Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED: That all items on the agenda be web-cast.

It was noted that apologies had been received from Councillor Butler.

There were no Substitute Members.

There were no Visiting Members/Witnesses.

There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.

RESOLVED:  That the items on the Agenda be taken in public as proposed.

Interview with Jane Clarke, MKIP Programme Manager

The MKIP Programme Manager, Jane Clarke gave Members a brief précis of how she had come to be seconded to the role following the previous incumbent moving on. 

The MKIP Programme Manager drew Members’ attention to the outcomes of two reports from Trowers & Hamlins and Mazars LLP which considered the implications and the business case for two distinct models of operation:

• a separate legal entity
• a single host operational model

These reports formed the basis of a report considered by the MKIP Management Board in December 2013. It was explained that whilst there were no clear advantages that would differentiate between the two models, setting up a separate legal entity would require significant further investment, which was not considered practical at the time.  The report also recommended that broader governance issues needed to be resolved regardless of the operational model chosen to provide shared services.

The Committee were informed that the MKIP Management Board had agreed not to proceed further with either of the two options but instead would explore an alternative operational model in the medium term. The option that was settled on in December 2013 was to enhance the status quo of operations. This would retain existing arrangements and keep MKIP within the three Authorities as a shared partnership but shared services would be reviewed to see if more efficiencies could be gleaned from them.

It was explained that, in March 2013, the MKIP Management Board had approved to trial a ‘single lead provider director’ who would line manage a range of current and future Mid Kent Services, acting as a single point of contact for shared service issues, and be accountable for provision to ensure they meet the objectives and levels of service individually agreed at each Authority. It was noted that Paul Taylor from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council would be seconded to this role on a year’s trial with effect from 5 May 2014.

Alongside the trial of the new Director, there were a host of practical issues, considered to be ‘model neutral issues’ that needed to be addressed.  These included shared service plans, performance indicators and ensuring communication was effective across the three Authorities. 

It was noted that a clear distinction had been identified between Mid Kent Services, which were the operational services Paul Taylor would be responsible for delivering, and the Mid Kent Improvement Programme, which is a more strategic outward looking arrangement that would seek to improve efficiencies across the three Authorities in terms of partnership working.

The MKIP Programme Manager’s report highlighted what work had been done over the past year and a flavour of what would be undertaken over the coming year.

The MKIP Programme Manager advised the Committee that she had been to a Scrutiny meeting at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council the night before to give an update. It was noted that those Members had been very positive about the shared services arrangements and could see the benefits.  They were concerned, however, about the governance arrangements for the process and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

10.00 a.m. to 11.10 a.m.