Agenda item

Report of the Cabinet Member Corporate Services 

The Cabinet Member Corporate Services introduced the report as circulated with the agenda, which was the  culmination of a great deal of work and would see the Section 151 Officer delegated authority, in consultation with the relevant Executive Director and Cabinet Member Corporate Services to enter the final agreement. 

The GO Programme, shared service delivery for Finance, Procurement, Human Resources and Payroll services would bring together Cheltenham Borough Council, Cotswold District Council, Forest of Dean District Council, West Oxfordshire District Council and Cheltenham Borough Homes, to build resilience.  This approach was unique and had attracted interest from across the country, others would not be precluded from joining in the future and these would not necessarily need to be based in or around Gloucestershire borders. 

The GO programme had been a huge undertaking for all involved but with a shared purpose of providing an excellent service with lesser costs, Officers had come together to achieve the end goal. 

Cotswold District Council and the Forest of Dean District Council had expressed an interest in being the lead authority (employing council) for the partnership and after consideration, CDC was successful. 

The Economy & Business Improvement overview and scrutiny committee were kept informed of changes throughout the process and raised no concerns at their recent meeting when endorsing the recommendations for approval by Cabinet.  Members, across all parties, had recognised the significant budget savings the delivery arrangements of the GO programme would deliver. 

The Cabinet Member Finance and Community Development supported the report and potential to form an independent company in the future.  The GO programme would see 33 employees transferred from Cheltenham Borough Council to Cotswold District Council providing added resilience to CBC.  He welcomed the increased savings that had arisen (£500k) and envisaged that future success would attract interest from other authorities. 

The Leader highlighted that whilst this innovative and interesting programme may not be the subject of mass public interest, it was in fact assisting the Council in funding the work to Imperial and Montpellier Gardens and would generate further savings in the future. 

RESOLVED that:

1. The revised GO Shared Services business case and appendices which reflect the provision of advisory and transactional services that will be delivered from GO Shared Services and which are expected to deliver an annual saving of £285k to Cheltenham Borough Council from 1 April 2013 be approved.
2. Its Finance, Procurement, HR and Payroll services (including the transfer of staff under TUPE) as set out in this report be delegated to Cotswold District Council (CDC in accordance with s101 Local Government Act 1972 and s19 and s20 Local Government Act 2000.
3. Authority be delegated to the s151 Officer in consultation with the relevant Executive Director and Cabinet Member Corporate Services to enter into the following agreements on terms approved by the Borough Solicitor, subject to all GO partner councils entering into similar relevant agreements at the same juncture:
   1. Revised GO Programme collaboration agreement
   2. Agreement under s101 Local Government Act 1972 and s19 and s20 Local Government Act 2000 with Cotswold District Council (CDC) in respect of Finance, Procurement, HR and Payroll services as set out in this report.
4. The Cabinet Member Corporate Services be nominated as the elected member representative to the GO Shared Services Joint Monitoring and Liaison Group (JMLG.)
5. Authority be delegated to the s151 Officer in consultation with the relevant Executive Director and Cabinet Member Corporate Services to enter into an agreement with Cotswold District Council ( CDC) and Cheltenham Borough Homes Limited ( CBH Ltd) under the Local Authorities ( Goods and Services) Act 1970 for the provision of transactional services to CBH Ltd on terms approved by the Borough Solicitor.