Maidstone Borough Council

Strategic Leadership and Corporate Services

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Monday 23 February 2015

Mid Kent Improvement Partnership – Planning Support

Report of: Poppy Brewer, Democratic Services Officer

1.          Introduction

1.1     The purpose of the meeting is to consider the Audit Report on the implementation of the Mid Kent Improvement Partnership (MKIP) Planning Support and the MKIP Board’s response to the recommendations made by the Audit Report. 

1.2     Following the joint work that the Maidstone, Swale and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committees had undertook on MKIP governance and communications, it follows that the Committees should jointly review MKIP Planning Support implementation.    

2.           Recommendation

2.1     The joint Committees of the Maidstone, Swale and Tunbridge Wells Overview and Scrutiny Committees are invited to consider the reports and appendices (a) and (b) and decide if any further action as necessary (see recommendations below):

2.2        That the Committee receives the Audit Report on MKIP Planning Support Implementation (Appendix a).

2.3     That the Committee receives the response of the MKIP Board to the Audit report on MKIP Planning Support Implementation (Appendix b).

2.4        That the Committee considers the issues raised by Appendix (a) and (b).

3.      Background

3.1     The respective Cabinets of Maidstone, Swale and Tunbridge Wells Borough Councils decided to introduce a joint Planning Support function under the auspices of MKIP in 2013. The joint service went live in June 2014.  Since then, the service has suffered numerous and wide ranging difficulties resulting in delays, a backlog and poor service to customers.

4.    Planning Support Project Implementation Review

4.1   The Mid Kent Audit Service was commissioned in August 2014 to undertake an independent review of the project with the following objectives:

·         analyse the project plan and assess whether it was appropriately configured to deliver the aims of the project;

·         review the implementation of the project plan, in particular to establish a timeline and assess whether the delivery stage was completed in a manner sufficient to deliver the aims of the project; and

·         consider what lessons can be taken from the design and delivery of the project to inform any future similar actions and continued improvement of the planning support service.

4.2      The full report and recommendations of the Audit, which was completed in December 2014, is at Appendix (a). 

5.      Planning Support Implementation

5.1     The MKIP Board have responded to the report and recommendations of the Audit Review and this response is at Appendix (b).

6.      Impact on Corporate Objectives

6.1     The Strategic Leadership and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee will primarily consider reports that deliver against the Council priority: ‘Corporate and Customer Excellence’. 

6.2     Seven shared services are delivered under the Mid Kent Improvement Partnership, with five of these services sitting under the directorate of Mid Kent Services. The work of MKIP is therefore vital to ensure delivery of a number of key services and the corporate priorities of each individual authority.

7.      Financial Implications

7.1     None.

8.      Relevant Documents

8.1     Appendix (a) – Planning Support Project Implementation Review

          Appendix (b) – Response from MKIP Board

9.      Background Documents

9.1     Minutes of Tri-Cabinet meeting on 12 July 2013 held at Town Hall, High Street, Maidstone, Kent. This document can be found at Item 10, INFORMATION ONLY, on the agenda.