Agenda item

To consider a report from the Programme Director (copy enclosed).

Councillor J Brook, as Chair of the Westmorland and Furness Joint Committee, presented a report which informed members about the Implementation Plan and programme governance that had been developed by officers from the seven sovereign Councils.  This was presented to the Joint Committee and aimed to ensure an effective transition to the new unitary councils on Vesting Day, 1 April 2023.

In July 2021 the Secretary of State announced his decision, subject to Parliamentary approval, to implement a two unitary pattern of Local Government in Cumbria based on an East-West geography.  The Cumbria (Structural Changes) Order 2022 (SCO) gave effect to that decision and came into force on 18 March 2022.

At its first meeting, the Westmorland and Furness Joint Committee felt that it was necessary to get an update on the process around the blue prints and sought reassurance of Member involvement in the process and requested that an update be provided at the May meeting. At the May meeting of the Joint Committee, Members received an update from the Programme Director which  set out the process for agreeing blue prints, the Joint Committee emphasised the importance of Member involvement in this process.

As part of the Order two separate Joint Committees were stablished, one for Cumberland and one for Westmorland and Furness, along with an Implementation Team for the purposes of assisting the Joint Committees in the discharge of its functions, and if required also to assist the Shadow Authority

With the dissolution of the Joint Committees, (the day following that on which the Shadow Authorities for each area held its first meeting), the Shadow Authorities then assumed responsibility for keeping the Implementation Plan that had been prepared under review and revised as necessary. The advice was that matters relating to the Implementation Plan were an executive function of the Shadow Authorities, and as a consequence this report was presented for information and noting by Members, with the intention that a further report on the Implementation Plan be presented to the meeting of the Shadow Executive in June for decision.

The Implementation Plan that had been prepared (at April 2022) described the approach that had been developed to deliver two sustainable Unitary Councils, and a sustainable Fire and Rescue service, in a safe, legal, and seamless fashion, delivering both benefits from day 1 and the foundation for further transformation in the future.

Councillor Brook proposed and moved the recommendations in the report and this was seconded by Councillor Jarvis.

One of the members commented that the work of the Statutory Officers would mean that many officers would be involved in carrying out additional work to try to backfill any gaps.  It was important for members to recognise this and support all the officers involved.

Another member said it was important for the new Shadow Authority to make the most of the opportunities presented by the creation of the new unitary authority.  He wondered how the opportunities and benefits presented would be communicated.

Councillor Brook said that benefit management would be integral to the management of the LGR process.

The LGR Programme Director said that a new transformation workstream had been established and its work included tracking the benefits, including  looking at current performance  on  performance and longer term outcomes.

A member commented that the Implementation Plan would be integral to the success of LGR, and the Chair of the Joint Committee had reassured members that they would have the opportunity to engage in this, however, the report then referred to the approval of the Implementation Plan being an ‘Executive’ function.  He wondered how members would be involved if the decision was to be taken by the Executive.

Councillor Brook, as Leader of the Council, reassured members they would be fully involved in this process.

One of the members asked the Programme Director in relation to the budget, what the difference was between transformation and transition.  The Programme Director outlined the differences.

There was then a discussion about the resources available to the Shadow Authority and how these may be spent.

The Interim Head of Paid Service reminded members that their role over the next 10-12 months was to decide how services would look from vesting day.  As part of the budget setting process members would have the ability to decide the Transformation Budget for Westmorland and Furness Council.

The recommendations were then put to a vote and were unanimously agreed.

RESOLVED, that

(1)  That the Implementation Plan attached at Appendix 1 be noted;

(2)  That the programme governance and associated funding for the Implementation Plan be noted.