Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Finance)

The report provides an overview of a review of the current arrangements for property services and consideration of the options for the future delivery of this service to meet the Council’s corporate priorities.  The report sets out the strategic context for the need for a transformation to the Council’s operation and non-operation portfolio and the need for strategic planning to meet its future corporate priorities.

The Executive is recommended to:

·      Delegate to the Corporate Director of Corporate and Support Services to commence a tender procurement process for property services in whole or in part that will deliver a proposed revised operating model that will meet the Council’s priorities, allow best value and wider change to be delivered from the property assets.

·      Agree the recommendations in the report to terminate the current service agreement with NPS, such termination to coincide with the commencement of new property services.

Officer contact: Murray Carr, 0161 474 3649, murray.carr@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Finance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Executive Meeting with an overview of a review of the current arrangements for property services and options for the future delivery of this service to meet the Council’s corporate priorities.  The report sets out the strategic context for the need for a transformation to the Council’s operation and non-operation portfolio and the need for strategic planning to meet its future corporate priorities.

The Executive Councillor (Finance) and the Leader of the Council commended the staff at NPS Stockport for their continued hard work on behalf of the Council and stated that the position of the Executive was that the future delivery of property services would involve as many existing staff as necessary from NPS through TUPE arrangements should this be required as their knowledge and expertise was valued by the Executive. No negotiations with potential providers would be undertaken if their proposal did not include TUPE rights for existing NPS Stockport staff.

RESOLVED – That:

·      the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services be authorised to commence a tender procurement process for property services in whole or in part that would deliver a proposed revised operating model that would meet the Council’s priorities, allow best value and wider change to be delivered from the property assets, and

·      the recommendation to terminate the current service agreement with NPS to coincide with the commencement of new property services, be approved.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services (To follow)

The report outlines the outcomes of the recently undertaken review of the current arrangements for property services taking into account the strategic context for the transformation of local authority estates.  The report sets out the options available for the future provision of property services to the Council.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to comment on the report and to determine whether it wishes to make any specific observations to the Executive meeting.

Officer contact Murray Carr on telephone number 0161 474 3649 or alternatively email murray.carr@stockport.gov.uk

The Service Director (Legal & Democratic Services) submitted a report of the  Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the outcomes of the recently undertaken review of the current arrangements for property services taking into account the strategic context for the transformation of local authority estates.  The report set out the options available for the future provision of property services to the Council.

The Executive Councillor (Finance), Councillor Sue Derbyshire attended the meeting in relation to this item.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The Scrutiny Committee welcomed the opportunity to review the existing arrangements with Norfolk Property Services.

·         The Scrutiny Committee explored the cost of terminating the current agreement.

·         Welcomed the discussions taking place within AGMA and other partners to explore collaboration opportunities to deliver future property services.

·         The Scrutiny Committee supported the four options set out in paragraph 5.1 of the report being explored further.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted and the Executive be recommended to explore the four options set out in paragraph 5.1 of the report.

(2) That a further report be submitted to this Scrutiny Committee before a final decision is made by the Executive.