Ian Davies as Director – Operational Delivery.

The meeting adjourned between 8.20pm and 8.30pm.

Following the adjournment, the Business Transformation Manager, the Transformation Project Managers and the Democratic and Elections Team Leader joined the meeting.

The Chief Executive presented the exempt appendix to the report of the Director of Community and Environment which presented the draft business case for a Joint Public Protection Service across Cherwell District and South Northamptonshire Councils and updated the Committee on the outcome of the job evaluation process.

The Chief Executive presented the exempt appendix to the report of the Director of Community and Environment which presented the draft business case for a Joint Customer Services team across Cherwell District and South Northamptonshire Councils and updated the Committee on the outcome of the job evaluation process.

In considering the report, Members commented on the importance of Customer Services as a frontline service and therefore ensuring that customer satisfaction  

The Committee to resolve to readmit the public and press.

Resolved

That the public and press be re-admitted.

Report of Director of Community and Environment

Purpose of report

This report presents the draft business case for a Joint Public Protection Service across Cherwell District and South Northamptonshire Councils (hereafter Cherwell or CDC and South Northamptonshire or SNC respectively).

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1        To consider the attached draft business case (exempt appendix) and endorse the business case for consultation with staff and trade unions.

1.2         To note that the financial case will be finalised once the job evaluation process has been completed. Costs are not expected to be higher than those included in the draft business case, but may be lower. The job evaluation process is expected to be completed ahead of the JCC meeting on the 16 November and a verbal update will be presented on the day highlighting any changes.

Having readmitted the press and public, the Committee voted on the recommendations.

Resolved

(1)          That the draft business case for a Joint Public Protection Service be endorsed as a basis for consultation with staff and trade unions.

(2)          That the verbal update following the completion of the job evaluation process be noted.

Report of Director of Community and Environment

Purpose of report

This report presents the draft business case for a Joint Customer Service across Cherwell District and South Northamptonshire Councils (hereafter Cherwell or CDC and South Northamptonshire or SNC respectively).

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1        To consider the draft business case for a Joint Customer Service Team and endorse this business case as a basis for consultation with staff and trade unions.

1.2         To note that the financial case will be finalised once the job evaluation process has been completed. Costs are not expected to be higher than those included in the draft business case, but may be lower. The job evaluation process is expected to be completed by the 12 November 2015 and a verbal update will be provided.

Having readmitted the press and public, the Committee voted on the recommendations.

Resolved

(1)          That the draft business case for a Joint Customer Services be endorsed as a basis for consultation with staff and trade unions.

(2)          That the verbal update following the completion of the job evaluation process be noted.