Agenda item

Devolution Offer

Decision:

This report sets out a proposed devolution framework to enable local organisations, particularly town and parish councils, to take on greater local control over the running of Buckinghamshire Council’s services and assets.

RESOLVED:

1. To agree to set up a three year devolution programme with a phased roll out. In phase 1 will include:

· The existing legacy service devolution arrangements in place continuing for highways, and for green space in the Wycombe district area;

· Support given to local organisations, including town and parish councils, to take on community assets such as community centres, toilets, memorials; and

· Place-based pilots.

2. To agree the Service Devolution and Asset Transfer Policy for Buckinghamshire Council as set out in Appendix 1.

3. To provide support to organisations to take up the devolution offer through:

· An online toolkit and guidance.

· Dedicated staff to help progress devolution requests.

· Technical and specialist advice in areas such as:

· Health and safety

· Human resources

· Insurance provisions

· Contract management

4. To note the implementation next steps are set out in section 4 of this report, including development of a wider service devolution offer for phase 2 & 3 of the programme.

Minutes:

Members were asked to consider a report that set out the proposed devolution framework to enable local organisations, particularly town and parish councils, to take on greater local control over the running of

Buckinghamshire Council’s services and assets. A decision was required by the Shadow Executive to enable town and parish councils to have clarity on the likely timeline and scope of a devolution programme.

The framework had been developed through extensive engagement with town and parish councils which included workshops being held during the summer. A phased approached to implementation was recommended which would start with place based pilots developing a package of assets and devolution offers. Following these pilots an evaluation would take place and a wider package developed for roll out.

Members were supportive of the report and of the use of pilot areas in phase 1. Members highlighted those smaller parishes would need to understand resource requirements and that this was an offer from the Council and that services would not be pushed onto parish and town councils. It was confirmed that governance controls would be considered on a case by case basis and detailed work on the framework would underpin what success looked like; ensuring benefits for communities whilst also delivering value for money.

Members were happy with the inclusion of unincorporated organisations as they could have the ability to run a particular service successfully and the new council needed to flexible in its approach.

It was highlighted that an initial list of assets would be published in March 2020 as a first step and as part of the place based pilots. Organisations would then be invited to take part in conversations around a wide range of assets in a particular locality. It was also highlighted that while there was a three year phasing plan it was an aspiration that the devolution offer would go beyond three years, but three year costs had been built into the budget initially to imbed the new team. Members highlighted the need to focus on the estimated costs and in particular those relating to legal costs as these were often much higher than initially thought.

Thanks were given to officers that had worked on the consultation and report; the engagement had been widely appreciated across local parishes.