Issue - meetings

To consider a report on Shared Services.

Consideration was given to a report updating Members on Shared Services.

It was reported that following a meeting of the Leaders and Chief Executives of Cheshire East and  Cheshire West and Chester it was agreed that a Joint Programme Development Team would be established, to be chaired jointly by the Section 151 Officers.  The purpose of the Team was to ensure all the shared services were designed and developed to both Councils satisfaction during the run up to Vesting Day.  It was anticipated that Officers would be working closely with colleagues in the West in order to govern all of the shared services.

Further discussions ensued in relation to the European Funding Budget which both Council’s could use to extract additional finances from.  Members raised concerns that the majority of funding would be transferred to the West and that if the East did not benefit from being involved in the Unit then it should pull out.

In response the Borough Treasurer stated that Cheshire East would examine closely the benefits of the service and what the Authority would be getting out of it.  However she emphasised the importance of working on a pooled budget service with the West rather attempting to split budgets for the two Authorities.

RESOLVED

That the report be noted.