Decision details

Delivery of Regulatory Services on behalf of Rutland County Council - MAR24/CMDN/87

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Environment and Climate Change

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

The Cabinet Member: 

 

Authorised the extension of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the delivery of shared Regulatory Services by Peterborough City Council (PCC) on behalf of Rutland County Council (RCC), from 1st April 2024 for a period of up to 9 months while arrangements for a new agreement are finalised. 

 

Delegated authority for the Executive Director for Place and Economy to authorise the Council to enter a new agreement with RCC once arrangements for a new agreement have been finalised. 

Reasons for the decision:

 

Governance Requirements

 

Due to the existing agreement expiring as of 31st March 2024 it is either necessary to terminate collaboration with RCC at that point and arrange for staff to be TUPE transferred back to RCC, or another designated provider be selected by them, or to arrange for a new agreement to be entered into which is the proposed course of action.

 

Resilience & Succession Planning

 

The resourcing pressure is growing due to population growth, reduced levels of funding, and regulatory landscape changes, collaboration in such times adds resilience, increases the ability for contingency planning, and adds flexibility with regards to service delivery.

 

Due to the breadth of the Regulatory Services remit maintaining skills, knowledge and expertise across the statutory duties is a challenge. The collaboration with RCC helps mitigate this challenge as the additional funding provided by the agreement enables a larger establishment to be maintained than would otherwise be possible.

 

Staffing

 

With the service expecting to lose operational officers through retirement and qualified officers in short supply nationally, it is difficult and sometimes impossible to recruit. Training to replace these staff is resource intensive. The collaboration between the councils allows the training burden to be spread across a wider service, lessening the impact, and increasing the breadth of experience. The collaboration also enables a training lead to take a holistic view of skills and future skills gaps and organise the necessary training and development to meet service needs.

 

The collaboration also provides a unique selling point when recruiting, most councils are not able to offer the opportunities that it presents.

 

Efficiencies

 

As well as building resilience, there are several efficiencies resulting from collaboration. The arrangement provides for leaner management arrangements, time saved on policy and procedural development, procurement savings, the ability to only procure and maintain one back-office system.

 

Alternative options considered:

The council could decide not to extend collaboration beyond the 31st of March 2024. This would result in a loss of the benefits outlined above and result in the need to develop arrangements to TUPE transfer staff to RCC or their chosen provider.  

Interests and Nature of Interests Declared:

None.

Background Documents:

None.

Publication date: 08/03/2024

Date of decision: 08/03/2024

Effective from: 14/03/2024

Accompanying Documents: