Decision details

Cabinet received a report from the Head of Community Engagement which provided an update and findings on a review into SLA’s (Service Level Agreements).  The report recommended some short term actions to improve management arrangements and also the principles of an overall approach to the council’s future arrangements for the efficient management of it’s investment and support for external organisations, in order to maximise impact.

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

The officer preferred option is Option 1.  The review of SLA’s highlighted a number of issues as detailed in this report.  However, there is no doubt that many of the services currently funded by the council via its SLA’s are valuable and have an impact on our local communities.  Whilst this report suggests some immediate actions that can lead to fairly quick overall improvements, there is an opportunity to look further ahead and to prepare for some more significant changes in the medium term future.  This work will take longer to develop but could allow the council to be better placed in the future to achieve more from its investments, to have the management tools necessary to support key services through a commissioning framework and to be able to support external partners to develop the collaborative approaches they will need in the years to come.  The report therefore recommended that the current investment in SLA’s was maintained whilst the work required to develop the medium term proposals was undertaken. Future reports to Cabinet will provide further information on the proposed approaches.

Councillor Whitelegg proposed, seconded by Councillor Langhorn:-

“That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved.”

By way of amendment Councillor Robinson proposed:

“That recommendation (1) be amended with the words ‘and give notice that funding may be reduced in subsequent years’ inserted after 2011/12.”

However it was noted that there was no seconder to the proposal and the amendment was declared lost.

At this point Councillor Bryning declared a personal interest in view of his appointment to the Storeys Institute Board and did not vote on this item.  Councillor Ashworth declared a personal interest as a trustee of the Citizens Advice Bureaux.  Councillor Barry declared a personal interest in view of his appointment to the Marsh Community Management Centre and abstained from voting on this item.

Councillors then voted on the original proposition.

Resolved:

(5 Members (Councillors Ashworth, Blamire, Kerr, Langhorn and Whitelegg) voted in favour, and 2 Members (Councillors Barry and Robinson) abstained.)

(1)                    That the council extend existing SLA’s at current 2010/11 funding levels for the financial year 2011/12 with the exception of the specific time limited agreement with Storey Creative Industries Centre (SCIC) which will end on 31^st March 2011 and any SLA’s that are supported by external funding tied to specific time periods and where relevant at a reduced level already agreed as part of the 2010/11 Budget Process, e.g. The Dukes.

(2)                    That officers enter into discussions with County Council to consider the potential for future joint investment in the VCFS (Voluntary, Community and Faith sector), including a shared approach to monitoring and evaluation.

(3)                    That potential for shared administration arrangements is investigated in relation to the Council’s Welfare Grants in order to achieve efficiency.  

(4)                    That over the next 12 months, officers develop and bring forward proposals for a commissioning approach with the VCFS and other external organisations that will:

·          Maximise the impact of the council’s investment

·          To assist delivery of corporate priorities

·          Provide appropriate support that will safeguard key services

·                Develop the potential of the VCFS to deliver services in the district on      behalf of the council.

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

Head of Community Engagement

Reasons for making the decision:

The decision ensures that the current investment in SLA’s is maintained and enables officers to undertake the work required to develop medium term proposals.