The Director of Customers and Service Development and Assistant Director: Law and Governance submitted an urgent report for Executive to agree in principle, subject to agreement by Council, to give South Northamptonshire Council notice of the intention to end the Section 113 agreement. Furthermore, and subject to agreement by Council, to develop joint working arrangements with Oxfordshire County Council and to the establishment of a joint Chief Executive post.
In introducing the report, the Chairman explained that the proposed joint working partnership was not connected to, and would not deliver, unitary reorganisation proposals. It would offer an innovative opportunity to make two tier local government more effective.
Resolved
(1) That, subject to agreement by Council, it be agreed in principle, to give South Northamptonshire Council notice of the intention to end the Section 113 agreement.
(2) That, subject to agreement by Council, it be agreed in principle to develop joint working arrangements with Oxfordshire County Council and the establishment of a joint Chief Executive post.
(3) That, subject to agreement by Council, authority be delegated to the Assistant Director Law and Governance, in consultation with the Leader, the finalisation of a s113 Agreement including joint committees to allow for implementation as business cases are agreed for each element of joint working.
(4) That the establishment of an informal Partnership Working Group to oversee the development of joint working be agreed.
Reasons
Following a review of the strategic case, potential financial and operational benefits; this report recommends Cherwell District Council enters into a joint working partnership with Oxfordshire County Council. This follows the necessary decision to separate from SNC as the moves to establish new unitary arrangements for Northamptonshire will inevitably unpick the joint service delivery arrangements between CDC and SNC.
The report sets out the strategic case, draft principles for joint working, potential financial advantages as well as identifying opportunities for innovative practice in terms of two tier working.
The report clearly recommends an incremental approach; with the establishment of a joint Chief Executive as a first step and then the consideration of further opportunities on a business case by business case approach. The report notes that the models for joint / shared chief executives are an established delivery model for both county and district roles.
The model proposed has been adopted in other counties and CDC has experience of a successful joint working partnership with SNC. With the use of formal joint committees and informal member working groups covered by a section 113 agreement the sovereignty of both councils is maintained. Indeed the draft section 113 agreement will set out a clear path for exit at pace if either partner wishes.
Cherwell District Council will need to review its medium term financial strategy in the light of the necessary separation from South Northamptonshire Council. If CDC wished to stand alone it would need to deliver significant savings, increase income and/or reduce services to deliver a balanced budget. A joint working partnership offers long term financial benefits and the potential to protect and enhance frontline services valued by local residents and customers.
Alternative options
Alternative options have been considered, the following factors: contribution to CDC continuity; contribute to financial sustainability; alignment of business model; culture match; political alignment; demographic match; geographic match; flexibility; growth agenda; control of pace; and, leverage, were reviewed as part of the development of this proposal. Options (including Oxfordshire Districts and out of county partners) were considered and discounted either because they failed to meet the criteria detailed above or because the risk of out of county working at the current time was considered too high.
Following the decision of Executive, at the discretion of the Chairman, Councillor Ian McCord, Leader of South Northamptonshire Council, address the meeting.
Councillor McCord commented that he understood and accepted the decision taken by the Executive. He was sad and disappointed that the successful shared working arrangements between the two authorities was being forced to come to an end as a result of the Best Value Report on Northamptonshire County Council which was forcing South Northamptonshire Council into unitary arrangements with other councils in Northamptonshire. Councillor McCord paid tribute to Councillor Wood and other members who had supported the shared working arrangements and wish Cherwell District Council all the best in the future.