Issue - meetings

Building Control – Proposals for a Delegated Service

To receive a report on Cabinet recommendations referred to Council in relation to Building Control: Proposals for a delegated service.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Growth and Prosperity

(a) submitted a report to consider a proposal for the Council’s Building Control service to be delivered by means of delegation under the Local Government Act 2000 and the Local Authorities (Arrangements for the Discharge of Functions) (England) Regulations 2012 (‘a delegated service’) to Blaby District Council. The report considered the benefits of such an approach and addressed the alternatives should the proposals not be taken up. There were financial implications which were addressed in detail in Section 8 of Appendix 1 and Appendix A of the report;

(b) gave a brief introduction on the report and presented the Cabinet’s recommendations to the Council.

RESOLVED

Council:

(1) ENDORSED and authorised the delegation of the statutory Building Control function to Blaby District Council with effect from 1 April 2022 for an initial period of 3 years;

(2) APPROVED a contribution of £25,114 to the initial implementation costs of the delegated service;

(3) DELEGATED authority to the Director for Growth & Regeneration and the Assistant Director for Planning Delivery to:

(a) NEGOTIATE and finalise the terms of the Delegation and Service Level Agreements to facilitate the delegation of the service; and

(b) MAKE any in-year variations to the delegation agreement as deemed appropriate.

(Unanimous)

Meeting: 23/11/2021 - Cabinet (Item 212)

212 BUILDING CONTROL: DELEGATION OF SERVICE PDF 230 KB

The Portfolio Holder for Growth and Regeneration to submit a report considering a proposal for the Council’s Building Control service to be delivered by means of delegation under the Local Government Act 2000 and the Local Authorities (Arrangements for the Discharge of Functions) (England) Regulations 2012 (‘a delegated service’) to Blaby District Council.

Additional documents:

Item 8 - Appendix A - Financial Implication for Melton, item 212 PDF 46 KB

Decision:

Cabinet:

1) RECOMMENDED to Council that:

1.1 Council endorse and authorise the delegation of the statutory Building

Control function to Blaby District Council with effect from 1st April 2022

for an initial period of 3 years;

1.2 The Council approves a contribution of £25,114 to the initial

implementation costs of the delegated service;

1.3 Council delegates authority to the Director for Growth & Regeneration

and/or Assistant Director for Planning Delivery to:

a) negotiate and finalise the terms of the Delegation and Service Level

Agreements to facilitate the delegation of the service;

b) make any in-year variations to the delegation agreement as

deemed appropriate.

Minutes:

Jim Worley, Assistant Director for Planning and Delivery introduced the report, the purpose of which was to consider a proposal for the Council’s Building Control Service to be delivered by means of delegation under the Local Government Act 2000 and the Local Authorities (Arrangements for the Discharge of Functions) (England) Regulations 2012 (‘a delegated service’) to Blaby District Council.

Mr. Worley advised that the Council’s Building Control Service comprised of a small in-house team (1.5 officers with 0.5 administrative support) and the Service formed part of the Leicestershire Building Control Partnership (LBCP). There were concerns over the sustainability of current arrangements and a delegated Building Control Service had been proposed. This would result in the Council’s service being managed and administered by Blaby District Council (staffing, income, inspections, billing etc.) The Council’s would participate in a steering committee, to ensure delivery of the agreed Service. This proposal was an appropriate solution to concerns. The Council would be part of a team of 25 staff and would have the opportunity to grow the service, adjust resources within the County as necessary, share workloads, work collaboratively to produce income and to develop the Service to train staff to meet challenges. New building control legislation would create new demands on the service, not encountered before.

Mr. Worley highlighted the financial implications of the proposed delegation of service, as detailed at section 9 of the report. There would be a 1 off joining cost of approximately £21k (to facilitate transitional matters such as integration of staff operating as 1 larger unit etc.) It was anticipated that costs would balance over time and the benefits such as supporting the Service and its future development were vital.

Councillor Rob Bindloss, Portfolio Holder for Growth and Regeneration highlighted that the proposed delegation would help future proof the Council’s Building Control Service and enable the Council to work collaboratively with six other local authority areas to improve capacity, capability and resilience and within the Service. There may also be opportunities to be more competitive, with alternative suppliers, approved private inspectors etc.

The Leader commented that it was important to ensure that the Council would continue to provide an excellent Building Control Service and it had worked well with Blaby District Council in the past.

(DECISION: NON-KEY)