Agenda item

To consider the report which sets out progress of the council’s transformation journey.

The Committee considered the report which set out progress of the council’s transformation journey and the draft transformation plan that required submission to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) no later than 27 August 2024. It was noted that this submission was a formal requirement in order for the council to access Exceptional Financial Support.

The committee sought assurance around how elected members would be involved through the transformation journey and decision-making process. It was confirmed that policy decisions would be taken by elected members and officers would implement decisions as empowered to do so, under agreed Schemes of Delegation, in order to achieve the right balance of delivering the transformation programme and bringing key decisions back to elected members at the appropriate time. The Chair confirmed that the Leader of the Opposition Group would be invited to all future informal briefings with the Chief Executive, Leader and Deputy Leader. It was highlighted that there would be briefings for all elected members, staff and partners, at the appropriate stages along with a comprehensive communications plan.

The committee noted that the potential savings identified ranged between £59-£91m and queried the divergence in those figures. It was noted that the potential savings had been identified based upon evidence of similar activities developed in other local authorities however the next phase, developing detailed business cases, would define this saving figure further and take into account local factors that would impact individual savings.

Some concerns were raised in relation to the number of vacancies and how this would impact the delivery of the plan. It was highlighted that significant resource would be provided by the council’s external partner, Inner Circle, working across the council, however work would soon commence to prepare for March 2025 when this resource was due to end. The committee suggested that the second iteration of the plan provide more detail in relation of staffing.

The committee requested an update on the CIPFA review. It was noted that this had been directly commissioned by MHCLG and the report was still in the process of being finalised. Officers agreed to share further information with the committee once more information had been received from government.

Two amendments were proposed by the Conservative Group in relation to recommendations 2 and 3. These amendments were proposed, seconded and voted upon but were not carried.

Proposed amendment 1:

Delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council, to implement the transformation plan.

Proposed amendment 2:

Agree that the committee will meet informally in between scheduled meetings, to review and scrutinise proposed decisions, as often as is necessary, to implement the transformation plan at pace.

The committee voted upon the recommendations set out below separately.

RESOLVED (by majority):

That the Corporate Policy Committee

1.    Approve the transformation plan contained at Appendix A and the submission of the plan to MHCLG by no later than 27 August 2024.

RESOLVED (by majority):

That the Corporate Policy Committee

2.    Delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council, to take all necessary steps including the relevant decisions to implement the transformation plan.

RESOLVED (by majority):

That the Corporate Policy Committee

3.    Agree that the committee will receive regular updates on the progress of the transformation plan.

Councillor C O’Leary and Councillor S Gardiner voted against recommendations 2 and 3 and requested that this be formally recorded in the minutes.