Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive communications from the Chairman.

The Chairman made the following announcement:

1.    Under the Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014,members of the public were permitted to film, broadcast and report on the meeting, subject to the efficient running of the meeting not being affected.

Report of Chief Executive

Purpose of report

This report presents the draft business case for a shared service and/or confederated approach to joint working and the delivery of local authority services following consideration by the three way Joint Arrangements Steering Group (JASG) on 27 November 2014.

Recommendations

1.1         Following a review by the Transformation Joint Working Group and agreement by JASG, it is recommended that Cabinet endorse the attached business case for options to deliver three-way joint working for consideration by Council with the following recommendations. 

1.2         Members are recommended, subject to South Northamptonshire and Stratford on Avon District Councils resolving in similar terms, to:

                      I.        Agree an ‘in principle’ move towards scenarios 2 and/or 4 as set out in the appended business case and its supporting papers.

                    II.        Agree that the appended business case is used as the basis for public, partner and stakeholder consultation and, subject to the outcome of that consultation not leading Members to a change of view, request that a full and final business case, taking account of the responses received to this consultation, is brought to the February 2015 Council meeting.

                   III.        Agree in principle and subject to consideration of consultation responses to include all services within the potential scope of joint working (as set out in the appended business case scenarios 2 and 4, section 6), subject to prior approval of individual business cases on a service by service basis

                  IV.        Agree in principle and subject to consideration of any consultation responses that any moves towards a confederated approach are undertaken on an incremental basis and that the first phase of services considered for inclusion are back office or support services.

                   V.        Request that additional tax and pensions advice is sought to ensure that any implementation costs associated with the confederation approach are fully quantified in any final business case.

                  VI.        Request that additional legal advice is sought to prepare governance arrangements including shareholders’ agreement and exit strategy to be included as an appendix to any final business case. These arrangements should also any transitional requirements (e.g. steering groups, joint committees to oversee the establishment of the confederation).

                 VII.        Request that a full organisational development strategy is developed for adoption to aim to ensure that Members and employees have the requisite skills to operate within a confederation approach should the final business case be approved.

Resolved

(1)          That following a review by the Transformation Joint Working Group and agreement by the Joint Arrangements Steering Group, the business case for options to deliver three-way joint working (annex to the minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be endorsed for consideration by Council with the following recommendations.

(2)          That, subject to South Northamptonshire and Stratford on Avon District Councils resolving in similar terms, Full Council be recommended to:

                      I.        Agree an ‘in principle’ move towards scenarios 2 and/or 4 as set out in the appended business case and its supporting papers.

                    II.        Agree that the appended business case is used as the basis for public, partner and stakeholder consultation and, subject to the outcome of that consultation not leading Members to a change of view, request that a full and final business case, taking account of the responses received to this consultation, is brought to the February 2015 Council meeting.

                   III.        Agree in principle and subject to consideration of consultation responses to include all services within the potential scope of joint working (as set out in the appended business case scenarios 2 and 4, section 6), subject to prior approval of individual business cases on a service by service basis

                  IV.        Agree in principle and subject to consideration of any consultation responses that any moves towards a confederated approach are undertaken on an incremental basis and that the first phase of services considered for inclusion are back office or support services.

                   V.        Request that additional tax and pensions advice is sought to ensure that any implementation costs associated with the confederation approach are fully quantified in any final business case.

                  VI.        Request that additional legal advice is sought to prepare governance arrangements for scenarios 2 and/or 4. This is to include arrangements such as a shareholders’ agreement and exit strategy and also the necessary transitional requirements (e.g. steering groups, shadow boards or joint committees) to oversee the establishment of joint working and/or confederation approaches. These proposals should be included as an appendix to any final business case.

                 VII.        Request that a full organisational development strategy is developed for adoption to ensure that Members and employees have the requisite skills to operate within a shared service or confederation approach should the final business case be approved.

The Chief Executive submitted a report which presented the draft business case for a shared service and/or confederated approach to joint working and the delivery of local authority services following consideration by the three way Joint Arrangements Steering Group (JASG) on 27 November 2014.

In introducing the report, the Leader advised Members that the business case had been endorsed by the South Northamptonshire Council (SNC) Cabinet and considered by the Stratford-On-Avon District Council (SDC) Cabinet who had resolved to recommend amended recommendations, which had been tabled. The Leader confirmed that there would be no amendment to the recommendations to Executive following the decision of the SDC Cabinet.

In considering the report, Members noted that at this stage they were recommending an “in principle” agreement towards scenarios 2 and 4 and that consultation on the business case commence. Executive agreed that it was important to continue being innovative and look at all options. Members noted that the Government had awarded funding to support the work which indicated that it was supportive.

Resolved

(1)          That following a review by the Transformation Joint Working Group and agreement by the Joint Arrangements Steering Group, the business case for options to deliver three-way joint working (annex to the minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be endorsed for consideration by Council with the following recommendations.

(2)          That, subject to South Northamptonshire and Stratford on Avon District Councils resolving in similar terms, Full Council be recommended to:

                      I.        Agree an ‘in principle’ move towards scenarios 2 and/or 4 as set out in the appended business case and its supporting papers.

                    II.        Agree that the appended business case is used as the basis for public, partner and stakeholder consultation and, subject to the outcome of that consultation not leading Members to a change of view, request that a full and final business case, taking account of the responses received to this consultation, is brought to the February 2015 Council meeting.

                   III.        Agree in principle and subject to consideration of consultation responses to include all services within the potential scope of joint working (as set out in the appended business case scenarios 2 and 4, section 6), subject to prior approval of individual business cases on a service by service basis

                  IV.        Agree in principle and subject to consideration of any consultation responses that any moves towards a confederated approach are undertaken on an incremental basis and that the first phase of services considered for inclusion are back office or support services.

                   V.        Request that additional tax and pensions advice is sought to ensure that any implementation costs associated with the confederation approach are fully quantified in any final business case.

                  VI.        Request that additional legal advice is sought to prepare governance arrangements for scenarios 2 and/or 4. This is to include arrangements such as a shareholders’ agreement and exit strategy and also the necessary transitional requirements (e.g. steering groups, shadow boards or joint committees) to oversee the establishment of joint working and/or confederation approaches. These proposals  ...  view the full minutes text for item 96.

The following report contains exempt information as defined in the following paragraphs of Part 1, Schedule 12A of Local Government Act 1972.

3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Members are reminded that whilst the following item has been marked as exempt, it is for the meeting to decide whether or not to consider it in private or in public. In making the decision, members should balance the interests of individuals or the Council itself in having access to the information. In considering their discretion members should also be mindful of the advice of Council Officers.

No representations have been received from the public requesting that this item be considered in public.

Should Members decide not to make a decision in public, they are recommended to pass the following recommendation:

“That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the ground that, if the public and press were present, it would be likely that exempt information falling under the provisions of Schedule 12A, Part 1, Paragraph 3 would be disclosed to them, and that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.”

As there were no questions arising on the exempt minutes, it was not necessary to resolve to exclude the press and public.

Resolved

(1)          That the exempt appendices to agenda item 4, Developing the approach to Joint Working and the Delivery of Local Authority Service Draft  Business Case, be noted.