The CDC Chief Executive and OCC Interim Chief Executive, supported by Joint Officer Transition Working Group (JOTWG) members, to provide an update to the Committee which the Committee is recommended to note.
Should it be necessary to consider exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2, 3 or 4 of Part 1 of schedule 12A Local Government Act 1972, the Committee will need to refer to agenda item 9 to exclude the press and public for the duration of any such discussion
Minutes:
The CDC Interim Chief Operating Officer gave a presentation which provided an update from the Joint Officer Transition Working Group (JOTWG).
JOTWG had monthly meetings scheduled from March to July which would feed into the monthly scheduled Joint Shared Services and Personnel Committee (JSSPC) meetings. This would enable the agreed Section 113 Agreement termination date of 31 August 2022 would be achieved.
The CDC Interim Chief Operating Officer advised JSSPC that there were three phases to the separation work with all service areas included within one of the phases. Each service area had a lead CDC and OCC officer and included a recommendation from the respective leadership teams as to whether there was an ongoing partnership opportunity, further work was required or the service area should be decoupled. JSSPC were asked to consider and endorse the direction of travel for each service area to enable officers to progress.
The CDC Interim Chief Operating Officer advised that within phase one, housing services had already been decoupled as a statutory services decision. The three further service areas within phase one, Emergency Planning, Environmental Health and Climate Team were recommended as an ongoing partnership opportunity, with some further work required on the Climate Team. The three service areas would be considered at the 4 April JOTWG meeting.
In response to Members’ questions, the CDC Chief Executive explained that Environmental Health had been a joint service since 2017/18 and served residents well. Going forward, the service would be delivered in partnership but via a different arrangement to a S113 Agreement.
In considering the Climate Change Team, Members commented that there was already countywide work and it was important to have a unified approach and ensure value for residents. The OCC Interim Chief Executive explained that preliminary work had been undertaken and further work was required to identify the future model.
In the course of the discussion, it was highlighted that endorsement of a direction of travel did not signal de facto agreement as both councils needed to have regard to value for money.
JSSPC endorsed the direction of travel for the services within phase one.
The CDC Chief Operating Officer advised that within phase two, procurement, internal audit and counter fraud had been identified as an ongoing partnership opportunity. In relation to the following services, CDC has proposed decoupling to support local policies/priorities, service or statutory role: Legal Services; Democratic Services; Policy & Performance; Communications; Information Governance; FOI’s; and, HR Training & Health and Safety. These services were due to be considered by JOTWG on 12 May.
JSSPC endorsed the direction of travel for the services within phase two.
In response to Members’ comments about opportunities for partnerships with other councils, the Interim Chief Operating Officer explained that the presentation set out the current arrangements but going forward, the councils would not only consider the current service but also use the opportunity to review. The OCC Interim Chief Executive highlighted the importance for both councils to ensure all services were robust and delivered what was required.
The CDC Interim Chief Operating Officer gave an overview of the services within phase three which were scheduled to be considered by the JOTWG on 20 June. IT Services had been identified as an ongoing partnership opportunity. Whilst Property Services, Customer Services and Continuous Improvement had also been identified as an ongoing partnership opportunity, further work was required.
JSSPC endorsed the direction of travel for the services within phase two.
The CDC Interim Chief Operating Officer concluded the update by giving an overview of the high-level risk analysis including issues, assumptions and dependencies.
Resolved
(1) That it be noted that housing services had already been decoupled as a statutory services decision.
(2) That the direction of travel for services in phase one be endorsed: ongoing partnership opportunity for Emergency Planning, Environmental Health and Climate Team, with further work required on the Climate Team.
(3) That the direction of travel for services in phase two be endorsed: ongoing partnership opportunity for procurement, internal audit and counter fraud; decoupling of Legal Services, Democratic Services, Policy & Performance, Communications, Information Governance, FOI’s and, HR Training & Health and Safety.
(4) That the direction of travel for services in phase three be endorsed: an ongoing partnership opportunity for IT Services; ongoing partnership opportunity, with further work required for Property Services, Customer Services and Continuous Improvement.