Agenda and draft minutes

To elect a Chairman of the SVPP Joint Committee until the first meeting of the new municipal year.

Councillor Haines was elected as Chairman until the first meeting of the municipal year 2022/23.

Voting: unanimous

To elect a Vice Chairman of the SVPP Joint Committee until the first meeting of the new municipal year.

Councillor Kerby was elected as Vice Chairman until the first meeting of the municipal year 2022/23.

Voting: unanimous

To receive any apologies for absence from Councillors.

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Brenton and Councillor Parkes.

Councillors are requested to declare any interests on items included in this agenda. Please refer to the workflow on the preceding page for guidance.

Declarations received will be reported at the meeting.

There were no declarations received on this occasion. 

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 8 February 2021 as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 8 February 2021, were agreed as a true and correct record.

Voting: unanimous

To note the SVPP Forward Plan.

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

The Committee received the SVPP Forward Plan. 

RESOLVED that the Forward Plan be noted.

Voting: unanimous

Councillor Starr arrived 10:06

In relation to the items of business appearing below, the Committee is asked to consider the following resolution: -

‘That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act and that the public interest in withholding the information outweighs such interest in disclosing the information.’

RESOLVED that under Section 100 (A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act and that the public interest in withholding the information outweighs such interest in disclosing the information.

To provide members with Options for the future delivery of Revenues and Benefit Services. 

Exempt Report as defined in Paragraph 3 in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

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

Members were provided with Options for the future delivery of Revenues and Benefit Services. 

The Committee was advised that Section 151 Officers were looking at the financial impact of breaking up the current partnership, as BCP Council favoured a Dorset wide partnership, whilst Dorset Council were considering other options. If Dorset Council were to request an amicable split, there would be costs incurred, in addition to the expected transformation costs.

The Committee were advised that the SVPP Scrutiny Panel had met on 19 October and had reviewed the recommendations in this report.  After some deliberations the Panel felt they made a compromise, by recommending option 3A, as it was felt that it best fitted into both Councils’ proposals, but they had been hesitant to make any recommendation without more details.

The Committee was reminded that the final decision would be made at executive level, and that this Committee was just putting forward recommendations. 

The Committee agreed that the best option was 3, but were divided over whether A or B would be most appropriate.

Both options were put to a full vote and the results were as follows:

3A: 4:2

3B: 2:4

It was RECOMMENDED that Option 3A be put forward to the Council’s Executive Committees for consideration,when making their decision on Revenues and Benefit Services.

Voting: 4:2

It was RESOLVED that:

(a)  It was acknowledged that under the present service delivery arrangements that continuation of the Stour Valley and Poole Partnership (SVPP) will not deliver any further efficiencies and potentially inhibit the ‘transformation ambitions’ of each Council;

(b)  in respect of Option 2, being an ‘amicable separation’ and ending of SVPP as from 31 March 2023, it was acknowledged that the financial impact to BCP Council and their request for £1,665,000 from Dorset Council in mitigation of ‘stranded and redundancy costs’;

(c)  in respect of Option 3, it be requested that each Council consider the Business Case detailed in Appendix C when making their decision on Revenues and Benefit Services;

(d)  it was noted that Dorset Council Cabinet will consider a report on Revenues and Benefit Services on 7 December 2021 and BCP Council Cabinet will consider the matter on 12 January 2022; and

(e)  that the Partnership Manager arranges a ‘special meeting’ of Joint Committee in February 2022 to review decision and agree service delivery plan for 2022/23 that aligns to the decisions reached by the Councils.

Voting: Unanimous/Nem. Con.

11:18