Agenda item

Richard Palmer (Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory Services) and Liz Davidson (Partnership Director) were in attendance for this item.

1. The Cabinet Member introduced the report:

a)    Explained that Active Kent & Medway was currently hosted by Kent County Council, which acted as the accountable body for funding, employment and governance arrangements. Members were advised that the existing hosting arrangements were due to conclude in March 2027 and that, following a structural review, the independent Board of Active Kent & Medway had determined that its preferred future operating model was to become an independent legal entity.

b)    Members were informed that the proposed transition would enable Kent County Council to conclude its role as host authority while supporting the transfer of functions, funding arrangements, governance responsibilities and staffing arrangements to an independent organisation. The Committee heard that the proposed model would provide clearer accountability, stronger governance arrangements, greater organisational resilience and improved opportunities to secure and manage future external funding

c)      The Cabinet Member advised that, having reviewed the proposal in detail, particular consideration had been given to the impact upon existing staff, service users and delivery partners. Members were informed that engagement had been undertaken with staff and stakeholders and that the proposed arrangements were expected to support the continued development of sport and physical activity services across Kent and Medway.

d)    Officers explained that the proposal related solely to Kent County Council’s role in concluding the hosting and accountable body arrangements and providing appropriate transition support. Members were advised that the independent organisation would be responsible for its own governance, funding and operational arrangements following the completion of the transition programme

e)    Active Kent & Medway currently received significant external funding, including investment from Sport England and Public Health, which Kent County Council administered as accountable body.

f)         Kent County Council did not provide core revenue funding to the organisation, and the transition would be supported through a structured programme covering governance, funding, legal arrangements, workforce matters, ICT, finance and contractual responsibilities; and the preferred model reflected the position adopted by the majority of Active Partnerships operating nationally

2.In discussion, Members raised the following matters:

a)    Questions were raised regarding references within the report to potential overcapacity within certain support services and whether the transfer arrangements could result in staffing implications for KCC. Officers advised that no redundancies were anticipated as a consequence of the proposal. It was explained that any impact upon central support functions would be minimal and related primarily to wider corporate arrangements currently supporting the hosted service.

b)    Members sought clarification regarding whether the decision constituted a key decision or non-key decision, noting differing references within the report documentation. The Clerk advised that regardless of the classification, the decision would remain subject to the Council’s governance arrangements and could be called in if required. It was acknowledged that the inconsistency would be reviewed and clarified. (Clarified: Item was a Non-Key Decision that would be subjected to the same level of scrutiny)

RESOLVED to endorse the proposed decision, namely:

CONFIRM the cessation of Kent County Council’s role as host authority for Active Kent & Medway (AKM).and the conclusion of the current hosting arrangements.

APPROVE the transition arrangements to support a transfer of functions, resource and staffing to an independent legal entity.

DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director for Growth, Environment and Transport and the Director of Public Health, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory Services and the Cabinet Member for Public Health, to implement the necessary arrangements arising from the cessation of hosting, and to take other relevant actions, including but not limited to finalising the terms of and entering into required contracts or other legal agreements, as necessary to implement the decision