Agenda item

Report of Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy and Head of Development Management

Purpose of report

This report presents the final business cases for a Joint Planning Policy and Growth Strategy Team and a Joint Design and Conservation Team across Cherwell District and South Northamptonshire Councils (hereafter Cherwell or CDC and South Northamptonshire or SNC respectively).

The report recommends the formation of a Joint Planning Policy and Growth Strategy Team and a Joint Design and Conservation Team and in doing so seeks the Executive’s agreement for the non-staffing elements of the business cases.

The proposal is part of the wider transformation programme across the two Councils.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1       To consider the attached final business case and the consultation responses in relation to non-staffing matters as outlined in section 5.1.

1.2         To note that the business case will be considered by the Joint Commissioning Committee with regard to staffing matters on 1 December 2016. This will include consideration of the consultation responses from affected staff and trade union representatives.

1.3         To approve and implement the proposed final business case to create a Joint Planning Policy and Growth Strategy Team and a Joint Design and Conservation Team between CDC and SNC, subject to similar consideration and approval by SNC Cabinet on 12 December 2016 and approval of the staffing implications by the Joint Commissioning Committee.

1.4         To delegate to the Head of Development Management and the Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy in consultation with the Leader of the Council any non-significant amendment that may be required to the business case following the decision by SNC Cabinet and/or the Joint Commissioning Committee.

Resolved

(1)          That having given due consideration, the final business cases for a Joint Planning Policy and Growth Strategy Team and a Joint Design and Conservation Team and the consultation responses in relation to non-staffing matters be noted.

(2)          That it be noted that the business cases were considered and approved by the Joint Commissioning Committee with regard to staffing matters on 1 December 2016 and that this included consideration of the consultation responses from affected staff and trade union representatives.

(3)          That, subject to similar consideration and approval by South Northamptonshire Council Cabinet on 12 December 2016 and following approval of the staffing implications by the Joint Commissioning Committee on 1 December 2016, the proposed final business case to create a Joint Planning Policy and Growth Strategy Team and a Joint Design and Conservation Team between Cherwell District Council and South Northamptonshire Council be approved for implementation.

(4)          That authority be delegated to the Head of Development Management and the Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy in consultation with the Leader of the Council any non-significant amendment that may be required to the business case following the decision by South Northamptonshire Council Cabinet.

The Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy and Head of Development Management submitted a report which presented the final business cases for a Joint Planning Policy and Growth Strategy Team and a Joint Design and Conservation Team across Cherwell District and South Northamptonshire Councils.

The report recommended the formation of a Joint Planning Policy and Growth Strategy Team and a Joint Design and Conservation Team and in doing so sought the Executive’s agreement for the non-staffing elements of the business cases, the staffing elements having been approved by the Joint Commissioning Committee at their meeting of 1 December 2016.

The proposal was part of the wider transformation programme across the two Councils.

Resolved

(1)          That having given due consideration, the final business cases for a Joint Planning Policy and Growth Strategy Team and a Joint Design and Conservation Team and the consultation responses in relation to non-staffing matters be noted.

(2)          That it be noted that the business cases were considered and approved by the Joint Commissioning Committee with regard to staffing matters on 1 December 2016 and that this included consideration of the consultation responses from affected staff and trade union representatives.

(3)          That, subject to similar consideration and approval by South Northamptonshire Council Cabinet on 12 December 2016 and following approval of the staffing implications by the Joint Commissioning Committee on 1 December 2016, the proposed final business case to create a Joint Planning Policy and Growth Strategy Team and a Joint Design and Conservation Team between Cherwell District Council and South Northamptonshire Council be approved for implementation.

(4)          That authority be delegated to the Head of Development Management and the Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy in consultation with the Leader of the Council any non-significant amendment that may be required to the business case following the decision by South Northamptonshire Council Cabinet.

Reasons

The recommendation is to establish a Joint Planning Policy and Growth Strategy Team and a Joint Design and Conservation Team between CDC and SNC.

The draft business cases set out the rationale for establishing the joint teams and in particular for deferring the savings from the Joint Planning Policy and Growth Strategy Team for two years to allow the completion of the 3 Local Plans.

Alternative options

The following alternative options have been identified and rejected as part of the development of the Joint Planning Policy and Growth Strategy Business Case:

Status Quo (No Change)

Retaining the status quo is an option; however both Councils have fairly small Planning Policy teams. Retaining the status quo while reflecting the different Local Plan positions of each council would not deliver the benefits set out in this business case or provides the additional resilience and shared expertise that a joint team could provide at a time of planning reform and following Brexit pressure to support additional growth.

Outsource Service

The preparation and monitoring of the local plans is a statutory responsibility and as such it is not considered appropriate to outsource the service without compromising the planning role of each district council.

Joint Planning Policy and Conservation Team

Although there are some synergies between both areas of work, it is considered that the best model for joint working is to have two distinct joint functions covering planning policy and design and conservation. It should be noted that there are equally (if not more) synergies between these service areas and development management.

The following alternative options have been identified and rejected as part of the development of the Joint Design and Conservation Business Case:

Status Quo (No Change)

Retaining the status quo is an option; however both Councils have fairly small Design and Conservation/Conservation teams. Retaining the status quo would not deliver the financial benefits set out in this business case or provide the additional resilience and shared expertise that a joint team would provide.

Outsource Service

The Councils could seek to outsource the service; however this is not considered a preferred option. Both Councils have well established teams that deliver a good service. The preferred option is to bring the existing teams together, build on that experience and expertise and seek opportunities to trade.

Joint Planning Policy and Conservation Team

Although there are some synergies between both areas of work, it is considered that the best model for joint working is to have two distinct joint functions covering planning policy and design and conservation. It should be noted that there are equally (if not more) synergies between these service areas and development management.

The approach in the recommendations is believed to be the best way forward. The proposal is to establish a Joint Planning Policy and Growth Strategy Team and a Joint Design and Conservation Team.