Agenda item

B Report of the Director of Environment and Culture

1.      It is noted that the Directorate of Environment and Culture’s improvement and efficiency plan will be delivered in partnership with Northgate Kendric Ash, using an innovative risk and reward model to deliver customer focused service improvements, greater value for money and significant efficiency gains.

2.      It is agreed that the first phase of the improvement and efficiency plan for the Directorate of Environment and Culture, will be delivered as outlined in the Cabinet report.

3.      The estimated savings are noted, as set out in paragraph 4.2 of the Cabinet report, and are projected to arise from implementation of the improvement and efficiency plan.

4.      The financial proposals associated with the first phase of the improvement and efficiency plan, also set out in paragraph 4.2 of the Cabinet report, are agreed.

5.      It is agreed that the Council join Northamptonshire County Council and Daventry District Council in a project to develop a business case to assess the feasibility of a shared back office for environmental services. 

6.      Further to paragraph 2.4 of the Cabinet report, expenditure for the shared back office project, as set out in sub paragraph 4.2.9, is agreed.

7.      It is noted that further reports will be brought forward in relation to the first phase of the improvement and efficiency plan, if necessary or as required by Cabinet, as work is progressed and more detail emerges.

8.      It is noted that it is expected that there will be further phases to the improvement and efficiency plan over the course of the contract with Northgate Kendric Ash and such phases will be brought to Cabinet for approval in due course.

Councillor Clarke addressed cabinet expressing his deep concern that joint working with Northamptonshire County Council and Daventry District Council was the thin end of the wedge leading to a West Northants District Council.  He foresaw a huge risk without having a business case presented. He then questioned the ability of Kendric Ash to carry out improvements if there was not the skill and ability in-house to implement them.  He suggested that the current workforce, under the direction of managers and team leaders, could carry out most of the improvements outlined in the report. He stated that change started from within and called for the use of existing staff to be brought up to speed to improve the service.

Councillor Crake, as Portfolio Holder for Environment, presented the report to Cabinet.  An agreement had already been made to work with Northgate Kendrick Ash with a risk and reward model and an Improvement and Efficiency plan had been produced. She was confident of continued in-house service.  However, a business case was being developed for shared back office with NCC and DDC for environmental services.

It was noted that the task of achieving value for money was being made harder owing to the current recession and threats to public sector funding.  Using the consultants provided a useful solution when the recruitment process for the best staff was long-winded and expensive in itself. It was pointed out that Northgate Kendric Ash had achieved enormous success in Revenues and Benefits and had motivated existing staff to attain improved results. Partnership working was essential to tap into expertise from both private and sector partners.  Partnership working was already in place for waste management.

Councillor B Hoare did not feel that working alongside NCC and DDC was a precursor to the drawing up of new local authority areas.

RESOLVED

1.      That it is noted that the Directorate of Environment and Culture’s improvement and efficiency plan will be delivered in partnership with Northgate Kendric Ash, using an innovative risk and reward model to deliver customer focused service improvements, greater value for money and significant efficiency gains.

2.      That it be agreed that the first phase of the improvement and efficiency plan for the Directorate of Environment and Culture, will be delivered as outlined in the Cabinet report.

3.      That the estimated savings are noted, as set out in paragraph 4.2 of the Cabinet report, and are projected to arise from implementation of the improvement and efficiency plan.

4.      That the financial proposals associated with the first phase of the improvement and efficiency plan, also set out in paragraph 4.2 of the Cabinet report, are agreed.

5.      That it is agreed that the Council join Northamptonshire County Council and Daventry District Council in a project to develop a business case to assess the feasibility of a shared back office for environmental services. 

6.      That, further to paragraph 2.4 of the Cabinet report, expenditure for the shared back office project, as set out in sub paragraph 4.2.9, is agreed.

7.      That it is noted that further reports will be brought forward in relation to the first phase of the improvement and efficiency plan, if necessary or as required by Cabinet, as work is progressed and more detail emerges.

8.      That it is noted that it is expected that there will be further phases to the improvement and efficiency plan over the course of the contract with Northgate Kendric Ash and such phases will be brought to Cabinet for approval in due course.