Agenda item

(Voting: unanimous in favour)

Councillor Tim Inglefield, as leader of the Conservative Group, introduced the report and advised that the group leaders and Directors had spent some time with Councils which had already joined together and they concluded that there were significant benefits going forward.  He noted the simple recommendations to progress to business plans with a decision to join up or go alone scheduled for February 2016.

Councillor Jo Roundell Greene, reminded Council that two Councillor Workshop meetings had been held recently and 1 to 1 information sessions offered.  She drew Members attention to the answers to the questions raised at the workshop sessions which were listed in the Agenda report.

The Leader of Council reported that he had attended a District Councils Network meeting the previous week where some discussion had taken place on joint Chief Executive Officers and Council mergers.  But he cautioned that the Government’s Autumn Statement due on 25^th November could be financially bad news for local government.   

Councillor Dave Bulmer, spokesperson for the independent Councillors, advised that if Members agreed the recommendations, then the Directors would start to compile the headline business case to work with Sedgemoor DC.  He assured Members that they would be kept informed during the process. 

During discussion, some Members expressed their concern that the headline business cases could not be completed by February 2016 and questioned whether more time was required.  The Leader of Council confirmed that if the business cases were not ready in time, then the date of presentation would be moved.  Other comments included:-

·         As the Council’s budget for the forthcoming year is agreed at the February Council meeting, it would be an advantage to also agree the future management of the Council at that meeting so the budgets tie together.

·         The Terms of Reference for the business cases should not all be financially led.

·         As well as looking at Councils who have successfully joined together, we should also look at examples where such arrangements have not worked out. 

·         Are we confident that we have looked at all partnership possibilities?

·         There are risks if we keep as a single council but there are risks and opportunities in working in partnership.

 It was proposed and seconded that recommendation 2 be amended and the two headline business cases be presented to Council in March 2016, however, on being put to the vote, this proposal was lost (voting: 6 in favour, 39 against, 1 abstention). 

The original recommendations were then proposed and seconded and were unanimously agreed by Members.

(Voting: unanimous in favour)