Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Managing Director regarding a Building Control shared service for Cambridgeshire County Council, Huntingdonshire District Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council.

Approves the Business Case and delegate authority to the Managing Director, in conjunction with the Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning and Housing, to make decisions and to take steps that are necessary, conducive or incidental to the establishment of the Building Control shared service in accordance with the detailed business case

Following the report outlining the overall approach that had been taken to develop the first phase of the partnership arrangement between Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC), South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC) and Cambridge City Council (CCC) for ICT, Legal Services and Building Control shared services, the Cabinet received a further report (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) to approve the business case to establish a Building Control shared service.

It was explained that there were strategic and financial benefits for all three partners to create a Building Control shared service and the Officer’s report included a detailed financial model to show how savings would be achieved against the baseline budget.

The Cabinet were informed that due to changes in EU Procurement Rules it was possible that an advert might be required in the Official Journal of the European Union.  Further legal advice was being sought and if this was the case the Cabinet would be informed.  Whereupon the Cabinet,

RESOLVED

to approve the Business Case and delegate authority to the Managing Director, in conjunction with the Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning and Housing, to make decisions and to take steps that are necessary, conducive or incidental to the establishment of the Building Control shared service in accordance with the detailed business case

To consider a report by the Managing Director providing the business case to establish a Building Control shared service and detailing the activities to create the Building Control shared service.

The Panel received a report by the Managing Director, presenting the business case for the proposed Building Control shared service and including details of the financial savings expected.

The Panel was informed that different legal parameters applying to the Building Control service mean that the focus of the shared service is on resilience rather than just financial savings. The service operates in a commercial environment with private sector competitors and cannot make a profit from fee-earning activities over each rolling 3-year period. This means savings in delivering these activities reduce the amount of income that can be taken. However, the proposal includes savings on non-fee earning activities which aren’t limited in the same way and seeks to improve resilience in staffing, ensuring the service can respond rapidly to work requests. It would provide staff with more development opportunities and more varied and rewarding work.

It was explained that there will be an assessment of two ICT systems currently used by the three councils to determine which is most appropriate. This means that the system adopted for the shared service will not be a new system for all but will be one that is currently supported and in use by at least one of the authorities.

Members suggested that creating a Building Control shared service would present an opportunity to change the perception of how the public sector delivers these services.

The Panel recommended that Cabinet approve the recommendation in the report.