Issue - meetings

To consider the recommendations of the meeting of the Shared Services Board on 29 June 2009 (and subsequently of the Executive Committee) in respect of the Shared Services arrangements between Redditch Borough Council and Bromsgrove District Council and the post of Acting Joint Chief Executive of the two authorities.

(In view of the fact that it contains information relating to an individual or which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual and contemplated consultations or negotiations in connection with labour relation matters between the authority and employees of the authority, this report will not be for publication and will be circulated only to relevant Officers and Members of the Council. In view of this, it is anticipated that discussion of this matter will take place after the exclusion of the public).

(Shared Services Board Minutes attached – Covering Report to follow.

The Shared Services Business Case has previously been made available to all Members electronically and copies will be provided in the Group Rooms ad on request to Committee Services. Otherwise, the Business Case will be available through the Council’s Website at a link which will be forwarded to all Members on e-mail.)

The Council considered the recommendations of the meeting of the Shared Services Board of 29th June 2009 and those of the Executive Committee meeting held immediately prior to the Council meeting in respect of the Business Case for joint and shared working arrangements between Redditch Borough Council and Bromsgrove District Council and the post of Acting Joint Chief Executive of the two authorities.   Prior to the debate, the Mayor announced his intention to take separate votes on each of the recommendations before Members.

Members were referred to the covering report and recommendations appended under Additional Papers 1 and informed of two amendments which had been agreed by the Executive Committee, to the printed recommendations, namely that recommendation 2.b).i) be deleted, as it dealt with business for Bromsgrove District Council, and 2.b.ii) be amended to correct Officer Titles. 

A further amendment to 2.c) to correct an error relating to the reference to recommendation 2.b) was also agreed by Council.  

A notice of an amendment was proposed by Councillor Hartnett, Leader of the Opposition.  The amendment proposed that:

“decision on all the proposed recommendations be deferred for public consultation.”  

On Cllr Hartnett’s requisition, and in accordance with Standing Order 16, the following Named Vote was recorded in respect of the proposed amendment:

Members voting FOR the amendment:

Councillors Chance, Cookson, Hartnett, Hunt, R King, W King, Shurmer and Taylor.  (8 votes)

Members voting AGAINST the amendment to the motion:

Councillors Anderson, Banks, Braley, Brunner, Chalk, A Clayton, B Clayton, Enderby, Gandy, Hall, Hicks, Hopkins, MacMillan, Norton, Pearce, Quinney, Smith and Thomas.  (18 votes)

Members abstaining from voting:

None.

Accordingly, the amendment fell.  

The Council then considered the original motion, to approve recommendation 1, as printed in Additional Papers 1.

On requisition of a Member, and in accordance with Standing Order 16, the following Named Vote was recorded :

Members voting FOR  Recommendation 1:

Councillors Anderson, Banks, Braley, Brunner, Chalk, A Clayton, B Clayton, Enderby, Gandy, Hall, Hicks, Hopkins, MacMillan, Norton, Pearce, Quinney, Smith and Thomas.  (18 votes)

Members voting AGAINST the motion:

Councillors Chance, Cookson, Hartnett, Hunt, R King, W King, Shurmer and Taylor.  (8 votes)

Members abstaining from voting:

None.

Accordingly, the motion was approved and it was therefore

RESOLVED that

1)         the creation of a single management team be approved;

Following further debate, notice of an amendment to recommendation 2.e) was given by Councillor Chance and circulated for Members’ information. 

The amendment proposed that: 

“e)       the Council’s approach to the Serco case be that the roll out of shared services will be considered on a case by case basis in order to deliver the best possible services across a range of provision and that, in pursuing this approach, the Council acknowledges that:

            i)          the business case as produced by Serco requires this Council to continue to pursue joint working with its neighbouring Authorities;

            ii)         the Council is committed to delivering effective and efficient services and, where the sharing of service delivery is in the true interest of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41