Agenda item

Report of Chief Executive

Purpose of report

This report provides an update on progress with regards to implementation of the business case for the confederation approach to joint working agreed by Council in February 2015. The report includes an update on the position with Stratford on Avon District Council who did not take any decisions in 2015 regarding their participation in the proposed confederation.

The report recommends the continued implementation of the confederation on a two way basis (i.e. Cherwell District Council and South Northamptonshire Council) and the cessation of any further development of the confederation approach or joint working with Stratford on Avon DC as the Council has indicated that it will not be adopting the confederation as its preferred delivery model.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1       To note the progress towards the implementation of the business case for a two way confederation approach as adopted by Council in February 2015 as the basis for the delivery of savings, increased resilience, business improvement and income generation in the medium term.

1.2         To agree that, following discussions with Stratford on Avon DC (SDC), no further three way joint working proposals with SDC be developed as SDC have indicated they do not wish to pursue the confederation as their future operating model.

1.3         To agree that the existing three way shared services (Legal and ICT) are reviewed by officers to consider their suitability for continued three way working in light of the fact that SDC do not wish to pursue the confederation and to request that, subject to the approval of recommendation 1.4 below, officers report to the Joint Commissioning Committee on proposed governance and operational delivery arrangements  to ensure effective continuation of either or both of these shared service arrangements on a three way basis should such reviews conclude that this option is considered to be desirable.

1.4         Subject to the reviews referred to in recommendation 1.3 above recommending the continuation of three way working for Legal and/or ICT, to delegate authority to the Joint Commissioning Committee to take any executive decisions on the future governance and operational delivery of the said teams to ensure the services are able to continue to meet the strategic objectives of South Northamptonshire Council, Cherwell District Council, and the confederation delivery model.

1.5         To note that SDC are willing to continue the operation of the three way transformation team until the secondment period finishes in March 2017 and recommend to Council that the Transformation Team Section 113 agreement (between Cherwell, South Northants and Stratford on Avon) be extended to reflect this (subject to a similar decision being made by SDC).

Resolved

(1)          That the progress towards the implementation of the business case for a two way confederation approach as adopted by Council in February 2015 as the basis for the delivery of savings, increased resilience, business improvement and income generation in the medium term be noted.

(2)          That it be agreed that, following discussions with Stratford on Avon DC (SDC), no further three way joint working proposals with SDC be developed as SDC have indicated they do not wish to pursue the confederation as their future operating model.

(3)          That it be agreed that the existing three way shared services (Legal and ICT) be reviewed by officers to consider their suitability for continued three way working in light of the fact that SDC do not wish to pursue the confederation and to request that officers report to the Joint Commissioning Committee on proposed governance and operational delivery arrangements  to ensure effective continuation of either or both of these shared service arrangements on a three way basis should such reviews conclude that this option is considered to be desirable.

(4)          That, subject to the reviews referred to in resolution (3) recommending  the suitability of the continuation of three way working for Legal and/or ICT, authority be delegated to the Joint Commissioning Committee to take any executive decisions on the future governance and operational delivery of the said teams to ensure the services are able to continue to meet the strategic objectives of South Northamptonshire Council, Cherwell District Council, and the confederation delivery model.

(5)          That it be noted that SDC is willing to continue the operation of the three way transformation team until the secondment period finishes in March 2017 and Full Council be recommended to agree that the Transformation Team Section 113 agreement (between Cherwell, South Northants and Stratford on Avon) be extended to reflect this (subject to a similar decision being made by SDC).

The Chief Executive submitted a report which provided an update on progress with regards to implementation of the business case for the confederation approach to joint working agreed by Council in February 2015. The report included an update on the position with Stratford on Avon District Council who did not take any decisions in 2015 regarding their participation in the proposed confederation.

The report recommended the continued implementation of the confederation on a two way basis (i.e. Cherwell District Council and South Northamptonshire Council) and the cessation of any further development of the confederation approach or joint working with Stratford on Avon DC as the Council had indicated that it will not be adopting the confederation as its preferred delivery model.

Resolved

(1)          That the progress towards the implementation of the business case for a two way confederation approach as adopted by Council in February 2015 as the basis for the delivery of savings, increased resilience, business improvement and income generation in the medium term be noted.

(2)          That it be agreed that, following discussions with Stratford on Avon DC (SDC), no further three way joint working proposals with SDC be developed as SDC have indicated they do not wish to pursue the confederation as their future operating model.

(3)          That it be agreed that the existing three way shared services (Legal and ICT) be reviewed by officers to consider their suitability for continued three way working in light of the fact that SDC do not wish to pursue the confederation and to request that officers report to the Joint Commissioning Committee on proposed governance and operational delivery arrangements  to ensure effective continuation of either or both of these shared service arrangements on a three way basis should such reviews conclude that this option is considered to be desirable.

(4)          That, subject to the reviews referred to in resolution (3) recommending  the suitability of the continuation of three way working for Legal and/or ICT, authority be delegated to the Joint Commissioning Committee to take any executive decisions on the future governance and operational delivery of the said teams to ensure the services are able to continue to meet the strategic objectives of South Northamptonshire Council, Cherwell District Council, and the confederation delivery model.

(5)          That it be noted that SDC is willing to continue the operation of the three way transformation team until the secondment period finishes in March 2017 and Full Council be recommended to agree that the Transformation Team Section 113 agreement (between Cherwell, South Northants and Stratford on Avon) be extended to reflect this (subject to a similar decision being made by SDC).

Reasons

In 2013 and early 2014 there was a high level of strategic alignment between the three councils who all committed to an innovative programme of joint working and delivered savings through the implementation of shared ICT and Legal services.

As the programme has progressed at pace for CDC and SNC and as SDC has looked increasingly to the West Midlands region as the devolution agenda has developed it is clear that the strategic fit between the three partners is no longer in place. At this stage it is believed to be the best course of action to end the partnership with SDC which will enable CDC and SNC to focus on the delivery of the next stage of their transformation programme.

Existing three way shared services will be considered in the light of this position and the best arrangements for future service delivery ascertained.

Alternative options

Not to agree the recommendations. This is rejected as following discussions with SDC at a senior political level in December 2015 it is clear that they cannot commit to the same transformation objectives as CDC and SNC.