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Decision Maker: Executive Councillor for Planning, Building Control, and Infrastructure
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
To give approval to the investigation of a shared Building Control Service Business model.
Matter for
Decision
A shared building
control service has the potential to be a more sustainable and resilient
business model for future service delivery and cost effectiveness.
The City Council
has been asked to explore the benefits of joining the shared Building Control
Service already committed to by Huntingdonshire and South Cambridgeshire
District Councils. The Officer’s report sought approval to undertake that work.
Decision of
Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport
Agreed that the
viability and benefits of developing a shared Building Control Service should
be explored, and the business case and conclusions brought back to the scrutiny
committee at the earliest opportunity for consideration.
Reason for the Decision
As set out in the Officer’s report.
Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected
Not applicable.
Scrutiny
Considerations
The Committee received a report from the Head of Planning Services.
The Committee made the following comments in response to the report:
i.
The location of the shared Building Control Service
was an important consideration.
ii.
Welcomed the principle of exploring the business
case, it needed to be practicable.
iii.
Considerations for the service business case:
Resilience, cost and specialist knowledge.
In response to Members’ questions the Head of Planning Services said the following:
i.
The Building Control Shared Service included administration
of Building Regulations and a statutory function of public protection.
ii.
Fees for work did not include travel time, so this
would affect the choice of location for the service. The service was expected
to be located near to its customers.
iii.
An advantage of the shared service would be the
ability to market it to generate revenue. In order to be competitive,
Inspectors would need to be customer facing and not hindered by layers of
bureaucracy.
The Director of Environment said the shared
service could be based in more than one location. Shared management and service
support was being explored to ensure resilience.
The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendation.
The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.
Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor
(and any Dispensations Granted)
No conflicts of interest
were declared by the Executive Councillor.
Publication date: 03/02/2015
Date of decision: 13/01/2015