Issue details

Proposed decision   

That the Cabinet Member consider the proposal to:

• Agree to the signing of the two expired Kent Countryside Management Partnerships Memorandums of Agreement, and the signing of three Memorandums of Agreement when they expire.
• Agree continued hosting through the MoA for the four Countryside Management Partnerships.
• Agree to increase annual contributions for the four hosted Countryside Management Partnerships in line with KCC's pay strategy annual pay award.
• Agree to increase annual contributions for the Countryside Management Partnerships in line with inflation.
• Delegate responsibility for the negotiation of any annual increase to contributions to the Corporate Director for Growth, Environment and Transport.

Reason for the decision

Kent County Council rely on the skills, knowledge and volunteers that the Countryside Management Partnerships (CMPs) give us. Through these projects are delivered that support priorities contained in Framing Kent’s Future. The Memorandums of Agreement (MoA) for the partnerships are required as part of the overall governance of the Partnerships and for them to access external funding, so a formal agreement is necessary.

Background

Whilst many CMPs across the country have been subsumed into local authority countryside teams, Kent’s seven partnerships have retained a local identity whilst operating as a county wide service.  

CMPs are a suite of delivery organisations for Kent’s green spaces and play a vital role in the conservation of the Kent countryside and coast. Each CMP is hosted by a local authority; four are hosted by Kent County Council. They operate as an independent non-profit organisation, while working within their host authority’s structure.

Kent County Council contributes a defined amount of core funding annually; this amount has remained unchanged for several years and is not inflationary.   

Individual governance, partnership and funding arrangements are set out in each MoA, which serves as the governing document for each partnership.

As partnership organisations, each CMP works to contribute towards the strategic priorities of its partners, and reports to them as per individual agreements and Service Level Agreements. As a host authority and a core funder, Kent County Council’s strategic priorities exert a significant influence on the work of the CMPs and as such, they are vital in delivering many environmental objectives.  

Options

1. Do nothing - without current MoA CMPs will find it difficult to access some funding streams as grant giving bodies often ask for a governance document which the MoA fulfils. This will impact on their income generation and ability to fund staff and resources.

2. Do not extend the agreements – In addition to the do-nothing option, by not signing the MoA we would have to find alternative methods of continuing our projects. This could be through taking on the service ourselves, which would still have a financial burden on KCC as a new team would have to be formed of KCC employees. If this was done on budget then that would impact the quality and quantity of work delivered. There would also be a loss of access to the knowledge and partnerships already built up through the partnerships, creating delays in projects and some, coming to a stop all together. There is a risk that KCC could be viewed in negative light if the MOA’s are withdrawn, potentially jeopardising existing relationships.

3. Sign the new MoA – Sign to extend the expired, and soon to be expired, MoA. This will allow seamless continuation of the work being delivered by the CMPs, and so, continuation of projects that are helping us meet the environmental aims we have set out for Kent County Council.

Preferred Option

Option 3 is the preferred option, as it gives the council best value for money, as CMPs have access to a wealth of skills and knowledge, with teams who are already familiar with the areas they work, the way the council works and have already delivered projects successfully that help meet our targets and aims.

The adoption of this strategy will meet one of the four key priorities within KCC’s Strategy – Framing Kent’s Future 2022 – 2026:

Priority 3: Environmental step change, in particular: To consider Kent’s environment as a core asset that is valued, strengthened and protected.

How the proposed decision supports Securing Kent’s Future 2022 -2026: Securing Kent’s Future - Budget Recovery Strategy

The decision supports Securing Kent’s Future as although KCC do contribute funds, and this would continue with the new MoA, this is significantly less than it would be if KCC directly delivered the service and had to wholly fund the CMPs.

Having the MoA in place also opens up more funding opportunities for the CMPs as this formal governance is required for funders. 

Financial Implications:

The CMPs receive a small contribution from KCC but are required to generate sufficient income to cover all their costs, capital and revenue as well as maintain adequate reserves.  Income is generated from other partners, who may or may not be signatories to the MoA, grant giving bodies, donations and project delivery. 

In addition, the four KCC hosted CMPs receive KCC in kind contribution as staff are employed by KCC and they adhere to KCC financial regulations.  This is the same arrangement as the Kent Downs National Landscape, which is hosted by KCC. 

The MoA helps to provide a governance structure with the other relevant core partners, enabling the SLAs that are in place and external funding to be secured.  Without the MoAs that funding could not be accessed and funds to carry out required work will need to be sourced from elsewhere.