Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the deputy chief executive – partnerships. 

Cabinet considered the report of the deputy chief executive – partnerships.  This set out the financial and governance position of the Five Councils Partnership. 

Since the inception of the partnership contract, the licensing, HR and payroll, finance services and procurement functions had been removed.  The report set out how the contractual changes reflected the council’s liabilities and its impact on the inter authority agreement.  The baseline percentage that the council should now pay was 16.21 per cent, down from the original baseline of 17.12 per cent.  As this baseline related to the changes which occurred in 2020/21, there was a need for a re-balancing payment to the Vale from Mendip, Hart, and Havant councils. 

The report also highlighted a decreased need for member involvement in the governance of the partnership and the management of its contract.  As such it was recommended that the partnership’s joint committee should streamline the number of its meetings to a minimum of one per year. 

Cabinet supported the proposals.  The re-balancing of the amount paid by this council and the streamlining of the governance arrangements were both welcomed.  Cabinet noted that there would not be any reduction in control as the contract was monitored closely by officers. 

Cabinet noted that officers were working on the future provision of the services beyond the contract date.  Members also asked officers to consider undertaking a cost-benefit analysis of the value of the contract as a whole to the council. 

RESOLVED to:

(a)       note and endorse the minor alteration to the proportion of the size of Vale’s contribution to the Five Councils’ Partnership contract and agree the approach to the truing up mechanisms;

(b)       approve the streamlined governance approach, reflective of the current reduced size of the contract, to enable effective oversight and management of the contract, which includes all the changes set out in paragraph 22 of the deputy chief executive – partnership’s report to Cabinet on 11 November 2022, including the annual meeting of the Five Councils’ Partnership Joint Committee, providing budgetary and contractual oversight, and continuing the spirit of partnership working, whilst keeping members informed of contract performance; and

(c)        authorise the chief executive, in consultation with the Cabinet member for strategic partnerships and place, to finalise the terms on behalf of Vale of White Horse District Council and to enter into and complete the updated inter-authority agreement based on the principles set out in the report.