Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member Corporate Services

RESOLVED THAT

1.    The One Legal shared service arrangement with TBC be continued and

2.    Subject to the approval of a Business Case (including the financial case) by the Director of Resources in consultation with the Cabinet Member Corporate Services:

·   the joining of Gloucester City Council’s legal services with One Legal be approved.

·   the delegation of Gloucester City Council’s legal service functions and the transfer of staff to Tewkesbury Borough Council, as host authority be noted.  

·   Authority be delegated to the Director Resources in consultation with the Cabinet Member Corporate Services, to enter into the s101 Agreement, other legal documentation and to take all necessary steps to implement the above mentioned resolutions.

The Cabinet Member Corporate Services introduced the report which would facilitate the inclusion of Gloucester City Council to join One Legal. He explained that in November 2009 the council entered into a section 101 agreement with Tewkesbury Council and the new shared service of One Legal commenced on 30 November 2009.

The Cabinet Member explained that the creation of One Legal had delivered savings which have increased to £80 000 annually for the council. It was anticipated that an expanded service would continue to deliver potential cashable savings from service rationalisation, external spend reduction and maximise opportunities for undertaking third party work. The business case for the expanded service would also consider the key objectives which were likely to include continuing to provide an excellent legal service, adding value and providing supportive influence when required, refreshing and embedding robust processes and procedure to ensure good communication including a case management system, refreshing and enhancing specific core services standards against which service performance may be monitored and to tailor the case and file management processes to meet clients’ needs.

In terms of governance the Cabinet Member reported that the Joint Monitoring and Liaison Group which monitored and reviewed One Legal performance would continue. He reported that Gloucester City had resolved at its Cabinet meeting on 15 October that it would, subject to a business case, join One Legal. The Monitoring Officer role is intended to be retained by Gloucester City. The ambition would be for the new shared service to be implemented on 1 April 2015 subject to the approval of Tewkesbury and Cheltenham. Discussions were also ongoing with Gloucestershire County Council.

The Cabinet Member explained that this opportunity should allow One Legal to be a leading player as the largest shared legal service in the South West with excellent prospects for being the public sector legal supplier of choice in the region, with significant reputational benefits for partner authorities.

The Leader added that this was good news and positive arrangements were in place with One Legal. Members needed to be assured that the business case would deliver the improvements outlined and, as such, further discussions would take place before April. The current service arrangements with TBC should be continued.

RESOLVED THAT

1.    The One Legal shared service arrangement with TBC be continued and

2.    Subject to the approval of a Business Case (including the financial case) by the Director of Resources in consultation with the Cabinet Member Corporate Services:

·   the joining of Gloucester City Council’s legal services with One Legal be approved.

·   the delegation of Gloucester City Council’s legal service functions and the transfer of staff to Tewkesbury Borough Council, as host authority be noted.  

·   Authority be delegated to the Director Resources in consultation with the Cabinet Member Corporate Services, to enter into the s101 Agreement, other legal documentation and to take all necessary steps to implement the above mentioned resolutions.