Council and Democracy

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 1, Town Hall, Chesterfield

Contact: Charlotte Kearsey  01246 345236

Items
No. Item

47.

Declarations of Members' and Officers Interests relating to items on the Agenda

Minutes:

No declarations of interest were received.

48.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J Barr, Borrell, Callan, Caulfield, D Collins, V-A Diouf and Dyke.

49.

Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Growth - Derbyshire Building Control Partnership

5:05pm to 6:05pm

Minutes:

The Assistant Director – Economic Growth attended to provide an update on the Derbyshire Building Control Partnership (DBCP).

 

Five years ago it was suggested that a group of Local Authorities join together to deliver a building control service across Derbyshire.

 

The previous building control services had faced significant challenges including:-

·        Increased competitor activity

·        Disruptive technologies

·        Growing customer power

·        Under-investment in the future

·        Limited scale and position in the market

·        Lack of marketing and promotion

·        Limited cross boundary working and sharing of capabilities

·        Management struggling to challenge treasured beliefs

·        Risk adverse culture

 

Clear objectives were set for the DBCP to best ensure the success of the new company. These objectives included: a blueprint for the commercial delivery of Authorities services, delivery of the regulatory obligations for the Authorities, delivery of a more customer responsive service, a sustainable financial and resource position, supporting skills and employment growth, generating a surplus, reducing the cost of service and encouraging innovation

 

A strong business case was then put together. The key elements of this business case included growing revenue and market share, a straight forward legal and economic structure and an operating model including human resources arrangements.

 

The plans for growing the business’s income were explained to the Committee along with the plans to manage the costs of the business. Managing the costs would involve: changing the mix of staff including hiring more apprentices and graduate staff, reducing overheads and operating two offices for a mobile IT enabled workforce.

 

The Committee was informed that all surpluses would be redistributed to the shareholding authorities and building control would move from a negative overall contribution to a surplus of £0.226m. The authority shareholders would see the accounts of the business to ensure that surplus creation continued.

 

The achievements of the company since June 2017 included:

·        On target revenue and current position was 15% above budget for 2018/19

·        Costs were 78% of budget forecast

·        The market share had been retained (apart from Derby)

·        Retained the core members of staff

·        All data had been integrated and the IT systems were stable

·        Four trainees had been recruited into the organisation

·        Marketing and promotion was in place to support the business development

·        The members of staff were acting as promoters of change

 

The benefits for the Local Authorities were outlined. Previously the past situation for the annual cost of service provision was unpredictable and agency costs were likely to increase as qualified staff retired. The present situation was now that the known annual costs of service.

 

The past situation for resilience and sustainability was challenges with retaining staff and spending money on agency staff as a skilled but aging workforce would depart. The present situation was a recruitment of a strong pool of skilled staff and retaining talent. This contributed to the development of a business with resources for the medium and long term.

 

The past situation for returns was a contribution through recharges to mask inefficient resource allocation. Changes had been implemented and returns were now going to the general  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

50.

Forward Plan

Please follow the link below to view the latest Forward Plan.

 

Forward Plan

 

6:05pm to 6:10pm

Minutes:

The Forward Plan was considered.

 

RESOLVED –

 

That the Forward Plan be noted.

51.

Scrutiny Monitoring pdf icon PDF 83 KB

-      Monitoring update on the HS2 Scrutiny Project Group

 

6:10pm to 6:20pm

Minutes:

A monitoring progress update on the Cabinet response to the recommendations of the HS2 Scrutiny Project Group report was provided. The Scrutiny Monitoring Schedule was considered.

 

RESOVLED –

 

1. That the update on the Cabinet response to the recommendations of the HS2 Scrutiny Project Group report be noted.

 

2. That the Scrutiny Monitoring Schedule be approved.

52.

Work Programme for the Overview and Performance Scrutiny Forum pdf icon PDF 82 KB

6:20pm to 6:25pm

Minutes:

The Work Programme for the Overview and Performance Scrutiny Forum was considered. The Committee were advised that the scrutiny work programme action planning days would take place after the Borough Election on 2 May, 2019 which would give all members the opportunity to raise items for consideration.

 

RESOLVED –

 

That the Work Programme be approved.

53.

Joint Overview and Scrutiny

6:25pm to 6:30pm

Minutes:

The Joint Chairs had attended a question and answer session with the Sheffield City Region Mayor at a meeting of the Sheffield City Region Scrutiny Board.

 

RESOLVED –

 

That the update be noted.

54.

Overview and Scrutiny Developments

6:30pm to 6:35pm

Minutes:

The Joint Chairs would be attending the next meeting of the East Midlands Scrutiny Network on 29 March, 2019 which would be held at Chesterfield Borough Council.

55.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 77 KB

6:35pm to 6:40pm

Minutes:

The Minutes of the Overview and Performance Scrutiny Forum held on 15 January, 2019 were presented.

 

RESOLVED –

 

That the Minutes be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.