Minutes:
The Leisure Services Manager delivered a presentation in respect of the Parks and Green Space Stewardship Team shared service business case. During the delivery of this presentation the following points were raised for Members’ consideration:
· The proposed structure focused on meeting the needs of the customer.
· The structure would also enable the Council to achieve savings in line with proposals detailed in the Medium Term Financial Plan 2017/18 to 2020/21.
· The new team structure would enable staff to work in a flexible manner.
· The proposal was for Redditch Borough Council to “host” the service in line with current arrangements whereby that Council hosted the shared Leisure and Cultural Services.
· The shared service could have been aligned with either Leisure and Cultural Services or the Place Teams. However, due to the relevance of the team’s work to matters such as public health it had been felt more appropriate to link the service to the former department.
· However, the Place Team would manage some of the smaller open spaces whilst the shared Parks and Open Spaces team would maintain larger areas.
· Members of the Place Team had been trained to deliver park inspections where needed to ensure there was full compliance with health and safety requirements.
At the end of the presentation Members discussed a number of points in detail:
· The breakdown of parks and open spaces between the two districts. Members were advised that there were slightly more green spaces in Redditch Borough that would be managed by the service.
· The choice of Redditch Borough Council as the host for the service. Officers reassured Members that staff from the team would continue to be physically present in Bromsgrove district.
· The potential for an updated list of staff and their contact details to be provided for Members’ consideration once the new structure had been implemented.
· The arrangements for sharing grounds maintenance equipment between the two districts. Members were urged to advise the Head of Environmental Services if they encountered any problems accessing this equipment for use in their wards when needed.
· The consultation that had been undertaken to date in respect of the shared service. Officers confirmed that staff and trades unions had been consulted and further formal consultation would take place later in the year, subject to Cabinet and Council approving the business case.
· The savings that would be achieved. Officers advised that the report took into account staffing costs not revenue.
· The potential to achieve income from managing parks and open spaces. Officers explained that where income was received for specifically managing open spaces and parks in Bromsgrove it would not be shared with Redditch Borough Council.
· The risks attached to implementing the shared service and the need for these to be consistent with the risks recorded for the Caretaking and Cleaning shared service. Officers advised that this would be addressed at the Cabinet meeting on 14th June.
· The links between Leisure and Environmental Services, including in a number of strategic purposes and within the remit of the relevant Portfolio Holder, and the potential for this to be reflected in the Council’s management review.
· The pension liabilities for Bromsgrove District Council once staff were hosted by Redditch Borough Council. Members were advised that this information was detailed in an addendum to the report which had not been available for the meeting, though assurances were provided that this information would be made available for the consideration of Cabinet.
· The potential for each Council’s contribution to any redundancy costs arising from a shared service to be calculated in future in accordance with the level of savings that would be achieved by that local authority.
RESOLVED that, subject to the provision of additional information for the consideration of Cabinet, as detailed in the preamble above, the content of the Parks and Open Spaces review business Case be noted.
(During consideration of this item Members discussed matters that necessitated the disclosure of exempt information. It was therefore agreed to exclude the press and public prior to any debate on the grounds that information would be revealed relating to labour relations matters. However, there is nothing exempt in this record of the proceedings.)
Supporting documents: