Issue - meetings

To consider the proposed business cases for Regulatory, Audit and Property Services, produced as part of the Worcestershire Enhanced Two Tier Programme.

(In view of the fact that they contain information relating to consultation in connection with a labour relation matter, the appendices containing the consultation responses are not for publication and have been circulated only to relevant Officers and Members of the Council.)

(Reports attached – detailed Business Cases and consultation responses available in Group Rooms.)

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  ...  view the full decision text for item 219

The Committee received and considered the proposed detailed business cases for two-tier joint working in the areas of Regulatory, Property and Internal Audit Services. These had been developed in late 2009 and the proposals would lead to audit services being hosted by Worcester City Council, regulatory services by Bromsgrove and Redditch and property services by Worcestershire County Council.

There was considerable discussion as to the merits of the proposals. Concerns were expressed that local accountability would be diminished and the governance arrangements, as much as they were known, were inadequate given the scope of the services. The level of Member involvement to date was questioned, as were the possible financial implications of the staffing changes detailed within the proposals. It was also noted that there was an extensive period of notice required and significant financial costs involved should an authority wish to withdraw at a later date from the arrangements.

Officers explained that, certainly for regulatory services, the service would continue to be delivered locally and that the relocation of staff would primarily involve the management team. Both Redditch and Bromsgrove already provided efficient regulatory services and it was anticipated that the Service Level Agreement negotiated by the Council would maintain current service standards. There were, in addition, various external drivers ensuring that standards were maintained. The use of the Hub to receive calls from the public, particularly in respect of regulatory services, was touched upon. Officers informed the Committee that the Hub was investing in new technology to improve the efficiency of the service.

It was acknowledged that the level of detail within the business cases was limited at the present time. 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 detailed implementation plan and proposed service standards.

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  ...  view the full minutes text for item 219