To receive such announcements as may be made by the Leader.
Minutes:
The Leader of the Council made the following speech to Council :-
Our Journey so Far
“Thank you Madam Mayor. Members of Council, 2014 promises to be another exciting year for Cheshire East Council and a year of continued transformation.
As we all know, since 2011, Cheshire East Council has faced the double pressure of rising demand for services, coupled with diminishing resources and funding. In order to tackle this unprecedented funding challenge, and to avoid a financial ‘cliff edge’, this Council has taken a long-term view in adopting a flexible model of service delivery.
Last February we began our journey of transition towards becoming a “commissioning council”. This new strategic commissioning approach will deliver the savings we need without over simplistic ‘salami slicing’ of services, it will also ensure services are shaped around residents, businesses and service users.
As part of this new way of working we are building strong coalitions with local and national public sector partners, business leaders, local third sector and voluntary organisations and directly with local residents.
By doing this and by involving them directly in the commissioning of services we will support our local communities to be more resilient and self sufficient, and so reducing demand on public services.
By setting this path, and by making the difficult decisions early on we have made a choice, we have chosen not to close leisure centres, not to stop services and not to force staff to take pay holidays. Instead, we have chosen a resident first approach ensuring that we move forward together in ‘one direction’.
Under this new structure, we have streamlined our Senior Management Team. Now that we have a permanent team, the Council can be confident that we have the right people in place to deliver on the plans that we have set out”.
The New Role of Elected Members
“This ambitious strategy and new senior management structure will require both strategic and operational level leadership from elected members, in order to meet the service-delivery and budgetary challenges set out. Officers face new and uncharted territory and will need leadership and guidance from elected members, to ensure that our scarce resources are used to add maximum social value for the residents and businesses of Cheshire East.
To ensure elected members continue to lead these changes and to drive and influence commissioning decisions, it is vitally important for portfolio responsibilities to be aligned with the Council’s priorities and the new matrix management structure.
I announce today that from May this year, the Cabinet will be re- structured to meet the demands of a commissioning Council and that Portfolio Holders work to the new Matrix Model. I have arranged for details of the new Portfolio Holder details to be circulated around the chamber”.
Deputy Cabinet Members
“I will also bring forward re-modelled roles for our executive business, changing the current Cabinet Support arrangements and creating new, powerful, Deputy Cabinet Member roles which will be pivotal in delivering the aspirations of this Council. So, as of May, Cabinet Support roles will no longer exist.
Such has been the pace of change, and the increase in responsibilities of Cabinet Members, that there is an essential need to increase the support mechanisms available to Cabinet Members. I anticipate that Deputy Cabinet Members will have defined roles, clearly documented in job descriptions which not only will clarify their powers, but will also set out their responsibilities and the accountable nature of their roles. Something many Members have requested”.
New Delivery Vehicles
“In line with these changes, I can today announce that I will be restructuring all WOCs to ensure that they operate under a minority and majority share structure, giving the Cabinet an 80% shareholding and The Council a 20% shareholding. This means that Council members whilst not individual shareholders, must have access to all public meetings and be allowed to speak at the discretion of the Chair person.
Under this new operating model, Members must play a crucial role in directing the Council’s commissioning process and in subjecting it to democratic oversight and scrutiny”.
Member Commissions
“It is vitally important that we ensure the new delivery companies are accountable and transparent in which the way they operate, in the same way that our existing Council services do.
To do this, I believe that we need to bring into being new arrangements within the Democratic Services area of the Council’s operation, which will provide the Council with appropriate reassurance around the ASDV arrangements. This will be a vital link between Council as the sovereign body, and the ASDVs, which will be delivering services. The link will be a series of cross-party, public Commission, which will be designed to hold the ASDVs to account. The provisional structure of these Commissions is included in the “Working Together” report.
The Commissions are forward planning and retrospective, they will determine policy for the ASDVs and will deliver outcomes for the Cabinet.
As we move forward I can share more detail with you all. I can however share with you the new structure for commissions and service scrutiny, this can be found at the rear of the ‘Best Fit’ report in your pack”.
I also want to make it very clear, that Special Responsibility Allowances (SRO) will come from the service budgets ensuring that services ‘blow their own smoke’ and ensuring that the tax payer does not fit the bill.
