Issue - meetings

Report of the Leader

RESOLVED THAT

1.     the contents and the broad strategic direction for joint working as set out within the 2020 Vision for Joint Working (Appendix 2) be noted.

2.     the establishment of a 2020 Vision Programme Board consisting of one Councillor Representative from each Council be approved.

3.     the 2020 Vision Programme Board be authorised to develop a programme plan; business case; and consider any efficiency savings that could be delivered for 2015/16 with a further report to partner councils in Autumn 2014.

4.     the 2020 Vision Programme Board be authorised to submit applications to the Transformation Challenge Award for additional funding support 

5.     the allocation of Transformation Challenge Award funding to support the development of the programme be approved.

6. Cheltenham Borough Council act as Accountable Body for authorising expenditure against the programme on the unanimous recommendations of the 2020 Vision Programme Board

The Leader of the Council introduced the report which outlined Vision 2020, a broad strategic direction for further collaboration with Cotswold District Council, Forest of Dean District Council and West Oxfordshire District Council. The report sought approval to develop a more detailed business case and to seek funding from government through the Transformational Challenge Award process.

The Leader explained that the 2020 vision built on the success of GO Shared Services which had given those councils involved the confidence to go beyond the current arrangements and to explore the options further. Other councils should have the option to join and it should enable the council to deliver the level of projected savings whilst maintaining the level of service. He reported that the Council had recently received a visit from the Cabinet Office to discuss the concept.

The Leader went on to explain that the drivers for the concept included the fact that directly employed staff had reduced from 800-200 (by October 2014) and one option to be explored was the possibility of a company to employ the staff of the four councils in order to achieve economies of scale. This would have implications for pensions and the pension fund but could potentially provide staff with more career opportunities.

In terms of timescale, the Leader explained that the aim was to establish a programme board and present a business plan to Cabinet in October using funding already awarded. He emphasised that each Council would remain independent and Council members would independently determine the service for that area.

Members recognised that the Council had been successful as a council in finding savings whilst maintaining services through shared service arrangements. Whilst establishing a joint company would be complicated it was an innovative step so officers would work carefully to address potential problems. It was highlighted that the briefing process for members and officers was ongoing.

RESOLVED THAT

1.     the contents and the broad strategic direction for joint working as set out within the 2020 Vision for Joint Working (Appendix 2) be noted.

2.     the establishment of a 2020 Vision Programme Board consisting of one Councillor Representative from each Council be approved.

3.     the 2020 Vision Programme Board be authorised to develop a programme plan; business case; and consider any efficiency savings that could be delivered for 2015/16 with a further report to partner councils in Autumn 2014.

4.     the 2020 Vision Programme Board be authorised to submit applications to the Transformation Challenge Award for additional funding support 

1.     the allocation of Transformation Challenge Award funding to support the development of the programme be approved.

2. Cheltenham Borough Council act as Accountable Body for authorising expenditure against the programme on the unanimous recommendations of the 2020 Vision Programme Board