Agenda item

TO CONSIDER a report from the Head of Community Services, Thanet District Council

At the commencement of this item point one of the resolutions was agreed prior to discussion on this item to allow the Ashford Borough Council representative to participate in the debate.

The Chief Executive of Thanet District Council outlined the report on Joint Housing Landlord Services. He explained that it was the aim to establish a shared service vehicle for Housing by April 2010.

The initial reports on the proposals had been to the Executives of each of the five participants and each had agreed to move to the next stage.

The reasons for recommending the shared service vehicle approach included Service Improvements, Efficiencies and Cost Reductions, Resilience and Improving capacity.

The shared service vehicle involve the transfer of approximately 270 FTE posts and would be responsible for the management of 21,000 houses across  the five authorities.  Each Council would retain ownership of its housing stock and housing strategy.   All proposals were subject to tenant consultation and Secretary of State approval.

The committee was informed that the Chief Executive of Thanet District Council would be leading the project board, supported by a Project Manager, Project Director, nominees from each of the parties and tenant representatives.

The Shared Service Vehicle would be a not for profit organisation and could potentially seek charitable status. The broad composition of the Board of the Shared Service Vehicle would consist of five Councillors, five Tenants and five Independent Members.  There would also be an area structure underneath the board to provide local delivery of services and enhance local involvement.

The shared service vehicle would be responsible for direct housing management and maintenance functions for the five Councils.  Support services such as HR, ICT and Legal would be purchased under terms to be agreed.

A new report would be brought before the East Kent (Joint Arrangements) Committee at its meeting in March.

In response to questions from a Member, the Chief Executive of Thanet District Council confirmed that there would be a Chairman of the Shared Service vehicle in addition to the 15 Members of the Board. It was also hoped that the five Independent Members of the Board would bring a variety of different complementary skills from professional backgrounds.

The Council’s would retain the management of housing strategy, waiting lists and homelessness issues; a debate was needed in the future to decide if these services should be combined or transferred.

The tenants in the five districts had met with the individual districts and there had been little complaint about the proposals. More detailed consultation would form part of the process.

In response to a question from a Member the Executive of Thanet District Council there was a lot of detailed work to be completed before a final business case could be presented. At this point in time Members were only being asked to agree the principles.

The Chief Executive of Thanet District Council confirmed to the Committee in response to a question from a Member, that the report was only a series of proposals up until the point when each of the parties had formally committed to participate in the Shared Service Vehicle.   He confirmed it would be possible to continue with less than five Councils, however it would be more beneficial if all five took part.

A Member from Kent County Council confirmed that KCC would be willing to help the project in any way it could, in particular in finding ways to stimulate the local economy through structural investment.

A Member from Ashford Borough Council confirmed that they were happy with the proposals and hoped the savings could be even greater than outlined in the report. The Chief Executive of Thanet District Council acknowledged Ashford’s position. He confirmed that the two Executive Members to be co-opted onto the Committee were Councillors Paul Clokie and Peter Woods.

The Chief Executive of Thanet District Council confirmed in response to a question from a Member that permission would be sought from the Secretary of State in Autumn of 2009. He estimated that it would take approximately six months to migrate the staff to the shared service vehicle but some key decisions may have to be taken in advance of the formal approval in relation to governance issues in order to meet the deadine.

RESOLVED – 

a)          That two executive members of Ashford Borough Council (Councillor Paul Clokie and Councillor Peter Woods) be co-opted onto this Committee as non voting members to participate in debates on this project, both at this meeting and the meeting of 11 March 2009.

b)          That progress on the project to date is noted and that East Kent (Joint Arrangements) committee become the project sponsor.  That there be a report to the meeting of 11^th March 2009, on the shape and nature of the Shared Service Vehicle.

c)         That the Committee recommend to each district council member of East Kent (Joint Arrangements) committee:

           i)        that the funds they have made available for this project be delegated to East Kent (Joint Arrangements) committee as and when they are required by the project lead.

           ii)       that the delegation of management and expenditure of the above project budget be delegated to the Chief Executive of Thanet District Council as project lead.      

d)         That the Committee recommend to Ashford Borough Council that it creates its own bilateral arrangement with Thanet District Council to achieve a similar delegation to its Chief Executive district councils concerned in this proposed project has voted to support it in principle.