New Staff Mutual
“In line with our new ‘best fit’ approach, I can also announce today, that we are working with Council staff and our Union colleagues, on a proposal for a new staff mutual.
I cannot provide detail yet as negotiations are still taking place, what I can tell you this will be the first of its kind in Cheshire East, with staff taking control of the future of their service”.
Zero Hours Contracts
“I am delighted to confirm that, in agreement with the joint Trade Unions, the Council will be ending “Zero hours contracts” during 2014. These contracts are viewed by many as exploitative and unattractive for employees and, as such, there has been pressure to end them. The Council will instead introduce flexible (or dynamic) contracts and move all employees currently on zero hours contracts onto these new contracts during 2014”.
CLB Appraisal Board
“Following the introduction of the Council’s modern and flexible pay and grading structure in 2013, which saw the removal of outdated increments and the introduction of performance related pay for all senior managers, I have requested that an appraisals board be established. This board will provide Members, across all parties, the opportunity to have full and proper input, and oversight, into the performance management and pay awards for the Council’s Corporate Leadership Board. Further details of this board will be brought back to Council shortly. In order for work to commence, Council will be asked to delegate this work to the Staffing Committee”.
Staff Engagement
“Engaging staff throughout our journey of transformation has been a key priority, some examples are:
· Dragons Den Sept 13. - Last September saw a Dragons Den style event where seven “big ideas” were presented by staff with three now being implemented ranging from an innovative Cheshire East App, through to Staff Solution Centre’s and a Junior Warden Scheme.
· Winter road shows - To keep staff informed on the direction, priorities and successes of the Council and build collective energy around the things that matter, a series of 10 road shows has been undertaken at different locations across the borough during Jan and Feb (more than 800 staff have attended).
· Middle manager conferences – following on from the phase three management review, four specific events for middle managers are planned during March, focusing on their critical role in engaging colleagues and driving change and performance.
· Staff suggestion box – this has been recently launched following the road shows and more than 50 ideas have already been posted”.
Growth and Jobs
“Cheshire East continues to be a fantastic place to do business. We contribute 7.0% of the region’s economic output, significantly greater than our equivalent population shareof 5.3%. We have more businesses (17,700) than any other district or unitary authority in the North West, and the rate of new business start ups is well above the North West and UK average.
Unemployment is at its lowest rate for 5 years (1.9%) and through our ambitious job- led growth plans we are working to reduce this figure further. In particular we will be focusing on youth unemployment, which whilst falling to a 5 year low (4% for 18-24 year olds) by the end of 2013, is far higher than we would like”.
Alderley Park
“Following the announcement by Astra Zeneca to pull out of Alderley Park in 2012, this Council set a clear vision; to create a successful life sciences cluster, focused around a new Bio Hub at Alderley Park.
This has so far resulted in:
· 20 companies now on site, with a number of future potential relocations in the pipeline including the first foreign direct investment;
· Discussions ongoing with a number of potential Astra Zeneca spin-outs from AZ staff;
· As Astra Zeneca move to finalise the site sale, Cheshire East are working closely with all partners on the potential to invest in world significant asset in our area as part of our jobs-led growth; and
· I am happy to announce, and should give some credence to Cllr Edwards that I am considering having an urgent Cabinet meeting to consider participation in the proposed deal to purchase a share of Alderley Park”.
Broadband Coverage
“I can also announce today that we are working on proposals to extend high speed broadband coverage to 99% of Cheshire East”.
Cheshire East Commitments to Transparency and Openness
“Going forward, openness and transparency will be at the heart of everything we do. Let me be very clear, this Council has nothing to hide and is committed to ensuring that the public are able to hold the Council to account, in respect of the services it provides, and the money it spends. In April I will be able to announce further details on our plans to voluntarily release Council information and data, through our ‘Open Data’ policy.
I can also announce today that this Council is going further than ever before, by committing voluntarily publishing as much information and data as possible, making it easier for Elected Members and the public to find and re- use this information”.
Concluding statement
“I think it is clear from all that I have covered that my Cabinet and I, along with the Senior Leadership Team have a very clear vision for the future of this Council and the Borough, and a clear plan of action as to how, together, we will achieve everything we want to achieve and more”.