Agenda item

To seek approval to transfer the Administration Authority function for the Joint Waste Service and employment of the Joint Waste Client Team from Hart District Council to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

Appendix G of this report is Exempt.

RECOMMENDATION

That Cabinet:

1.       Agrees to the transfer of the Joint Waste Client team, and to delegate authority to the Joint Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment, to seek any minor changes to the client team arrangements as necessary.

2.       Authorises the Joint Chief Executive in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment, to finalise and enter into an amended contract that transfers the Administrating Authority function for the Joint Waste Service from Hart District Council to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council. 

3.       Agrees to enter into an updated Inter Authority Agreement (IAA) and new Service Level Agreement (SLA) with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, substantially in the form attached at Appendices A and B, and delegates to the Joint Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment, authority to finalise the terms and complete both agreements on behalf of the Council.

That Cabinet:

1.       Agreed to the transfer of the Joint Waste Client team, and to delegate authority to the Joint Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment, to seek any minor changes to the client team arrangements as necessary.

2.       Authorised the Joint Chief Executive in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment, to finalise and enter into an amended contract that transfers the Administrating Authority function for the Joint Waste Service from Hart District Council to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

3.       Agreed to enter into an updated Inter Authority Agreement (IAA) and new Service Level Agreement (SLA) with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, substantially in the form attached at Appendices A and B, and delegates to the Joint Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment, authority to finalise the terms and complete both agreements on behalf of the Council.

Approval was sought to transfer the Administration Authority function for the Joint Waste Service and employment of the Joint Waste Client Team from Hart District Council to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

Members were reassured that the transfer of the Joint Waste Client Team was not as a result of how the team had performed but how the contractor had executed the contract.  It was decided not to split the contract but to transfer instead to ensure no increased costs would be incurred from the contractor.  Transfer of the client team would improve resilience and enable us to maintain a high standard of service.

Appendix G of this report is Exempt.

Members asked questions on:

•         Additional services for our residents.

•         Extra resources to implement initiatives and tasks.

•         The possibility of deterioration in the service due to no longer managing the service but Members were assured that greater checks and balances in governance and oversight in the contract management would be put in place to protect our position.

•         The reference to performance board will be amended to reference Overview & Scrutiny.  Feedback and amendments suggested by Hart had been agreed by Basingstoke and Deane.

•         The additional costs to Basingstoke & Deane for the higher level of workload to provide more resources.  This figure to be confirmed by Mr Elson.

•         Ensuring that Hart residents would not lose sovereignty on how the service would be delivered and the inter-authority agreement will strengthen and maintain clarity.

The Chairman thanked the joint waste client team for their hard work and the decision made by Cabinet was no reflection on their ability to deliver the service.

DECISION

That Cabinet:

1.       Agreed to the transfer of the Joint Waste Client team, and to delegate authority to the Joint Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment, to seek any minor changes to the client team arrangements as necessary.

2.       Authorised the Joint Chief Executive in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment, to finalise and enter into an amended contract that transfers the Administrating Authority function for the Joint Waste Service from Hart District Council to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

3.       Agreed to enter into an updated Inter Authority Agreement (IAA) and new Service Level Agreement (SLA) with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, substantially in the form attached at Appendices A and B, and delegates to the Joint Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment, authority to finalise the terms and complete both agreements on behalf of the Council.