Agenda item

Shared Service - Integrated Support Team Manager

Report of the Corporate Director (Regeneration)

Minutes:

Cabinet received a report from the Corporate Director (Regeneration). The report had two purposes:-

 

(a)        To outline, and seek approval for, proposals for a shared service arrangement with Preston City Council for the management of the Integrated Support Team which currently delivers the Lancaster & Morecambe Worklessness Pilot Project and the Vulnerable Households Project.

 

(b)        To seek approval for delegated authorisation for extensions to projects delivered through the Integrated Support Team

 

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

 

The options for the shared service arrangement are summarised in the table below:

 

Option

Advantages

Disadvantages

Risks

1. Fill the vacancy by open recruitment

Funder approval not required to fill existing post

 

New manager in post following recruitment period

The limited timescale of committed funding for the projects would: i) make recruitment of a suitably qualified and experienced manager difficult; ii) increase the likelihood that the post would be vacated before projects are completed

 

No reduction in the proportion of project costs for project management (unless offered on a part time basis)

 

Potential recruitment costs

Risk that post not filled.

 

Stability of management function at risk

2.  Enter a shared service arrangement with Preston City Council to provide the  management role required

Manager role filled on  more flexible basis in terms of time commitments than would otherwise be possible leading to reduction in project costs for management function and possible extension of project timescale

 

Opportunities for service improvements through the application of the combined experience of the two authorities

 

Experience gained related to the potential to extend shared service arrangements in the context of the Mid-Lancashire MAA

 

Funder approval required for the new arrangement.

 

Staff time required to develop shared service arrangement

Without funder approval the proposal could not be implemented, leading to the risk of further delay in provision of the management function

 

Risk of competing demands on manager time between the two authorities (Service Level Agreement to be in place)

 

The options for opportunities to extend projects are summarised in the table below:

 

Option

Advantages

Disadvantages

Risks

1. Do not seek extensions to the projects

None (except in limiting potential redundancy payments)

Projects providing valuable services to deprived individuals terminated at the end of existing contracts.

 

Opportunities for continuing 100% external funding not taken up.

 

Loss of staff experience and expertise in delivering outreach work

 

2. Approve extension already offered to December 2010 for the Vulnerable Households project and actively seek extensions to existing projects which are 100% externally funded

Maintains and expands provision of valuable services to local residents, and especially deprived and vulnerable groups and individuals

 

Retains expertise of existing staff pending possible development of Mid-Lancashire MAA worklessness activity

 

Maintains integrity of the Integrated Support Team

 

 

Possible increase in redundancy payment liability as existing temporary posts extend beyond two years

 

Some manager time required in reprofiling projects and liaising with external funders

 

 

Option 2 is the officer preferred option as the proposed shared service arrangement offers the best overall solution by providing a more flexible management arrangement, with an appropriately experienced manager.

 

Councillor Bryning proposed, seconded by Councillor Robinson:-

 

“(1)      That the proposal for a shared service arrangement with Preston City Council for the management of the Integrated Support Team be approved

 

(2)       That the Corporate Director (Regeneration) be authorised to finalise any contractual matters to implement the arrangement subject to the prior approval of external project funders

 

(3)       That the Corporate Director (Regeneration) be authorised to approve extensions to the Supporting People contracts for the Vulnerable Households project and Targeted Intervention Project subject to 100% external funding being secured

 

(4)       That the Corporate Director (Regeneration) be authorised to approve extensions to the timescale of the Lancaster & Morecambe Worklessness Pilot Project subject to 100% external funding being secured

 

(5)       That, in the event that a project extension results in redundancy payment liabilities which are not eligible costs for external funding purposes, such payments, as detailed in the report, be met from an appropriate corporate reserve (eg Project Implementation, subject to funding being available) or otherwise from corporate staff turnover savings

 

(6)       That the Head of Financial Services is authorised to update the General Fund Revenue Budget as appropriate across relevant financial years.”

 

Councillors then voted:-

 

Resolved unanimously:

 

(1)       That the proposal for a shared service arrangement with Preston City Council for the management of the Integrated Support Team be approved

 

(2)       That the Corporate Director (Regeneration) be authorised to finalise any contractual matters to implement the arrangement subject to the prior approval of external project funders

 

(3)       That the Corporate Director (Regeneration) be authorised to approve extensions to the Supporting People contracts for the Vulnerable Households project and Targeted Intervention Project subject to 100% external funding being secured

 

(4)       That the Corporate Director (Regeneration) be authorised to approve extensions to the timescale of the Lancaster & Morecambe Worklessness Pilot Project subject to 100% external funding being secured

 

(5)       That, in the event that a project extension results in redundancy payment liabilities which are not eligible costs for external funding purposes, such payments, as detailed in the report, be met from an appropriate corporate reserve (eg Project Implementation, subject to funding being available) or otherwise from corporate staff turnover savings

 

(6)       That the Head of Financial Services is authorised to update the General Fund Revenue Budget as appropriate across relevant financial years

 

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

 

Corporate Director (Regeneration)

Head of Regeneration and Policy

Head of Financial Services

 

Reasons for making the decision:

 

The decision will ensure the best approach for the continued delivery of projects through the Integrated Support Team.  It will build on the existing shared service relationship between Lancaster City Council and Preston City Council and provide the opportunity for the existing projects delivered by the Integrated Support Team to be extended. 

 

Supporting documents: