Decision details

RECOMMENDED that

1)                 the two tier and joint working proposals for Property Services, Regulatory Services and Internal Audit presented within the Worcestershire Enhanced Two Tier detailed business cases referenced in this report be agreed;

AND

subject to the agreement of the relevant councils out of  Worcestershire County Council and the Worcestershire District Councils, namely Worcester City, Bromsgrove District, Redditch Borough, Malvern Hills District, Wychavon District and Wyre Forest District Councils:

A.      UNIFIED REGULATORY SERVICES

2)         a unified Regulatory Service for the Worcestershire Councils, jointly hosted by Bromsgrove and Redditch Councils (with Bromsgrove District Council as the employing authority), be established from 1^st June 2010 under the auspices of a Joint Committee, on the basis set out in the Regulatory Service Detailed Business Case V10, Part 1 & Part 2 (Rev.1) and supported by the Regulatory Services, Detailed Business Case Executive Summary V3.2 at ‘Appendix A’ to this report;

3)        this Council’s functions in relation to Environmental Health and Licensing Services (so far as permissible in law) be delegated to a Joint Committee in accordance with Section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972 and Section 20 of the Local Government Act 2000 and the Local Authorities (Arrangements for the Discharge of Functions) (England) (Regulations) 2000;

4)        subject to the agreement in recommendation 1) above being concluded, relevant staff from all Councils which agree to the Regulatory Services business case be transferred to Bromsgrove District Council under TUPE arrangements;

5)        the financial arrangements for the new service as set out in the Detailed Business Case V10 be approved;

6)         the Head of Legal, Democratic and Property Services be requested to draft consequent changes to the Council’s Constitution to reflect the Shared Services arrangements, establishment of the new Joint Committee

B.        PROPERTY SERVICES

7)        a Shared Property Service, hosted by Worcestershire County Council, on the basis set out in the Property Services Detailed Business Case V6 and the supporting Detailed Business Case Executive Summary V1 at ‘Appendix B’ to this report be established;

8)        the transfer of staff to Worcestershire County Council as service provider be approved on the terms proposed from the Commencement Date;

9)        Authority be delegated to the Head of Legal, Democratic & Property Services  to enter into a service level agreement on the basis set out in the Property Services Detailed Business Case V6 and supporting Property Services Detailed Business Case V1 (Appendix B), as amended to reflect any final agreement made between the Partner authorities, be approved;

C.        INTERNAL AUDIT SERVICES

10)      a Shared Internal Audit Service (hosted by Worcester City Council) on the basis set out in the Internal Audit, Detailed Business Case V10 and the supporting Detailed Business Case Executive Summary V2 at ‘Appendix C’ to this report be established;

11)      the transfer of staff to Worcester City Council as service provider be agreed, on the terms proposed, from the Commencement Date;

12)      Authority be delegated to the Head of Legal, Democratic & Property Services  to enter into a service level agreement on the basis set out in the Internal Audit Detailed Business Case V10 and supporting Internal Audit Detailed Business Case V2 (Appendix B), as amended to reflect any final agreement made between the Partner authorities;

TIMELINE AND RECRUITMENT

13)           the timeline proposed at 'Appendix D' to the report, which details the order and dates for each consultation period and decision point in relation to the detailed business case development for Internal Audit, Property and Regulatory Services, be supported.

Agrees to the creation of and terms of reference for a Joint Appointments Committee comprising one member of each participating Council for the proposedHead of Regulatory Services.

(Officers highlighted the undertaking that had been made at a recent meeting of the WETT Programme Management Group to provide further detail to the participating Councils on the proposed service standards and related information)