Decision details

The Head of Law and Governance submitted an exempt report which outlined the proposal for a three way joint Legal service between Cherwell District Council (CDC), South Northamptonshire Council (SNC) and Stratford on Avon District Council (SDC). The proposal was part of the wider transformation programme across the three Councils and driven by a need to ensure that the three Councils not only survive the financial challenges of the future years, but go on to grow and prosper as individual sovereign bodies.

Resolved

(1)          That the responses to the consultation process with the affected staff and trade union representatives be noted.

(2)          That it be noted that the business case would be considered by the Personnel Committee on 2 July 2014.

(3)          That approval be given for the implementation of the proposed final business case to share a joint Legal service between Cherwell District Council (CDC), South Northamptonshire Council (SNC) and Stratford-On-Avon District Council (SDC), subject to similar consideration and approval by the respective decision making bodies of SNC and SDC.

Reasons

The business case represents a major milestone in the transformation programme across CDC, SNC and SDC. The proposed joint team will increase resilience (including in the Land Charges function), improve the quality and broaden the range of services provided, increase income earning opportunities and reduce external legal expenditure across the three Councils.

Alternative Options

Option One: To reject the proposal meaning the three Legal services continue to operate independently. This would not deliver the benefits or financial savings to any of the three Councils, the improvements to the customer, or the transformational change that is associated with the DCLG funding awarded to the Councils as part of the Transformation Challenge award.

Option Two: Approve the business case as attached.