Issue - meetings

Report of Chief Executive

Summary

This report seeks support for the proposals to address the gaps in skills or capacity identified following the appointment to the posts in the new Joint Management Team.

Recommendations

The Executive is recommended to:

(1)               Note the outcome of the resource review.

(2)               Approve the proposals for the one-off funding requirement (6.1).

(3)               Note that business cases for any further funding requirements are being developed for member consideration.

(4)               Ask Overview and Scrutiny Committee to review the joint working arrangements during 2012/13.

Recommendations approved, subject to the following amendment to recommendation 2:

(2)       That authority be delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader and the Lead Member for Finance, to approve the proposals for the one-off funding requirement following further consideration of them by the Joint Arrangements Steering Group.

The Chief Executive submitted a report which sought support for the proposals to address the gaps in skills or capacity identified following the appointment to the posts in the new Joint Management Team.

In introducing the report, the Chief Executive explained that there were currently a large number of projects underway at Cherwell District Council and South Northamptonshire Council and a rigorous approach was required to manage them.

In considering the report, Members commented that elected Member could add value to project boards but any involvement should be relevant. In terms of the request for one-off funding, Members agreed that the proposals should be given further consideration by the Joint Arrangements Steering Group and authority delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader and the Lead Member for Finance, to approve subject to this review.

Resolved

(1)               That the outcome of the resource review be noted.

(2)               That authority be delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader and the Lead Member for Finance, to approve the proposals for the one-off funding requirement following further consideration of them by the Joint Arrangements Steering Group.

(3)               That it be noted that business cases for any further funding requirements were being developed for member consideration.

(4)               That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be requested to review the joint working arrangements during 2012/13.

Reasons

The joint management arrangements are still new and are being embedded in both organisations, whilst also delivering services.  Each council also has a number of major projects and in addition there are many changes at national level that will have an impact on all councils, such as localism, the Local Government Resource Review and the changes to the planning regime. However, the implementation of the first phase of the business case for joint working has been delivered on time and within budget, but will be kept under review as future phases are delivered.

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