Issue - meetings

To consider the joint report of the Borough Treasurer and Head of Assets (Cheshire East Council) and The Director of Resources (Cheshire West and Chester Council) on:

• A – The Disaggregation of Transitional Shared Services
• B – ICT Business Plan Update

Consideration was given to the joint report of the Borough Treasurer and Head of Assets (Cheshire East Council) and the director of Resources (Cheshire West and Chester Council).

The report provided an update on transition activity and indicated which services, where sharing arrangements were scheduled to end on 31^st August 2009, had successfully completed the disaggregation.

At the previous meeting, a number of questions and points of clarification had been requested for the Business Plans and Service Delivery Statement documents for the shared services of –

·          ICT

·          Farms Estate

·          Highways Maintenance Contract

·          Archaeology             

·          Commissioned Community Equipment

The report provided the Joint Committee with responses to the issues which had been raised.  It was noted that further amendments to the plans may be required following the outcome of the “Visioning Day” scheduled for 10^th December 2009.

With reference to the Highways Maintenance Contract, there was doubt about the expiration date.  It had been understood that during the transitional year, an extension to 2012 had been offered to BAM Nuttall and had been accepted. However, current legal advice indicated that the contract would terminate in March 2011.  It was suggested that the Cheshire East Strategic Director, Places and the Cheshire West and Chester Director of Environment discuss this issue to clarify the situation for the Joint Committee.

RESOLVED

That

(a)       The closure of shared service arrangements be confirmed for those services disaggregating on 31^st August 2009 where the transition had now been completed and approved by the Joint Officer Board, namely the Inclusion and Education and Early Years Reform Programme services;

(b)       The extension of the Schools Admission shared service to 31^st October 2009 be confirmed; and

(c)        The points of clarification relating to the questions raised about the business plans, at the previous meeting held on 30^th September 2009, be noted.