Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Environment and Culture

1.      Cabinet supports the principle of entering into a flexible warranting arrangement with the Health and Safety Executive and other Northamptonshire LA’s and is to adopt the Memorandum of Understanding relating to the flexible warrant scheme;

2.      The Head of Public Protection is to be authorised to enter into the MOU on behalf of the Council; and delegated authority is to be granted to the Head of Public Protection to authorise relevant officers for the purposes of implementing the scheme.

Councillor Mildren addressed Cabinet and was surprised that there were no financial implications even though staff would be undertaking work on behalf of other people.  The report did not give details of any response from the unions, although he was aware that in other areas, unions had made comment on similar schemes. He was also concerned about the information sharing with other councils and authorities.

Councillor Clarke addressed Cabinet and welcomed the report as a move forward in the co-ordination of closer partnership working.  He, too, had concerns about trade union consultation and possible resource implications should the scheme go ahead. He felt that Cabinet had not addressed all the risks and problems identified in pilot schemes and urged them not to take a decision until they had all the information.

In the absence of the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Culture, the Leader referred to the relevant officer for clarification of the report. It was make clear that the document was an agreement in principle to the scheme and there was no obligation to undertake individual projects if they were not felt to be cost effective.  In any case, there would be no exchange of money as operational activities would be reciprocal on a day-by-day basis. In some projects the Council would be a contributor, in others they would benefit. The initial project would link in with a national initiative involving the use of LPG.  The Memorandum of Understanding would create more efficient working and put council officers in a better position to address matters of concern.

RESOLVED

1.      That Cabinet support the principle of entering into a flexible warranting arrangement with the Health and Safety Executive and other Northamptonshire LA’s and to adopt the Memorandum of Understanding relating to the flexible warrant scheme;

2.      That the Head of Public Protection be authorised to enter into the MOU on behalf of the Council; and delegate authority to the Head of Public Protection to authorise relevant officers for the purposes of implementing the scheme.