Issue - meetings

This report seeks approval to proposals that Medway Council assume responsibility for the discharge of Gravesham Borough Council’s HR functions, following consideration by the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Cabinet.

Discussion:

This report provided details of proposals that Medway Council should assume responsibility for the discharge of Gravesham Borough Council’s HR functions. This was permitted under Section 101(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 which allowed local authorities to delegate non-executive functions to other local authorities.

The report had been considered by the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee (30 January 2018) and the Cabinet (6 February 2018), comments of which were set out in paragraphs 7 and 8 respectively. In addition, a report on the proposals had been considered and approved by Gravesham Borough Council’s Cabinet on 4 September 2017.

The Portfolio Holder for Resources, Councillor Gulvin, supported by the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services, Councillor Mackness, proposed the recommendations set out in the report.

Decision:

a)    The Council agreed option two, set out in paragraph 4.2 of the report, whereby Medway Council shall assume responsibility for the discharge of Gravesham Borough Council’s HR Services functions under Section 101(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 which allows local authorities to delegate non-executive functions to other local authorities.

b)    The Council agreed to accept the delegation by Gravesham Borough Council of its HR Services functions to Medway Council.

c)    The Council agreed to delegate authority to Medway’s Assistant Director - Transformation to assume responsibility for the management and delivery of HR services for Gravesham Borough Council jointly with the services provided for Medway Council and for this to be reflected in the Council’s Scheme of Delegation, as set out in paragraph 9.5 of the report.

Background:

This report provided details of a proposal that Medway Council assumes responsibility for the discharge of Gravesham Borough Council’s HR functions as permitted under Section 101(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 which allows local authorities to delegate non-executive functions to other local authorities.

A Business Case had been prepared by officers from Gravesham and Medway to provide further information to their respective Cabinets.  A copy of the draft Medway Business Case was set out in Appendix B to the report.

The Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered these proposals on 30 January 2018 and its comments were set out in an addendum report.

Reasons:

It is anticipated that the shared service arrangement will deliver some initial savings and further opportunities to realise savings will be explored as the arrangement progresses.