Agenda item

** Appendix 2 (parts B and D) are exempt from publication by virtue of paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of Local Government Act 1972  **

Report of Chief Executive

Purpose of report

This report presents the final business case for a shared service and/or confederated approach to joint working and the delivery of local authority services following consideration of the draft business case by Council on the 15 of December 2014 and a period of public consultation.

Recommendations

1.1         Following consideration by Council in December 2014 and a period of public consultation Members are recommended, subject to South Northamptonshire Council resolving in similar terms, to:

1)    Note and consider the responses received to the public consultation exercise as outlined in section 3.2 of the final business case.

2)    Agree to implement scenario 5 (as set out in the appended final business case), moving towards shared services in all service areas between Cherwell District and South Northamptonshire Councils. This option should be underpinned by a planned programme of change which should commence as soon as practicable in order to contribute towards the savings required by the councils’ medium term financial strategies. 

3)    Subject to recommendation 2 being agreed to add to the Council’s adopted policy framework the establishment of shared service or joint working arrangements in any service area (subject to the approval of service specific business cases via the executive arrangements and the necessary employee consultation).

4)    Agree that the implementation costs associated with scenario 5 (as set out in part 3 of the appended business case) will be funded by general fund or earmarked reserves to be determined at year end by the Director of Resources in consultation with the Lead Member of for Financial Management at Cherwell District Council (CDC) and the Resources and Change Management Portfolio Holder at South Northamptonshire Council (SNC).

5)    Agree the draft workforce development plan as set out in appendix 2b as a framework to support the implementation of joint working and a full organisational development strategy.

6)    Agree the principles set out in appendix 2c, management arrangements, and request that the Chief Executive prepares a management structure for the future consideration of the Joint Commissioning Committee (subject to the approval of recommendation 8 below) to ensure the effective implementation of the transformation programme and on-going frontline service delivery.

7)    Receive the additional technical information provided on the feasibility of alternative models of service delivery in appendix 2d and agree to move towards a ‘confederation approach’ (scenario 6) between Cherwell District and South Northamptonshire as founding councils.  Any decisions to implement a confederation or alternative service delivery models will still be subject to specific business cases to be considered by Members. Development will be incremental and focused on business support services in the first instance.

8)    Establish a Joint Commissioning Committee and Joint Scrutiny Committee (as set out in appendix 2e) and disestablish the current Joint Personnel Committee with effect from the annual council meeting on 19 May 2015 to enhance the governance arrangements associated with the implementation of scenarios 5 (two way joint working between CDC and SNC) and further development of scenario 6, including the opportunity for additional partners to join the governance arrangements if appropriate.

9)    Commence staff and trade union consultation on the proposal to establish a Joint Councils Employee Engagement Committee (as set out in appendix 2e) with effect from the annual council meeting on 19 May 2015 to replace the current separate Cherwell and South Northamptonshire Committees.

10) Authorise the Head of Law and Governance to amend the constitution and complete a deed of variation to the Section 113 agreement with South Northamptonshire Council in order to facilitate the governance changes as set out in this report.

11) Continue to develop opportunities to extend the collaborative partnership to include like-minded councils and organisations to explore opportunities for shared services, collaboration and the commissioning of alternative service delivery models. 

Resolved

(1)          That following consideration by Council in December 2014 and a period of public consultation Members, subject to South Northamptonshire Council resolving in similar terms:

1)    That the responses received to the public consultation exercise as outlined in section 3.2 of the final business case (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be noted.

2)    That the implementation of scenario 5, moving towards shared services in all service areas between Cherwell District and South Northamptonshire Councils be agreed. This option should be underpinned by a planned programme of change which should commence as soon as practicable in order to contribute towards the savings required by the councils’ medium term financial strategies.

3)    That the establishment of shared service or joint working arrangements in any service area (subject to the approval of service specific business cases via the executive arrangements and the necessary employee consultation) be added to the Council’s adopted policy framework.

4)     That that the implementation costs associated with scenario 5 (as set out in part 3 of the appended business case) be funded by general fund or earmarked reserves to be determined at year end by the Director of Resources in consultation with the Lead Member of for Financial Management at Cherwell District Council (CDC) and the Resources and Change Management Portfolio Holder at South Northamptonshire Council (SNC).

5)    That the draft workforce development plan (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) as a framework to support the implementation of joint working and a full organisational development strategy be agreed.

6)    That the principles set out in the management arrangements (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be agreed, and the Chief Executive be requested to prepare a management structure for the future consideration of the Joint Commissioning Committee to ensure the effective implementation of the transformation programme and on-going frontline service delivery.

7)    That the additional technical information provided on the feasibility of alternative models of service delivery be received and a move towards a ‘confederation approach’ (scenario 6) between Cherwell District and South Northamptonshire as founding councils be agreed. Any decisions to implement a confederation or alternative service delivery models will still be subject to specific business cases to be considered by Members. Development will be incremental and focused on business support services in the first instance.

8)    That a Joint Commissioning Committee and Joint Scrutiny Committee (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be established and the current Joint Personnel Committee be disestablished with effect from the annual council meeting on 19 May 2015 to enhance the governance arrangements associated with the implementation of scenarios 5 (two way joint working between CDC and SNC) and further development of scenario 6, including the opportunity for additional partners to join the governance arrangements if appropriate.

