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.

Peter Gout, Chairman of Friends of Thrapston Library and Sue Botterill, of Friends of Abington Library, addressed the Committee in response to the Library Support Services Variation Notice and expressed concern surrounding whether the disaggregation proposed would lead to the possible duplication of services, and therefore increased costs and loss of value for money for the taxpayer.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 26 October 2022.

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 26 October 2022 were agreed as a correct record.

To receive communications from the Chair.

There were no announcements from the Chair.

a)    Disaggregation Overview Report

b)    Approved Mental Health Professionals Disaggregation – Change Request

c)    Assistive Technology Disaggregation – Change Request

d)    Visual Impairment – Change Request

e)    Library Support Services – Variation Notice

IAA Agreement Disaggregation: Progress against the Blueprint timeline

The Committee considered a report from the Assistant Chief Executive (NNC) which provided an overview of the disaggregation programme of activity against the original proposed blueprint, progression to date, and to set out the benefits identified.

In introducing the report, the Assistant Chief Executive (NNC) highlighted that a good level of progress of the disaggregation of services could be demonstrated, with a number of planned disaggregation’s occurring on schedule. However, it was noted that when the disaggregation programme was defined, the scale of the wider demands on resources was not known. As a result, this led to some services seeking variations to the original agreed blueprint, which has enabled both councils to appropriately manage and prioritise service delivery, as well as transformation activity.

A discussion took place in relation to Collaborative Agreements prompted by questions from the Committee. 

Members of the Committee emphasised the need for clear timelines to be in place, along with a clear breakdown of roles and responsibilities in relation to future disaggregation decisions.

The Leader of North Northamptonshire proposed that the delegation to the Monitoring Officers which appears in the reports in relation to signing off disaggregations should be to the Leaders not the Monitoring Officers.  The Monitoring Officer for West Northants explained that the delegation was to complete the documentation but suggested that a delegation for the Leaders to sign off the disaggregation could be included in future reports and the Monitoring Officers to give effect to the decision.  

Resolved

(1)  That the contents of the report and the progress of disaggregation against the original blueprint be noted.

(2)  That the final sign off of future disaggregation decisions be delegated to the Leaders of both Councils. 

Approved Mental Health Professionals Disaggregation (AMHP) Change Request

The Committee considered a report from the Executive Directors – Adults, Communities and Wellbeing (NNC and WNC) which sought approval for the reprofiling of the Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHP) Service disaggregation timelines and adjustment to the Inter-Authority Agreement (IAA) blueprint, to delay disaggregation of the service until it is safe and legal to do so, and to report on progress and timescales with the AMHP service in March 2024.

The Assistant Director - Safeguarding, Wellbeing and Provider Services (NNC) explained that during the project to disaggregate the AMHP service, significant risks were identified in that there continued to be an ongoing national shortage of suitably qualified personnel for the AMHP service, therefore the Service would be placed at a high risk of failure if it was disaggregated prior to the appropriately trained staff being in place. The risk to residents was therefore significant (including potentially fatal) should the service not be adequately resourced prior to disaggregation.

In response to questions from the Committee as to whether it was feasible to manage staffing gaps by training internal staff, The Assistant Director – Safeguarding, Wellbeing and Provider Services (NNC) advised that the process to become an Approved Mental Health Professional was an elongated process,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

a)    Inter Authority Agreements (IAA) Performance Report 2022/2023 – Q2

The Executive Director – Corporate Services (WNC) submitted a report which provided an update on the draft Q2 2022-23 performance report for services delivered via the Inter-Authority Agreement (IAA) arrangements between North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) and West Northamptonshire Council (WNC).

In introducing the report, the Executive Director – Corporate Services (WNC) advised that in terms of services provided by North Northamptonshire Council to West Northamptonshire Council, of the 37 measures reported to date for Q2, 36 had met or exceeded target, with 1 missing target, which was Minerals and Waste Planning. In addition, there were a further 12 measures that recorded no activity or were not due to be reported during quarter 2.

Regarding services provided by West Northamptonshire Council to North Northamptonshire Council, the Executive Director advised that of the 26 measures reported for Q2, all 26 had met or exceeded target. In addition, there were a further 10 measures that recorded no activity or were not due to be reported during Q2.

Resolved

(1)  That the contents of the report be noted.

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.