Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Acting Chief Executive of Bromsgrove District Council and Redditch Borough Council

Members considered a report of the Acting Joint Chief Executive of Bromsgrove District and Redditch Borough Councils on a proposed concordat for joint working between Bromsgrove District and Redditch Borough Councils including terms of reference and decision-making powers of the Shared Services Board, targets and objectives and proposed quick wins.

With reference to recommendation 2.1.5 regarding the offer of membership on the Shared Services Board to the Leaders of the Labour Groups of the respective Councils, the Leader stated that he considered it inappropriate to ask only two Members to provide a written agreement to the principle of Shared Services and he therefore proposed that this recommendation be amended to state “that an offer of membership on the Shared Services Board be offered to the Leader of Bromsgrove District Council’s Labour Group and that he be asked to confirm his support in the Chamber tonight to the principle of Shared Services”. 

Councillor P. M. McDonald subsequently made a statement confirming support for Shared Services

Having been moved by the Leader and seconded by Councillor Mrs. J. M. L. A. Griffiths, the consent of the meeting was given to the amended recommendation.

In response to a query the Leader advised that future meetings of the Shared Services Board would be in public and Members would be informed of dates of meetings.

The revised recommendations having been moved by the Leader and seconded by Councillor Mrs. J. M. L. A. Griffiths were put to the vote, whereupon it was

RESOLVED:

(a)               that approval be given to the terms of reference and governance arrangements detailed within the draft Concordat document attached at Appendix 1 to the report, subject to the recommended arrangements proposed by the Shared Service Board;

(b)               that the six month review process be undertaken by the respective Cabinets of each Council in accordance with the criteria detailed at 4.3 within the draft Concordat attached at Appendix 1 to the report;

(c)               that authority be delegated to Bromsgrove District Council’s Monitoring Officer in consultation with the Leader the power to determine appropriate arrangements to resolve any issue that may arise from a conflict of interest during the arrangement of Acting Joint Chief Executive in respect of matters that relate to Bromsgrove District Council; and

(d)               that the quick wins for further joint working / shared services between Redditch and Bromsgrove Councils as recommended by the Shared Services Board and outlined in the Quick Wins report attached at Appendix 3 to the report, namely in respect of

·         Elections

·         Community Safety

·         Performance and financial management

·         Equality and Diversity

·         Member Development

·         Head of Financial Services

(e)       that an offer of membership on the Shared Services Board be offered to the Leader of Bromsgrove District Council’s Labour Group.