Agenda item

To provide Council with an update on the progress of the Partnership in conclusion of the Setting the Foundations stage of the approved business case and to establish and recommend the key elements of the Set-Up stage for the Partnership (report of the Joint Strategic Advisor enclosed).

(The Joint Chief Executive, the Deputy Chief Executive (Growth) and the Deputy Chief Executive (Programme Delivery) and SIRO left the meeting prior to discussion of this item).

Consideration was given to the report of the Joint Strategic Advisor which provided the Council with an update on the progress of the Partnership in conclusion of the Setting the Foundations stage of the approved business case, and to establish and recommend the key elements of the Set-Up stage for the Partnership.

Information was included within the report around the proposed Work Programme, Performance Framework, Financial Opportunities, Governance Framework and Employment Terms and Conditions (including pay) for the Integrated Shared Senior Management Team.

It was noted that Boston Council had considered the same report at its Council meeting on 22 November 2021 and the recommendations had been agreed unanimously.  East Lindsey District Council would consider the report at its Council meeting on 15 December 2021.

Members considered the information within the report, and the following points were raised:

·         Members had been advised of savings of £4.65million over 10 years – clarification was sought as to whether this was based on a particular scale, or upon an average.

·         Members noted that Appendix A laid out the Strategic Programme for the Partnership, and Health and Wellbeing/Health and Leisure offer featured within the priorities.  In Section 2 of the appendix (Corporate Priorities), there were a number of statements which in member views required modification in order to make them clearer when clarifying requirements in the future, and to not prohibit any potential solutions in the future.

·         Officers confirmed that, with regard to the Work Programme, what was being proposed was an opportunity across the partnership to work much more closely around leisure provision and health and wellbeing.  Each Council would continue to have its own Corporate Plan, but there would also be the opportunity to work in partnership towards common priorities and goals.

·         The Leader requested that the above point be noted, and agreed that the document for agreement not constrain ambitions in the future but add to them.

DECISION:

1)    That the progress of the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership since approval by Council on 29 July 2021 be noted;

2)    That the Work Programme priorities for the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership for the Set-Up stage, as set out in Appendix A, be approved;

3)    That the Performance Framework and the frequency of performance reporting to Council for the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership, as set out in Appendix B, be noted;

4)    That the financial opportunities for the MTFS for each partnership Council to be developed as part of the budgeting setting process for each Council, as set out in Appendix C, be noted;

5)    That the governance framework for the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership and proposals for the scrutiny of the partnership on an annual basis, be noted; and

6)    The employment terms and conditions (including the pay structure) for the Integrated Shared Senior Management Team as set out in Appendix D be approved.