Issue - meetings

Cabinet at its meeting on 13 February 2014 will consider a report on the outcome of recent negotiations between Oxfordshire County Council, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils to make better use of existing council office buildings and to seek the agreement of cabinet to base more shared staff at Crowmarsh offices, with office accommodation costs to be recharged between the councils.  The report sets out the financial implications demonstrating that the council will make significant annual financial savings and requests a budget virement in this financial year to cover essential refurbishment works.

The report of the Strategic Director, which Cabinet will consider on 13 February 2014, was circulated to all councillors. Please bring this report to the meeting.

The recommendation of Cabinet will be circulated to councillors on Friday 14 February.

Council considered Cabinet’s recommendation made at its meeting on 13 February 2013 that recommended Council agree a budget virement in this financial year to cover essential refurbishment works at Crowmarsh offices.

RESOLVED: to approve a revenue virement for £480,000 from identified underspending budgets this year to cover the refurbishment cost of the Crowmarsh offices.

Purpose: to explain the outcome of recent negotiations between Oxfordshire County Council, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils to make better use of existing council office buildings and to seek the agreement of cabinet to base more shared staff at Crowmarsh offices, with office accommodation costs to be recharged between the councils.  The report sets out the financial implications demonstrating that the council will make significant annual financial savings.  The report requests a budget virement in this financial year to cover essential refurbishment works.

Cabinet considered the report of the Strategic Director that explained the outcome of recent negotiations between Oxfordshire County Council, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils to make better use of existing council office buildings and sought agreement to base more shared staff at Crowmarsh offices, with office accommodation costs to be recharged between South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils. The report set out the financial implications demonstrating that the council would make significant annual financial savings. The report requested a budget virement in the financial year to cover essential refurbishment works.

As well as demonstrating good partnership working between the three councils, Cabinet agreed the recommendations as the greater utilisation of building assets would offer financial savings of more than £0.5 million per year making more efficient use of a public asset whilst the co-location of teams would provide operating efficiencies.  In agreeing the recommendations, Cabinet extended gratitude to staff for their hard work and for delivering business as usual during a period of disruption in the offices.

RESOLVED: to

a.      approve a variation to its section 113 shared services agreement with Vale, whereby the majority of shared council staff will be based at our Crowmarsh offices and Vale of White Horse District Council will pay £175,743 service charges annually to South Oxfordshire District Council for five years until the arrangement is reviewed;

b.      authorise the Strategic Director and the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to complete the variation of the section 113 shared services agreement to reflect these changes;

c.      recommend to Council the approval of a revenue virement for £480,000 from identified underspending budgets this year to cover the refurbishment cost of the Crowmarsh offices.