Agenda and minutes

To note attendances, substitutes, and any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mike Jones.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any personal and/or prejudicial interest in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

Members of the public are entitled to address the Joint Committee on reports contained within the agenda.  One person can speak in support of each item, and one against, with a limit of three minutes each.  It would be helpful if any person wishing to speak would give prior notice to the Democratic Services Officer named below.

There were no members of the public present.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 30 September 2011.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 30 September 2011 be confirmed as a correct record.

Report will be circulated ‘To Follow’.

Consideration was given to a report summarising the mid year performance for all long term shared services set against their 2010-13 business plans.  The report focused on delivery in the current year noting where targets were being achieved and highlighting areas of emerging challenge. 

The remaining long term shared services include HR and Finance, ICT, Farms Estates, Emergency Planning, Archives, Libraries Specialist Support, Rural Touring Network and the Youth Offending Service; all being rated amber bar the last two which were green.  The reasons for each individual rating were discussed these being factors as slippage in service delivery and/or budget forcasting which might result in an overspend at year end. 

In considering the archives service it was commented that both Halton and Warrington Councils needed to be included in any future discussions as they were both directly involved through a previous Cheshire County re organisation for which different legacy arrangements applied.

It was noted that benchmarking data, shown in Appendix 1 of the report, had been improved thus providing a more robust approach to risk management; Members were requested to direct any particular queries on the detailed information to the Transformation Manager. 

Appendix 2 of the report gave a detailed break down of the budget challenge for 2012-13 and, with regard to the Farms Estate, it was noted that a detailed review was to be carried out. 

RESOLVED:

That the Shared Services mid year report for 2011-12 be noted.