9)    That staff and trade union consultation be commenced on the proposal to establish a Joint Councils Employee Engagement Committee (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) with effect from the annual council meeting on 19 May 2015 to replace the current separate Cherwell and South Northamptonshire Committees.

10) That the Head of Law and Governance be authorised to amend the constitution and complete a deed of variation to the Section 113 agreement with South Northamptonshire Council in order to facilitate the governance changes as set out in this report.

11) That opportunities continue to be developed to extend the collaborative partnership to include like-minded councils and organisations to explore opportunities for shared services, collaboration and the commissioning of alternative service delivery models.

The Chief Executive submitted a report which presented the final business case for a shared service and/or confederated approach to joint working and the delivery of local authority services following consideration of the draft business case by Council on the 15 of December 2014 and a period of public consultation.

Councillor Woodcock proposed that a recorded vote be taken. Councillor Beere seconded the proposal. Members voted as follows:

Councillor Ken Atack – For

Councillor Andrew Beere – Against

Councillor Claire Bell - Against

Councillor Maurice Billington – For

Councillor Fred Blackwell – For

Councillor Norman Bolster – For

Councillor Mark Cherry – Against

Councillor Colin Clarke - For

Councillor Surinder Dhesi – Against

Councillor John Donaldson – For

Councillor Diana Edwards - For

Councillor Andrew Fulljames – For

Councillor Michael Gibbard – For

Councillor Carmen Griffiths - For

Councillor Tim Hallchurch MBE – For

Councillor Chris Heath - For

Councillor Simon Holland – For

Councillor David Hughes – For

Councillor Russell Hurle – For

Councillor Tony Ilott – For

Councillor Ray Jelf – For

Councillor Matt Johnstone - Against

Councillor James Macnamara – For

Councillor Melanie Magee – For

Councillor Kieron Mallon – For

Councillor Nicholas Mawer – For

Councillor Nigel Morris – For

Councillor D M Pickford – For

Councillor Lynn Pratt – For

Councillor Neil Prestidge - For

Councillor Nigel Randall – For

Councillor G A Reynolds – For

Councillor Barry Richards - Against

Councillor Daniel Sames – For

Councillor Les Sibley – For

Councillor Trevor Stevens - For

Councillor Lawrie Stratford – For

Councillor Rose Stratford – For

Councillor Lynda Thirzie Smart – For

Councillor Nicholas Turner – For

Councillor Douglas Webb – For

Councillor Bryn Williams - For

Councillor Barry Wood – For

Councillor Sean Woodcock – Against

Resolved

(1)          That following consideration by Council in December 2014 and a period of public consultation Members, subject to South Northamptonshire Council resolving in similar terms:

1)    That the responses received to the public consultation exercise as outlined in section 3.2 of the final business case (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be noted.

2)    That the implementation of scenario 5, moving towards shared services in all service areas between Cherwell District and South Northamptonshire Councils be agreed. This option should be underpinned by a planned programme of change which should commence as soon as practicable in order to contribute towards the savings required by the councils’ medium term financial strategies.

3)    That the establishment of shared service or joint working arrangements in any service area (subject to the approval of service specific business cases via the executive arrangements and the necessary employee consultation) be added to the Council’s adopted policy framework.

4)     That that the implementation costs associated with scenario 5 (as set out in part 3 of the appended business case) be funded by general fund or earmarked reserves to be determined at year end by the Director of Resources in consultation with the Lead Member of for Financial Management at Cherwell District Council (CDC) and the Resources and Change Management Portfolio Holder at South Northamptonshire Council (SNC).

5)    That the draft workforce development plan (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) as a framework to support the implementation of joint working and a full organisational development strategy be agreed.

6)    That the principles set out in the management arrangements (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be agreed, and the Chief Executive be requested to prepare a management structure for the future consideration of the Joint Commissioning Committee to ensure the effective implementation of the transformation programme and on-going frontline service delivery.

7)    That the additional technical information provided on the feasibility of alternative models of service delivery be received and a move towards a ‘confederation approach’ (scenario 6) between Cherwell District and South Northamptonshire as founding councils be agreed. Any decisions to implement a confederation or alternative service delivery models will still be subject to specific business cases to be considered by Members. Development will be incremental and focused on business support services in the first instance.

8)    That a Joint Commissioning Committee and Joint Scrutiny Committee (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be established and the current Joint Personnel Committee be disestablished with effect from the annual council meeting on 19 May 2015 to enhance the governance arrangements associated with the implementation of scenarios 5 (two way joint working between CDC and SNC) and further development of scenario 6, including the opportunity for additional partners to join the governance arrangements if appropriate.

9)    That staff and trade union consultation be commenced on the proposal to establish a Joint Councils Employee Engagement Committee (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) with effect from the annual council meeting on 19 May 2015 to replace the current separate Cherwell and South Northamptonshire Committees.

10) That the Head of Law and Governance be authorised to amend the constitution and complete a deed of variation to the Section 113 agreement with South Northamptonshire Council in order to facilitate the governance changes as set out in this report.

11) That opportunities continue to be developed to extend the collaborative partnership to include like-minded councils and organisations to explore opportunities for shared services, collaboration and the commissioning of alternative service delivery models.