Agenda and minutes

There were none.

To approve the record of the meeting held on 12 June 2017.

The record of the meeting held on 12 June 2017 was agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Members are invited to declare any interests in relation to any agenda item in accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by their Authority.

Disclosable pecuniary interests

There were none.

Other interests

There were none.

There were none.

This report seeks approval to extend the South Thames Gateway Building

Control Partnership by the inclusion of Canterbury City Council’s building

control service.

Background:

The Joint Committee considered a report which sought approval to extend the South Thames Gateway Building Control Partnership by the inclusion of Canterbury City Council’s building control service.

In response to questions from Members, the Director of the Partnership confirmed that discussions with Canterbury City Council regarding the latter joining the partnership had satisfactorily resolved all HR, TUPE and operational issues. The partnership’s digitalisation programme and the use of agile and mobile working meant City Council staff could now largely work from Canterbury and would only need to visit the offices in Rochester infrequently.

Underpinning the discussions was the principle that there would be no cost to the existing partners and Canterbury City Council would be responsible for any costs associated with joining.

Members welcomed the proposed expansion. Assuming all three partners approved the expansion an action plan would be implemented to ensure the expanded partnership was in place from 1 April 2018.

A Member expressed the view that possible national changes in building control could lead to more work for the partnership with developers using an independent service such as the partnership.

Decision:

The Joint Committee agreed to approve the expansion of the partnership through the inclusion of Canterbury City Council’s building control service.

Reasons for decision:

The expansion of the partnership will build in further resilience and provide

opportunities for a wider market and broader customer base as well as

providing reductions in contributions for the existing three partners.

This report summarises the content of agenda items 7 and 8 and the appendix to agenda item 5 which, in the opinion of the proper officer, contain exempt information within one of the categories in Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. It is a matter for the Committee to determine whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the documents. 

Decision:

The press and public were excluded from the meeting during consideration of the exempt material relating to agenda items 5,7 and 8because consideration of these matters in public would disclose information falling within Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as specified in agenda item 6,and, in all the circumstances of the case, the Joint Committee considered that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

This report seeks agreement to the South Thames Gateway Building Control

Partnership’s Business Plan and Delivery Plan for 2018-2021.

Background:

The Joint Committee considered a report which sought agreement to the South Thames Gateway Building Control Partnership’s Business Plan and Delivery Plan for 2018-2021.

Members welcomed the Plan and asked that it be amended to elaborate on the Partnership’s readiness to deal with further expansion and also details of succession planning arrangements.

A suggestion that local authorities in Kent be invited to a conference on the work of the partnership, with the aim of encouraging further councils to join, was agreed.

Decision:

The Joint Committee agreed:

1)        subject to the inclusion of the above mentioned points regarding readiness to deal with further expansion and succession planning, to approve the draft Business Plan 2018-2021 (dated 30 August 2017 Version 2) and Delivery Plan 2018-2021 (dated 30 August 2017 Version 2) and send to each Partner Authority for comments, and;

2)        to ask the Director to invite neighbouring councils to a conference on the work of the partnership.

Reasons for decision:

The Joint Committee has a duty under the Memorandum of Agreement to

formally consult with partner authorities on the draft Business Plan.

The report updates the Joint Committee on the current forecast for the 2017/178 financial year and gives details against the progress of the objectives of the Business Plan 2017/2018.

Background:

The Joint Committee considered a report which updated Members on the current forecast for the 2017/18 financial year and gave details against the progress of the objectives of the Business Plan 2017/2018.

Noting that the partnership had been operating for ten years, Members asked that their appreciation of the hard work and commitment of staff in making the partnership the success it had become be placed on record.

Decision:

The Joint Committee agreed to note the contents of the report.

Reasons for decision:

The Constitution requires the Joint Committee to monitor the progress of the

Partnership.