Issue - meetings

To receive and consider report 31/07 of the Strategic Director and Chief Finance Officer. 

Introduction and Report Summary

In establishing a shared financial service between Vale of White Horse District Council and South Oxfordshire District Council, known as the Ridgeway Shared Services Organisation (RSSO), an informal committee was created. 

The report will explain that following legal advice it has been concluded that both Councils should establish a formal Joint Committee

This report seeks authority to agree a formal joint committee between the two councils, to formalise both the joint working and the way any future decisions are made.  The report also makes recommendation that appointments to the Joint Committee should be made by the Executive (if not already done so by recent appointments to outside bodies).

The Contact Officer for this report is Steve Bishop, Strategic Director (Chief Finance Officer), (01235 540332), email steve.bishop@whitehorsedc.co.uk.

Recommendations

Members are recommended to:-

(a)       approve that the Council and South Oxfordshire District Council create a Joint Committee responsible for the provision of financial services to both Councils;

(b)       delegate authority to the Strategic Director (Chief Finance Officer) in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, to approve any minor drafting changes to the Joint Committee agreement and constitution attached to this report;

(c)        authorise the Agreement between the two constituent Councils to be completed;

(d)       that appointments to the Joint Committee are made by the Executive. 

(Time: 3.03pm to 3.08pm)

The Executive received and considered report 31/07 of the Strategic Director and Chief Finance Officer regarding the establishment of a formal Joint Committee to monitor the shared financial service between Vale of White Horse District Council and South Oxfordshire District Council, known as the Ridgeway Shared Services Organisation.  The report sought authority to agree a formal joint committee between the two councils, to formalise both the joint working and the way any future decisions were made. 

Members asked that it was made clear in the agreement that the chairmanship should cease after two years, on the date on the Annual Meeting of the Council.  It was noted that the Executive had previously appointed Councillors Mary and Tony de Vere to represent it at the Joint Committee meetings. 

RESOLVED

(a)       that a Joint Committee be created, to be responsible for the provision of financial services to both the Vale and South Oxfordshire District Councils;

(b)       that authority be delegated to the Strategic Director and Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, to approve any minor drafting changes to the Joint Committee agreement and constitution; and

(c)        that the Agreement between the two constituent Councils to be completed.