Issue - items at meetings - Future of the Stour Valley and Poole Revenues and Benefits Partnership

BCP Council currently works in partnership with Dorset Council to deliver Revenues and Benefit Services for four of the legacy Councils through the Stour Valley and Poole Partnership (SVPP).

The Joint Committee for the SVPP has considered the future options for Revenues and Benefits service delivery and have recommended to each Council that they consider expanding the SVPP to provide a Pan-Dorset Partnership.

For BCP Council, as the host partner Council, for SVPP expanding the Partnership would formally bring together the Revenues and Benefits services and deliver significant efficiencies whilst supporting the Council’s transformation objectives

Dorset Council’s preferred direction is to end the SVPP and return its services to an in-house provision which would place a financial burden on BCP Council of stranded costs that cannot be mitigated.

As there is not a consensus between partners an approach needs to be established for the future of BCP Council’s Revenue and Benefits services.

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(a) Endorse, as BCP Council’s preferred option, the recommendation of the SVPP Joint Committee to create a pan-Dorset partnership between BCP Council and Dorset Council for the delivery of Revenues and Benefits services;

(b) Accepting it is not BCP Councils desired direction of travel, acknowledge that Dorset Council agreed at their 7 December 2021 Cabinet to withdraw their services in respect of East Dorset and North Dorset residents from the SVPP;

(a) Only agree to an amicable dissolution of SVPP if agreement can be reached with Dorset Council around costs associated with the process;

(b) Delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Leader, Finance & Transformation Portfolio Holder to negotiate the settlement associated with an amicable dissolution of the SVPP; and

(c) Acknowledge that if an amicable dissolution cannot be agreed that Dorset Council will be required to formally give notice and be responsible for costs in line with the collaboration agreement.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Leader of the Council

Reason

To reach a decision on the future delivery of Revenues and Benefit Services for the Council.

The Leader of the Council presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'C' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was reminded that BCP Council currently works in partnership with Dorset Council to deliver Revenues and Benefit Services for four of the legacy Councils through the Stour Valley and Poole Partnership (SVPP).

In relation to this Cabinet was informed that the Joint Committee for the SVPP had considered the future options for Revenues and Benefits service delivery and have recommended to each Council that they consider expanding the SVPP to provide a Pan-Dorset Partnership.

Cabinet was advised that for BCP Council as the host partner Council for SVPP expanding the Partnership would formally bring together the Revenues and Benefits services and deliver significant efficiencies whilst supporting the Council’s transformation objectives

In addition, Cabinet was advised that Dorset Council’s preferred direction is to end the SVPP and return its services to an in-house provision which would place a financial burden on BCP Council of stranded costs that cannot be mitigated.

In relation to this Cabinet was further advised that as there is not a consensus between partners an approach needs to be established for the future of BCP Council’s Revenue and Benefits services.