Cabinet considered the strategic director’s report on a proposal to test the market with a view to extending financial services contract to other corporate services. Cabinet believed that the council had excellent services following its decision to share them with South Oxfordshire District Council but the council should not rest on its laurels. Cabinet supported the proposal to test the market but would not determine which services would be outsourced at this stage. Cabinet asked that property management was added to the list of services subject to market testing.
RESOLVED: to
(a) confirm the re-tendering of financial services rather than seek to bring the services back in-house, with the possible exception of the provision of the financial management system which should be linked to the provision of accountancy services;
(b) confirm the following services should have detailed specifications written: accountancy, internal audit, CCTV operations, democratic services, land charges, legal, licensing, car park administration, the Poppin operations, data capture, human resources, street naming and numbering, IT applications support, IT helpdesk, IT infrastructure support, IT security, facilities management, procurement, engineering, and property management; and
(c) ask the consultant to undertake market engagement activities ahead of the formal procurement process to inform the council’s procurement strategy.