Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interest and the nature of that interest which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chair to report on any requests to address the meeting.

There were no requests to address the meeting.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 8 June 2022.

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 8 June 2022 were agreed as a correct record, subject to a minor typographical amendment to delete the duplicate entry of Cllr Adam Brown (WNC) on the attendance list, and add Cllr Phil Larratt (WNC) and Cllr Graham Lawman (NNC) to the attendance list. 

To receive communications from the Chair.

There were no announcements from the Chair.

a)    School Swim Service – IAA Variation Notice

b)    Home to School Passenger Transport Disaggregation – Change to Timeline

c)    Parking and Bus Lane Enforcement Disaggregation – Change to Timeline

School Swim Service – IAA Variation Notice

The Committee considered a report from the Executive Director – Adults, Communities and Wellbeing (NNC) and the Assistant Director – Housing and Communities (WNC) which sought approval for the recommendation that the Councils cease the provision of the School Swimming Service

In introducing the report, the Assistant Director – Housing and Communities (NNC) outlined that the School Swimming Service was a traded service offered to schools and was not a statutory function for the local authorities, therefore it was the responsibility of individual schools to provide swimming services for its students.

Following a detailed disaggregation fact check, options appraisal and impact assessment, it had been identified that there was no longer a requirement for the Councils to deliver the service as schools could access swimming lessons directly through existing pool and leisure providers.

In response to questions from the Committee regarding how stakeholders would be consulted, the Assistant Director – Housing and Communities (NNC)  advised that the Councils would commit to ensuring that alternative service providers and schools be made aware of the changes to minimise future disruption.

The Assistant Director – Housing and Communities (NNC)  explained that the proposed change, if approved, would be effective from 31 December 2022, owing to there being insufficient time remaining in the current academic year for schools to make alternative provisions.

Resolved

(1)  That the recommendation that both Councils (NNC and WNC) are no longer providers of school swimming lessons with effect from 31 December 2022 be approved.  

(2)  That authority be delegated to the Monitoring Officers of both Councils to put into place a deed of variation to the Inter Authority Agreement (IAA) for the service to exit the IAA.

(3)  That it be agreed that both WNC and NNC will act in accordance with Service Plans, Exit Plans, and any Collaborative Working Agreements agreed by both WNC and NNC service leads and approved by Monitoring Officers until such time as a formal Deed of variation has been completed.

Highways and Transport – Home to School Passenger Transport Disaggregation – Change to Timeline

The Assistant Director – Highways and Waste (WNC) submitted a report which sought the approval of the reprofiling of the hosted Place and Economy Service, Highways and Transport – Home to School Passenger Transport disaggregation timeline from September 2022 to the Autumn half-term 2022, in order to enable additional time to disaggregate the service in a safe and legal manner following the peak timeframe for service delivery and therefore reducing the potential disruption to the statutory service delivered by the Council.

Resolved

(1)  That the reprofiling of the timeline to disaggregate the Highways and Transport – Home to School Passenger Transport service be approved.

(2)  That the disaggregation blueprint be amended accordingly to reflect the new disaggregation timeline of Autumn half-term 2022 (end of October 2022).

Parking and Bus Lane Enforcement Disaggregation – Change to Timeline

The Committee considered a report from the Assistant Director – Assets and Environment (NNC) which sought  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

a)    Safeguarding in Education Services – Variation Notice

Safeguarding in Education Services – Variation Notice

The Committee considered a report from the Transformation Project Manager (WNC) which sought the Committee’s approval to proceed with the disaggregation of the Safeguarding in Education Services (SIES) which is currently hosted by North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) and provided to West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) via an Inter Authority Agreement (IAA).

The report outlined that there was a requirement to disaggregate the SIES Team, which was formerly employed by Northamptonshire County Council prior to the implementation of Unitary governance arrangements. The proposed disaggregation date for the SIES team was 1 September 2022 following which employees would either transfer to West Northamptonshire Council under TUPE regulations or remain in their current roles employed by North Northamptonshire Council.

In response to questions from the Committee regarding the future safeguarding arrangements for both Councils, the Transformation Project Manager explained that both authorities wished to disaggregate the service to allow them to tailor future arrangements to the strategic direction of the individual Councils. 

Resolved

(1)  That the disaggregation of the Safeguarding in Education Services (SIES) by 1 September 2022 be approved.

(2)  That authority be delegated to the Monitoring Officers of both Councils (NNC and WNC) to put into place a deed of variation to the Inter Authority Agreement (IAA) for the service to exit the IAA Schedule 2C3.

(3)  That it be agreed that both Councils will act in accordance with service plans and any collaborative working agreements agreed by both NNC and WNC service leads and approved by the Monitoring Officers until such time as a formal Deed of Variation has been completed.

The Chair to advise whether they have agreed to any items of urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

There were no items of urgent business.