Issue - meetings

Report by the Leader of the Council setting out the Business Case and Memorandum of Agreement relating to a potential Strategic Partnership between Melton Borough Council and Harborough District Council.

During consideration of this item, the following feedback will be received:

• Feedback on the Business Case following the Scrutiny Committee meeting on 22 November 2022 (Appendix C).

• Feedback on the Memorandum of Agreement following the Audit and Standards Committee meeting on 23 November 2022 (Appendix D).

Cabinet

1)    RECEIVED and ACKNOWLEDGED the Business Case and Memorandum of Agreement.

2)    NOTED the feedback from the Scrutiny and Audit and Standards Committees.

3)    ENDORSED the Business Case and Memorandum of Agreement.

4)    RECOMMENDED to Council that:

a)    That the Business Case at Appendix A is ENDORSED and that Melton Borough Council is AUTHORISED to enter into a Strategic Partnership with Harborough District Council from 1 January 2023.

b)    The terms of the Memorandum of Agreement at Appendix B is APPROVED and that authority is DELEGATED to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Leader, to finalise, approve and execute the Memorandum of Agreement.

c)     The Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service, Edd de Coverly, is APPOINTED to the role of Shared Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service and is placed at the disposal of Harborough District Council, under Section 113 of the Local Government Act 1972, with effect from 1 January 2023 in accordance with the Memorandum of Agreement and proposed pay structure due to be considered by Council.

d)    The Director of Housing and Communities (Deputy Chief Executive), Michelle Howard is APPOINTED to the role of Shared Deputy Chief Executive and is placed at the disposal of Harborough District Council, under Section 113 of the Local Government Act 1972, with effect from 1 January 2023 in accordance with the Memorandum of Agreement and proposed pay structure due to be considered by Council.

e)    The Deputy Chief Executive of Harborough District Council, Liz Elliott, will be appointed by Harborough District Council to the role of Shared Deputy Chief Executive and will place her at the disposal of Melton Borough Council, under Section 113 of the Local Government Act 1972, with effect from 1 January 2023 in accordance with the Memorandum of Agreement and proposed pay structure due to be considered by Council is NOTED.

f)      Liz Elliot is APPOINTED and AUTHORISED to placed at the disposal of Melton Borough Council in the role of Shared Deputy Chief Executive under Section 113 of the Local Government Act 1972, with effect from 1 January 2023 in accordance with the Memorandum of Agreement and proposed pay structure due to be considered by Council.

g)    The Monitoring Officer is AUTHORISED to make such changes to the constitution as are required to give effect to the Memorandum of Agreement.

h)    The Strategic Partnership is REVIEWED after 12 months of operation and thereafter on an annual basis with the outcome of the reviews being reported to Council.

i)       If a recommendation to Council is made and if Council resolves to enter into a Strategic Partnership with Harborough District Council, Council will also be required to consider and approve any associated Human Resources implications of the proposals which will be reflected in the recommendations to Council be NOTED.