No declarations of interest were received.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Brittain, P Gilby and Mannion-Brunt.

RESOLVED –

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Joint Cabinet and Employment and General Committee of 19 March, 2019 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To move “That under Regulation 21(1)(b) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements)(Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2000, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the following Paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.”

Part 2 (Non Public Information)

RESOLVED –

That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

*RESOLVED –

1.   That the additional permanent posts, as detailed in paragraph 4.3 of the officer’s report, be approved.

2.   That the Assistant Director – Commercial Services be granted delegated authority to recruit to the new posts.

3.   That the Operational Services Department Business Plan forecast for 2019/20 to 2023/24 be approved.

4.   That it be agreed that the Operational Services Department had demonstrated best value during 2018/19.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS –

1.   To reduce the usage of external contractors, retain operating profit within the General Fund and provide additional capacity to carry out commercial building works.

2.   To support the Council’s Workforce Strategy.

3.   To enable the estimated financial position of the Operational Services Division to be included in the Council’s Medium Term Forecast.

The Assistant Director – Commercial Services submitted a report seeking approval for the Operational Services Department (OSD) Business Plan for 2019/20 to 2023/24. 

The five year growth plan had been agreed in July 2017 and aimed to increase the share of the HRA capital improvement works completed by the internal service.

The growth by the service had achieved key local policy objectives, delivered value for money services and returned the trading surplus of OSD to the council’s general fund.

The need to revise the staffing establishment had been identified as a result of the re-profiled work which had been allocated, as summarised in appendix 1 of the officer’s report. The Human Resources implications of the revised staffing establishment were included in the report.

The report provided details of the risks associated with the growth plan and mitigating actions. An equalities impact assessment had been carried out and a summary of the outcomes was included in the report.

*RESOLVED –

1.   That the additional permanent posts, as detailed in paragraph 4.3 of the officer’s report, be approved.

2.   That the Assistant Director – Commercial Services be granted delegated authority to recruit to the new posts.

3.   That the Operational Services Department Business Plan forecast for 2019/20 to 2023/24 be approved.

4.   That it be agreed that the Operational Services Department had demonstrated best value during 2018/19.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS –

1.   To reduce the usage of external contractors, retain operating profit within the General Fund and provide additional capacity to carry out commercial building works.

2.   To support the Council’s Workforce Strategy.

3.   To enable the estimated financial position of the Operational Services Division to be included in the Council’s Medium Term Forecast.