Issue - items at meetings - South West Flood & Coastal shared service

BCP Council have hosted the South West Flood & Coastal (SWFaC) shared service with East Devon District Council for nearly 2 years and operate a multitude of partnership/cooperation agreements with other risk management authorities (South West Flood and Coastal). Dorset Council have confirmed (3 March Cabinet) they would like to propose joining SWFaC, entering into the shared service for all Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) activities, in recognition of the mutual benefits that will bring.

The Shared Service Agreement (SSA) will set a framework where Dorset Council can fund a proportion of the service net cost with Dorset Council staff integrating under the existing SWFaC management structure.

The proposal aligns with our SWFaC service vision, and is fully supported by the Environment Agency (EA) who have the strategic overview for national FCERM delivery. It will improve the ability of all participating Councils to make our communities more resilient to climate change.

It is RESOLVED that: -

(a) Cabinet agree to Dorset Council entering into our SWFaC Shared Service Agreement for Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management and continued discussion with Dorset council around possible TUPE requirements

(b) Cabinet delegate authority to the Service Director for Commercial Operations (in consultation with Cabinet Member for Climate Response, Environment and Energy, Director of Finance and Director of Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer) to authorise and sign the Shared Service Agreement.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Climate Response, Environment and Energy

Reason

This will support and follow the Corporate Strategy in the following areas:

The way we work to deliver our objectives

· Work with others to make the most of all our strengths.

Use our limited resources sustainably by transforming the way we plan, develop and deliver services.

Key Objectives

1. Help people, nature and places to adapt to the changing climate.

The Climate Response, Environment and Energy presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'E' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that BCP Council had hosted the South West Flood & Coastal (SWFaC) shared service with East Devon District Council for nearly 2 years and operate a multitude of partnership/cooperation agreements with other risk management authorities (South West Flood and Coastal).

Further to this Cabinet was informed that Dorset Council had confirmed (3 March Cabinet) they would like to propose joining SWFaC, entering into the shared service for all Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) activities, in recognition of the mutual benefits that will bring.

Cabinet was advised that the Shared Service Agreement (SSA) will set a framework where Dorset Council can fund a proportion of the service net cost with Dorset Council staff integrating under the existing SWFaC management structure, and that in relation to this the proposal aligned with our SWFaC service vision, and is fully supported by the Environment Agency (EA) who have the strategic overview for national FCERM delivery.

Further to this Cabinet was advised that it would improve the ability of all participating Councils to make our communities more resilient to climate change.

Councillor Patrick Canavan addressed the Cabinet, raising concerns about coastal erosion across BCP and seeking assurance that the proposal would not detract from the work already being carried out in the BCP area.

The Portfolio Holder highlighted that the report confirmed there was no intention to reduce service levels for BCP and emphasised the benefits of the shared service.