Agenda item

The Leader reminded Members of how the Council, in co-operation with Derbyshire County Council and other Derbyshire district and borough councils, had been working for some time to develop a new collaborative approach for future joint working with the aim of improving outputs and outcomes for local Derbyshire people. This collaborative approach would enable the different councils to focus on shared ambitions and priorities, without requiring any changes to the existing structure of local government within the County.

The Council had already received a report (in October 2020) documenting the outputs from phase two of the Vision Derbyshire programme i.e., the case for change and proposition to Government, and had resolved that Vision Derbyshire be supported as the Council’s preferred option for local government reform in Derbyshire.

Phase three had involved developing a programme of work, with Leaders and senior officers appointed to take forward four key ambition areas and two other workstreams – communications and engagement, and governance.

The Leader emphasised that it was important for Chesterfield Borough Council to now affirm its formal commitment to the Vision Derbyshire programme and approve a financial contribution to the establishment of a central programme resource. It was essential that member councils demonstrated to Government that appropriate governance arrangements were in place to formally evidence their intention to progress non-structural public service reform and their collective political commitment to the approach.

The functions and responsibilities of the Joint Committee were attached to the officer’s report and the Leader confirmed that member councils were not obligated to be involved in all projects and could choose some and not others.

A host authority would need to be appointed to administer the meetings, act as accountable body for any funding and employ the Vision Derbyshire programme team to ensure effective functioning of the Joint Committee.

RESOLVED –

1. That Chesterfield Borough Council continues to take an active role in progressing future phases of the Vision Derbyshire programme.

2. That the proposals for Vision Derbyshire governance, as set out in paragraphs 4.12 to 4.25 and Appendix B of the officer’s report, be approved.

3. That Chesterfield Borough Council becomes a full member of the Vision Derbyshire Joint Committee, as described at paragraphs 4.12 to 4.25 and in Appendix B of the officer’s report.

4. That a financial contribution be made to the resources required to implement Phase 4 of the Vision Derbyshire programme, as set out within section 7, the maximum cost of which currently stands at £52,350 per annum.

5. That Chesterfield Borough Council appoints the Leader of the Council, Cllr Tricia Gilby, as the Council’s representative on the Vision Derbyshire Joint Committee and the Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr Amanda Serjeant, as substitute.

6. That authority be delegated to the Leader of the Council to agree by executive member decision the arrangements for Chesterfield Borough Council to act as the host authority for the Vision Derbyshire Joint Committee should it be asked to fulfil the role.

7. That it be noted that Chesterfield Borough Council will need to arrange through its existing Scrutiny Committees to review decisions made by the Vision Derbyshire Joint Committee.

8. That the Council reaffirms its commitment to Vision Derbyshire as its preferred option for local government reform given the wider context outlined in paragraphs 4.31 to 4.35 of the officer’s report.