Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence are recorded from Councillors Tracey Abbott, Alan Bell, Frank Pickett, Brian Rush and Chelcei Trafford.

To receive declarations of interest by members in respect of the item on this agenda.

Councillor Tom Ashton (Mr. Deputy Mayor acting as Chairman) noted that whilst he was also a Member of East Lindsey District Council he would deliberate and determine the business of the meeting in his role as a Member of Boston Borough Council

(Report by James Gilbert, Interim Deputy Chief Executive (People) and John Medler, Interim Assistant Director for Organisation and Corporate Services)

Councillor Paul Skinner, Leader of the Council, presented a report by the Interim Deputy Chief Executive– People setting out details of the opportunities and benefits of extending the current strategic alliance partnership between Boston Borough Council (BBC) and East Lindsey District Council (ELDC) to include South Holland District Council (SHDC). 

The report sought the Council’s in principle support to extend the strategic alliance to create the South East Lincolnshire Council Partnership (SELCP), the formation of which would be subject to further documentation being approved at a future meeting of the Council.  The report recommended that the Joint Chief Executive of BBC and ELDC also be appointed as Interim Chief Executive at SHDC to prepare the business case, draft a Senior Management staffing structure and a Memorandum of Agreement for the SELCP.  The Leader reiterated that the report was merely seeking an ‘in principle’ decision.

It was noted that BBC and ELDC had formed a strategic alliance on 1 July, 2020, underpinned by a memorandum of agreement between the two authorities.   Since that time, the alliance had achieved some significant benefits for the community, including:

-       Progressed and implemented the alliance during the pandemic thereby increasing capacity to respond to the significant challenges presented by COVID-19.

-       Delivered £872k in-year savings between the Councils in 20/21; increasing the saving to £1.214m for 21/22 budgets.

-       Created a single Corporate Management Team and commenced a programme of service alignments delivering further efficiencies through removal of duplication (such as ICT systems).

-       Submitted exemplar bids that secured over £70m in funding offers from the Government’s Towns’ Fund for Boston, Mablethorpe and Skegness; and further bids for £40m of Government Levelling up Funding for Boston and East Lindsey had been submitted.

-       Raised the authorities profile as a regional voice with partners leading to £4m in green homes monies being secured from Government.

-       Adopted a Workforce Development Strategy that focused on organisational development in line with a shared vision and a One Team approach. This included the development and adoption of a values and behaviours framework for the alliance.

-       Both authorities were now shareholders in Public Sector Partnership Services (PSPS) Ltd providing alignment of key services including ICT infrastructure.

Over the course of recent months, discussions had taken place between the Leaders and Deputy Leaders of BBC, ELDC and SHDC on whether SHDC may wish to join the alliance. Those discussions had been positive and identified that there were benefits and opportunities to extend the alliance and form a South East Lincolnshire Council Partnership (SELCP). 

Subject to the in principal decision being agreed, it was proposed to immediately form a Joint Scrutiny Panel with East Lindsey District Council to review the report and associated documentation in advance of the next Council decisions. The Panel would report back its findings to the respective Councils.

A number of Members voiced caution and strong concerns in respect of the report, questioning why it had not gone through the scrutiny process prior to Full Council.  Referencing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.