Agenda item

Report by Corporate Directors Dr Carlton Brand, Carolyn Godfrey and Maggie Rae

The Leader presented a report which updated Cabinet on progress with the creation of a strategic partnership with Wiltshire Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, outlined the next steps and sought delegated authority where this was necessary to progress further.

The Leader explained that as referred to in the draft Business Plan, this was very much about public services working together to reduce their respective costs especially in these financially challenging times for the public sector. A number of support services common to both organisations would be capable of being shared.

Deputy Chief Constable Mike Veale attended the meeting for this item. He considered that the only way to manage the financial challenges being faced similarly by the Police was to be innovative in the approach to service delivery. He and the Chief Constable felt strongly that proposals would not affect the integrity of operational policing or police branding. Collaboration in the ways being proposed he said would ensure protection of front line services and the quality of those services whilst maintaining individual responsibility. It would also allow for seamless joint working where necessary to work more efficiently and effectively.

The Leader considered the proposals to be very innovative and would be followed nationally with interest. She thanked Deputy Chief Constable Mike Veale, Service Director for Transformation, Mark Stone and Head of Transformational Change, Julie Anderson-Hill and their teams for all their continued hard work on this ground breaking project. The Leader and officers responded to points of specific detail.

The Leader explained that having reviewed the governance arrangements of the Transformation Board and in the interests of transparency and open and honest decision making, she proposed to establish a Cabinet Committee on Transformation. It was envisaged that subject to any legal and constitutional constraints, the Committee would involve representatives from partner organisations.

Councillors welcomed the proposals. Cllr Jon Hubbard considered the report to be very positive, had no doubt that integrated working arrangements would lead to improvements and was pleased to hear that consideration was being given to also working with other partners.

Resolved:

That Cabinet:

a)            note the significant progress that has been made between Wiltshire Council, Wiltshire Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner towards creating a Strategic Partnership;

b)           confirm its commitment to working within this Strategic Partnership to reduce the total support costs incurred by Wiltshire Council and Wiltshire Police;

c)            confirm that work should commence on the integration of shared  services and that this should include the use of a mini-systems and transformational review in each area to drive the design of the future service;

d)           delegate the final approval of the design, timing and any required staff transfer arrangements for each individual area to Dr Carlton Brand following consultation with the Leader of Council, after taking advice from the Solicitor to the Council and

e)            to note the Leader’s intention to establish a Cabinet Committee on Transformation.

Reason for decision

To allow the ongoing development of the strategic partnership in a rapid, but appropriate manner, in support of the Police and Crime Plan and the Council’s Business Plan. Full details of reasons as detailed in the report presented.