The purpose of this report was to update the Audit and Scrutiny Committee as to the Council’s proposals for a strategic partnership with Rochford District Council (“RDC”) ahead of a report being presented to an extraordinary meeting of the Council on 26 January 2022 following an extraordinary meeting of RDC on 25 January 2022 that will recommend.

The Committee is invited to pre-scrutinise the proposed contents of the report and the recommendations (in paragraph 3.1) proposed to be brought to the extraordinary meeting of Council, as the same are set out in paragraphs 2-4 inclusive in the report. The purpose of pre-scrutiny is to provide robust and constructive challenge and make any comment or suggestion which will improve the quality of that report before it is published.

Cllrs Hossack, Leader of Brentwood Borough Council and Cllr Wootton, Leader of Rochford District Council presented to Members of the Committee outlining the report. Angela Hutchings, Strategic Director at Rochford District Council was also in attendance to assist the committee with any enquiries.

Following a full discussion the following further recommendations were presented to Committee to be added to those set out in paragraph 3.1 of the report. 

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Nolan and SECONDED by Cllr Hirst to

approve the recommendations in the report.

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED to:

Consider the report and to provide robust and constructive

challenge and make any recommendations to Council further to

those set out in paragraph 3.1 of this report;

That the MOU and/or other document that underpins the Strategic Partnership makes provision for member led Conflict Resolution process.

That the MOU and/or other document that underpins the Strategic Partnership makes clear that whilst the division of the savings achieved as part of the transformation process is to be agreed between the two councils, that the starting point for that discussion should be 50/50.

That further detail and clarification be provided as to the savings estimated to be achieved by the Partnership; how this would be achieved; the phasing of such savings; and in which financial years they would be realised.

Subject to R1, recommend to Council to adopt the contents of this

report.

Reasons for Recommendation

It is proposed that the Council will be asked to consider the following

Recommendations at its meeting on 26 January 2022:

(1) To agree the Strategic Partnership between Rochford District Council

and Brentwood Borough Council and that Jonathan Stephenson is the

Joint Chief Executive for both councils;

(2) To approve the Heads of Terms set out in Appendix A;

(3) That the Joint Chief Executive and the Monitoring Officer of each council,

be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Leader of each

council, to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding and s113

Agreement to give effect to the Partnership;

(4) That the Joint Chief Executive be given delegated authority to undertake

a restructure of Tiers 2 and 3 of the councils in consultation with the

Leader of each council;

(5) That a maximum of £300,000 (as set out in paragraph 4.2 of this report)

be allocated from general reserves to fund the additional programme

resource for the Transformation Unit;

(6) That the Monitoring Officer be given delegated authority in consultation

with the Constitution Working Group to make any

required changes to the Constitution to give effect to the

recommendations in this report.

(7) That the MOU and/or other document that underpins the Strategic Partnership makes provision for member led Conflict Resolution process.

(8) That the MOU and/or other document that underpins the Strategic Partnership makes clear that whilst the division of the savings achieved as part of the transformation process is to be agreed between the two councils, that the starting point for that discussion should be 50/50.

(9) That further detail and clarification be provided as to the savings estimated to be achieved by the Partnership; how this would be achieved; the phasing of such savings; and in which financial years they would be realised.

The Committee is asked to consider these recommendations as part of its pre scrutiny.