Agenda item

** Please note that this report will follow as it is subject to the decision of Oxfordshire County Council at their Council meeting on 10 July 2018 **

Report of Director: Customers and Service Development

Resolved

(1)          That it be agreed to give South Northamptonshire Council notice to end the Section 113 agreement that underpins the basis of joint working between the two authorities.

(2)          That relevant officers be requested to prepare a detailed plan to separate the joint working arrangements with South Northamptonshire; ensuring steps are put in place to maintain effective operational activity in accordance with the Section 113 agreement.

(3)          That it be agreed to develop joint working arrangements with Oxfordshire County Council (subject to the incremental development of specific business cases) and to enter into a Section 113 agreement (as the basis by which the joint working partnership will be delivered) delegating completion of the agreement to the Assistant Director Law and Governance in consultation with the Leader of the Council.

(4)          That the establishment of a Cherwell and Oxfordshire County Council joint Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service, in accordance with the proposed Section 113 agreement with Oxfordshire County Council, be agreed.

(5)          That the establishment of two non-executive joint committees between Cherwell District and Oxfordshire County Councils (a joint committee to deal with staffing matters and a joint appeals committee) be agreed and the Assistant Director Law and Governance (Cherwell), in consultation with the Director Law and Governance (Oxfordshire), be requested to develop terms of reference for adoption by the Councils in October (Cherwell) and November (Oxfordshire), enabling the implementation of staffing related matters as business cases are agreed for each element of joint working.

(6)          That the agreement of the Executive to establish an informal partnership working group between Cherwell District and Oxfordshire County Councils whose role will be to oversee the development and delivery of the joint working programme and also tasked with a review of joint working arrangements after the first six months of operation be noted.  

The Director for Customers and Service Development submitted a report which, following the announcement of plans to reorganise local government in Northamptonshire recommended, and set out the rationale, to give South Northamptonshire Council notice of the intention to end the Section 113 agreement thereby bringing to a close the current partnership between Cherwell and South Northants and their joint working arrangements.

The report also recommended the development of joint working arrangements with Oxfordshire County Council and the establishment of a joint Chief Executive post.

Prior to introducing the report, the Lead of the Council, Councillor Wood, made the following statement:

“This council notes the strength of the partnership between Cherwell and South Northants and the regret with which this working relationship must necessarily draw to a close. There are few partnerships that have been as long and successful as ours and over the eight years we have been working together we have delivered excellent services, flagship projects and sustained savings and efficiencies.

We wish our colleagues over the border every success with their future endeavours and whilst none of us know what the future brings we can be assured that there are councils and councillors in South Northants and Cherwell who are able to work in partnership for the benefit of local residents. We would like to formally record our thanks to colleagues and councillors across the border for their ongoing commitment and dedication to this partnership and whilst the formalities are coming to a close we can rely on on-going support and friendship between the two councils.”

Resolved

(1)           That it be agreed to give South Northamptonshire Council notice to end the Section 113 agreement that underpins the basis of joint working between the two authorities.

(2)           That relevant officers be requested to prepare a detailed plan to separate the joint working arrangements with South Northamptonshire; ensuring steps are put in place to maintain effective operational activity in accordance with the Section 113 agreement.

(3)           That it be agreed to develop joint working arrangements with Oxfordshire County Council (subject to the incremental development of specific business cases) and to enter into a Section 113 agreement (as the basis by which the joint working partnership will be delivered) delegating completion of the agreement to the Assistant Director Law and Governance in consultation with the Leader of the Council.

(4)           That the establishment of a Cherwell and Oxfordshire County Council joint Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service, in accordance with the proposed Section 113 agreement with Oxfordshire County Council, be agreed.

(5)           That the establishment of two non-executive joint committees between Cherwell District and Oxfordshire County Councils (a joint committee to deal with staffing matters and a joint appeals committee) be agreed and the Assistant Director Law and Governance (Cherwell), in consultation with the Director Law and Governance (Oxfordshire), be requested to develop terms of reference for adoption by the Councils in October (Cherwell) and November (Oxfordshire), enabling the implementation of staffing related matters as business cases are agreed for each element of joint working.

(6)           That the agreement of the Executive to establish an informal partnership working group between Cherwell District and Oxfordshire County Councils whose role will be to oversee the development and delivery of the joint working programme and also tasked with a review of joint working arrangements after the first six months of operation be noted.