Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Director of Commerce and Technology updating Cabinet on progress and seeking approval for the shared services intiatives.

Authorised the Director of Commerce and Technology, after consultation with the Executive Councillors for Finance and for Resources and Policy, to finalise arrangements for sharing financial accounting software and payroll services.

By way of a report by the Director of Commerce and Technology (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were updated on progress with regard to the development of a shared services initiative by Huntingdonshire, East Cambridgeshire, South Cambridgeshire and Fenland District Councils.

Having considered the issues involved in promoting the sharing financial accounting software systems and payroll services, the possible scope for achieving efficiency savings and the potential for extending the concept to other services, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that the Director of Commerce and Technology, after consultation with the Executive Councillors for Finance and for Resources and Policy, be authorised to finalise arrangements for sharing financial accounting software and payroll services.

To receive a report updating Members on the current progress of the Shared Services initiatives.

(Councillor T V Rogers, Executive Councillor for Finance, was in attendance for this item).

Consideration was given to a report by the Director of Commerce and Technology (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) updating the Panel on current progress regarding shared services initiatives, with the assistance of a grant of £50,000 from the Regional Centre of Excellence towards the project work involved.

Having been informed of meetings held with East Cambridgeshire, South Cambridgeshire and Fenland District Councils and Peterborough City Council regarding the establishment of a shared services organisation, the Executive Councillor reported that progress had been made on the sharing of finance and payroll services.  In discussing the financial implications of introducing the initiative, Members’ attention was drawn to the potential savings to be made as a result of sharing software and the increased resilience of systems and staffing resources.

RESOLVED

  that the content of the report be noted.