Agenda item

Report of the Chief Executive

5.1       Charlie Parker, Chief Executive, introduced the item and stated that the report provided an update on bi-borough services discussions that had started in March following Cabinet’s decision to serve notice on the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (LBHF). A Members Steering Group had been set up and the report included a number of proposals in respect of bi-borough services.

5.2       Siobhan Coldwell, Chief of Staff, Chief Executive’s Office, then addressed the Cabinet and stated that considerable time had been spent developing proposals for new structures over the last few months and these intended to deliver savings whilst not impacting on services. It was intended to continue to share a number of services with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Siobhan Coldwell referred to estimated costs to the Council as set out in section 14.2 of the report and stated that every effort had been made to mitigate costs where possible. The proposed integrated commissioning would also provide resilience and career structures.

5.3       Siobhan Coldwell advised that it was proposed that more IT related areas in respect of Adult Social Care would move back to the Council and RBKC on a bi-borough basis. A small number of services would remain tri-borough where they were operating well and where there would be little sense in scaling these down. Although there was potential upheaval for some staff, most would not be impacted by the changes. Where staff are to be affected, redeployment options would be explored. Siobhan Coldwell stated that there was a 12 month exit process in respect of terminating the Section 113 agreement with LBHF and it was expected that most of transition to bi-borough services would be completed by March 2018, however a longer time for completion to bi-borough arrangements would be given in areas where this made sense. However, it was anticipated that the bi-borough transition would be complete by the end of the 2018-19 financial year. Siobhan Coldwell added that the final costs of the changes would not be known until next year.

5.4       Councillor Davis, in acknowledging that this was Siobhan Coldwell’s last Cabinet meeting before leaving the Council to take up another post, thanked her for all her work. Councillor Acton echoed Councillor Davis’s comments and commented that it was important to maintain services in respect of Adult Social Care and Public Health.

5.5       The Leader stated that the Council had not initially wanted to withdraw from tri-borough arrangements, however it had little choice but to do so because of LBHF’s situation. She thanked officers for the work that had been put into proposing bi-borough arrangements.

5.6       RESOLVED:

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.

5.7      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.