Agenda item

a)    Library Support Services Variation Notice

b)    Personal Budget Support Services Variation Notice

c)    Digital Disaggregation and ICT Discovery Update

Library Support Services Variation Notice

The Committee considered a report from the Assistant Director – Housing, Communities and Wellbeing (NNC), the Director of Communities and Opportunities (WNC) and the Library Service Manager (WNC) which sought approval to proceed with the disaggregation of the Library Service Business Support Service which was currently hosted by West Northamptonshire Council and provided to North Northamptonshire Council.

In presenting the report, the Assistant Director – Place Shaping (WNC) explained that, following the previous decision of the Shared Services Joint Committee to reprofile the disaggregation timeline to 31 Marc 2023, a detailed impact assessment had since been undertaken and the options put forward to the Committee were a result of that work.

The Assistant Director – Place Shaping (WNC) advised that, as a result of the work undertaken, the recommended option for the disaggregation of the service would be to disaggregate the strategic management function and supporting professional and administrative functions, with continued collaboration in commissioning of business support services, along with a review of the service structures in both WNC and NNC following the disaggregation.

It was proposed by Councillor Adam Brown that the recommendations set out in the report be refused, owing to WNC’s desire not to take on any additional cost implications, however this motion was not seconded and subsequently was not voted on. Following a discussion between Committee members, it was agreed to adjourn the meeting for a period of 10 minutes until 2:25pm in order for members and officers to discuss and agree a way forward.

The meeting reconvened at 2:25pm and it was proposed by Councillor Adam Brown and seconded by Councillor Jason Smithers that a decision on this item be deferred to the next meeting of the Committee, in order to allow for more time for members and officers to discuss the recommendations and work through their implications.

Resolved

(1)  That a decision on the recommendations relating to the Library Support Services Variation Notice be deferred until the next meeting of the Committee.

Personal Budget Support System (PBSS) Disaggregation Variation Notice

The Assistant Director – Adult Social Services (NNC) and the Assistant Director – Commissioning and Performance (WNC) submitted a report which sought approval to disaggregate the Personal Budget Support Service (PBSS) currently hosed by North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) and provided to West Northamptonshire Council (WNC).

Owing to there being no officer in attendance to present the report, members agreed to defer this item to the next meeting of the committee.

Resolved

(1)  That a decision on the Personal Budget Support System Disaggregation Variation Notice be deferred to the next meeting of the Committee.

Digital Disaggregation and ICT Discovery Update

The Committee considered a report from the Chief Information Officers for both NNC and WNC which provided an update on the progress in accordance with the disaggregation timeline of the disaggregation of the Digital Service from West Northamptonshire Council, and the disaggregation of Strategy and Architecture from West Northamptonshire Council. A further update was also provided on the discovery exercise for the report on IT disaggregation from West Northamptonshire Council of the Service Delivery and Operations and Infrastructure teams.

In introducing the report, the Chief Information Officer (WNC) explained that  work was underway to remove the Business Systems function from the Inter Authority Agreement as this was already operating under the separate governance of the Lead Authority Board (LAB) of which both WNC and NNC were a part.

In response to questions from the Committee regarding the possible delay to the digital disaggregation timeline, the Chief Information Officer (WNC) explained that the delay was as a result of confirming financial data and in-scope roles, which had put the disaggregation timeline of the digital service by December 2022 at risk. The Chief Information Officer (WNC) outlined that such a delay may result in the completion of the disaggregation being delayed until approximately February 2023.

The Chief Information Officer further outlined that, as a result of a delay to the appointment of the Programme Team for the disaggregation meant that the start of the discovery work would be impacted, likely resulting in a delay to the delivery date of a full disaggregation report until at least March 2023.

Resolved

(1)  That the delay to the Digital team disaggregation timeline to February 2023 be noted.

(2)  That the delay to the discovery timeline for Service Delivery and Infrastructure & Operations to March 2023 be noted.

(3)  That the extension of the hosted arrangement for the Programme Team for a further 18 months be approved.