Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Head of Environment and Transport outlining the implications for the District Council in the light of service by Cambridgeshire County Council of notice to terminate the Highways Agency.

The notice served by the County Council to terminate the Highways Agency with effect from 31st March 2006 is accepted and that the Director of Operational Services is authorised to seek early termination of the Agreement to coincide with the termination of Agency Agreements at other Authorities

That of five employees will transfer to Cambridgeshire County Council under the TUPE arrangements following the Agency’s termination and a report be submitted to a future meeting further evaluating the financial implications of the termination of the Agency consequential service changes and any resulting requirement for MTP bids.

Proposals to develop a co-ordinated street-scene approach to the management of complementary services affecting public areas is supported and the Director of Operational Services be authorised, after consultation with the Chairman, to seek to secure a new agreement with the County Council for the discharge of those functions listed in the report submit an update to the Cabinet on the progress of negotiations.

That any savings achieved in indirect costs be considered as part of the ongoing base budget review.

The Cabinet received a report by the Head of Environment and Transport (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) regarding notice received of the County Council’s intention to terminate the Highways Agency with effect from 31st March 2006. 

The Cabinet noted that the Council had undertaken certain highways maintenance functions on behalf of the County Council since 1974.  However, the County Council’s Best Value Review on highways had concluded that these services would be best delivered by a comprehensive long term partnership with a single contractor encompassing both the management and delivery of the function.

Having identified a range of highways related activities which still could be undertaken by the District Council for the benefit of the community, and recognised that it would be in the Council’s interests to serve a district-wide agency for the delivery of the functions listed in paragraph 6.2 of the report now submitted, it was

RESOLVED

  (a)that, the notice served by the County Council to terminate the Highways Agency with effect from 31st March 2006 be accepted;

  (b)that the Director of Operational Services be authorised to seek early termination of the Agreement with effect from March 2005 to coincide with the termination of Agency Agreements at other Authorities;

  (c)that the proposed transfer of five employees to Cambridgeshire County Council under the TUPE arrangements following the Agency’s termination be noted;

  (d)that a report be submitted to a future meeting further evaluating the financial implications of the termination of the Agency consequential service changes and any resulting requirement for MTP bids;

  (e)that a proposal to develop a co-ordinated streetscene approach to the management of complementary services affecting public areas be supported;

  (f)that the Director of Operational Services be authorised, after consultation with the Chairman, to seek to secure a new agreement with the County Council for the discharge of those functions listed at paragraph 6.2 of the report now submitted and to submit an update to the Cabinet on the progress of negotiations at a future meeting; and

  (g)that any savings achieved in indirect costs be considered as part of the ongoing base budget review.