Agenda and minutes

·                 Fire Procedures/Mobile Phones/Rest Rooms. 

·                 “Members of the Public, committee members and officers are reminded that under the Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014, the press and Public may film, audio record, photograph and use social media whilst the meeting is in progress, for Part A items only, and as long as no disruption is caused to the meeting. Anyone filming is asked to focus their attention on elected members rather than other visitors”. (To be read out if visitors present). 

There were none.

The Committee considered whether there was a need to amend the quoracy arrangements for the joint committee, which currently required four members to be present for any business to be considered. It was agreed that the current arrangements were satisfactory, since substitute members were permitted to attend.

Resolved – That the appointment of Councillor Swindells in substitution for Councillor Rankin, in accordance with Rule 12 of the ‘Conduct of Meetings and Proceedings of the Joint Committee’ document, be noted.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members. 

There were none.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Shared Revenues and Benefits Service Joint Committee held on 16^th July 2015. 

Resolved - That the minutes of a meeting of the Shared Revenues and Benefits Service Joint Committee held on 16 July 2015 be noted and signed as a correct record.

To be advised.

To be advised.

To consider passing the following resolution:

“That the public be excluded from this meeting during consideration of the following item(s) of business on the grounds that there is likely to be a disclosure of exempt information which is described in the paragraph(s) of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 which is specified against the heading(s) to each item, and that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing it.” 

Resolved – That the public be excluded from this meeting during consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that there is likely to be a disclosure of exempt information which is described in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12 A of the Local Government Act 1972, and that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing it.

The Deputy Director of Customer Services (Head of Shared Service) submitted a report on the Shared Service, in line with the Shared Service Agreement between Lancaster City Council and Preston City Council, providing the latest budget monitoring and the revised budget for 2015/16 to enable the Joint Committee to approve the budget for 2016/17.  The Principal Accountant (Preston City Council) presented the report to Members.

Councillor Rawlinson enquired about a mechanism for redeployment of staff at risk of redundancy, at both authorities, into the shared service. It was explained that such a process is already utilised, with each vacant post considered individually on its merits as to deletion, re-designation and recruitment.  In recent years, all available posts have been filled from existing staff within the two authorities.  Officers would discuss this issue with Human Resources.

Resolved – That the Joint Committee:

(i)     Notes the latest budget monitoring and the revised budget for 2015/16 for the Shared Service, as detailed in Appendix A of the report;

(ii)   approves the budget for 2016/17 for the Shared Service, as detailed in Appendix B of the report; and

(iii)  delegates to the S151 Officers of each Council (by agreement) to determine the cost sharing ratio for contributions to and from the overall Shared Service budget.