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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - County Hall, New Road, Oxford OX1 1ND

Contact: Natasha Clark  Email:  natasha.clark@oxfordshire.gov.uk Tel: 01295 221534

Link: video link https://oxon.cc/JSSPC01022022

Items
No. Item

1/21

Apologies for Absence and Temporary Appointments

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillor Mike Kerford-Byrnes (Councillor Tony Ilott substituting)

2/21

Declarations of Interest - see guidance note

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

3/21

Appointment of Chair for the municipal year 2021/2022

Minutes:

It was proposed by Councillor Corkin and seconded by Councillor Leffman that Councillor Brighouse OBE be appointed Chair of the Joint Shared Services and Personnel Committee for the municipal year 2021/2022.

 

There were no further nominations.

 

Resolved

 

That Councillor Brighouse OBE be appointed Chair of the Joint Shared Services and Personnel Committee for the municipal year 2021/2022.

4/21

Appointment of Deputy Chair for the municipal year 2021/2022

Minutes:

It was proposed by Councillor Brighouse OBE and seconded by Councillor Ilott that Councillor Corkin be appointed Deputy Chair of the Joint Shared Services and Personnel Committee for the municipal year 2021/2022.

 

There were no further nominations.

 

Resolved

 

That Councillor Corkin be appointed Deputy Chair of the Joint Shared Services and Personnel Committee for the municipal year 2021/2022.

 

5/21

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 194 KB

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 25 March 2021.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 25 March 2021 were agreed as a correct record.

6/21

Petitions and Public Address

Minutes:

There were no petitions or requests to address the meeting.  

7/21

S113 Agreement Oxfordshire County Council and Cherwell District Council pdf icon PDF 156 KB

** Please note this report will follow as it is currently being reviewed and finalised **

 

Report of Chief Executive

Minutes:

The Chief Executive submitted a report for the Committee to consider and recommend to the respective Full Councils the arrangements to agree to end the formal partnership arrangements between Cherwell District Council and Oxfordshire County Council. 

 

In introducing the report, the Director of Law and Governance explained that the shared services arrangements between Oxfordshire County Council and Cherwell District Council have been in place since 2018 and they have been effective. The pandemic has had a significant impact upon both Councils which has led to wider partnership working amongst all of the local authorities and partners in Oxfordshire. It was now an appropriate time to explore wider partnership working outside the s 113 Agreement and there was mutual agreement to formally end the arrangements between the two Councils.

 

In response to Members’ questions regarding the PWC work reviewing the partnership working arrangements that would now inform the due diligence work envisaged by the report submitted to JSSPC, the Director of Law and Governance explained that the report was awaited. The Terms of Reference of the PWC work would be circulated to JSSPC members.

 

In response to Members’ questions regarding the rational for decisions of the JSSPC to be unanimous under the proposed revised terms of reference, the Director of Law and Governance advised that this reflected the fact that it was a mutual termination of the S113 and would ensure all parties were supportive of business cases and transition arrangements going forward.

 

The Chair highlighted each council had different statutory responsibilities. Prior to business cases coming forward to JSSPC, the proposed Officer Working Group would have engaged and discussed with relevant Members at each council and should therefore be acceptable. There would however be a process that would be followed in the case of dispute.

 

In response to Members’ questions regarding the notice and cessation arrangements in the original S113 agreement, the Director of Law and Governance explained that when the S113 was entered into, it was on the basis of a shared Chief Executive and there has been incremental development. JSSPC was recommended to recommend to the respective Full Councils to agree the principles for disaggregation. Subject to the respective decisions to mutually serve formal notice to terminate the S113, disaggregation would not impact each council’s decision making, sovereignty or fulfilling of statutory responsibilities.

 

With regards the financial principles, the Director of Finance confirmed that the termination of the S113 Agreement would not prevent either council from setting its 2022/2023 budget. It was not possible to quantify costs until the due diligence exercise was undertaken but reasonable provision had been made in both council’s budgets. This would determine costs and each service area would be looked at separately due to different arrangements being on place for different service areas.

 

Resolved

 

(1)           That it be resolved that a mutual and consensual decision be proposed to be taken by the Full Councils of both Oxfordshire County Council and Cherwell District Council to terminate the s 113 Agreement dated 31 August  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7/21