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Decision details

Bi-borough Arrangements for Adults, Childrens and Public Health Services

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

Officer Report

Decision:

That Cabinet:

 

1.            Approved the proposal to enter a shared service arrangement with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) for Children’s, Adults and Public Health Services.

2.            Approved the timetable for transition to the new service arrangements as outlined in the report and noted that some elements will be phased.

 

3.            Approved the proposal to continue sharing a small number of services with both RBKC and London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (LBHF), where economies of scale and or quality of service indicate this is the best way forward.

 

4.            Noted the proposal to establish a collaboration agreement with RBKC and LBHF in respect of the services covered in decision 3 above.

 

5.            Delegated authority, following consultation with the Leader and relevant cabinet members, to sign Section 113 agreements in respect of Children’s Services, Adult Social Care and Public Health with RBKC to relevant officers.

 

6.            Delegated authority to the Chief Executives of RBKC and Westminster City Council to make minor changes to the proposed structures and operational frameworks following consultation with the relevant cabinet members and both leaders.

Reasons for Decision

1.            In March 2017, Cabinet endorsed a recommendation to serve notice to London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (LBHF) to terminate the Section 113 agreements that have been in place since 2012 to share Children’s, Adult Social Care and Public Health services. LBHF had signalled their intent to withdraw from these Tri-Borough arrangements but with no indication of when they would serve notice. In order to reduce the uncertainty for staff and the potential impact this might have on service delivery, Westminster City Council (WCC) and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) agreed to issue termination notices. Both Councils were keen to ensure that new arrangements were in place by April 2018.

 

2.            Since that time, officers have worked to develop alternative structures which maintain the principles of the original tri-borough proposition of collaborative working and delivering efficiencies through scale whilst retaining sovereignty. New Section 113 agreements will be established with RBKC, setting out the new sharing arrangements. It is proposed that a small number of services in both Adult Social Care and Children’s Services will continue to be shared with both RBKC and LBHF. Endorsement is sought to continue those arrangements.

 

3.            It should be noted that Westminster City Council is committed to continuing its Tri-borough shared service arrangements in a number of other areas. A full list is outlined in appendix 1 of the report.

Publication date: 05/12/2017

Date of decision: 04/12/2017

Effective from: 13/12/2017