Decision details

Agree process for developing a Shared Planning Service between Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council.

Matter for Decision

 

The Officer’s report outlined the progress in developing a Shared Planning Service between Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council.

 

The report sought agreement for a number of key principles underpinning the development of the service; a multi-phase programme of delivery, and early use of a “Greater Cambridge” designation. The report also set out an initial high level action plan which sought agreement to the procurement of additional resources to support this, identifying two key issues which would require early decision.

 

Decision of the Leader and Executive Councillor for Strategy and Transformation

 

     i.        Noted the progress to date on the implementation of the Shared Planning Service.

    ii.        Agreed the development of the multi-phase programme for delivery of the project

   iii.        Approved the broad principles of the proposed management structure as the basis for the continued development of the organisational structure.

  iv.        Noted the allocation of additional resources to support the programme

   v.        Agreed the early introduction of a “Greater Cambridge Planning Service” designation on signatures of emails from planning staff of both Councils

  vi.        Noted the need for seamless ICT systems across Greater Cambridge and the commitment to early work (and costs) on the procurement of a common ICT system for planning.

 

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 Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development.

 

Councillor Bick made the following comments in response to the report:

 

i.        He welcomed the report; it was a necessary development for the planning service and Local Plan to work seamlessly.

ii.        The management structure at appendix A would help recruit the best staff. The Shared Planning Service would be the biggest second tier authority for planning in the country.

 

Councillor Bick welcomed the point and proposed an amendment to the recommendation by adding:

 

7. To note the high level objectives identified by the project team (p.250) and invite them to consider adding to them the need to retain and support an understanding of Place in the way Shared Service was structured, delivered and managed.

 

8. Noting the competitive market for planning staff and the high turnover and vacancy rates that tended to result, to call on the offices to explore how grading and pay systems could be applied effectively or adapted to the new organisation to support and strengthen the council’s ability to recruit and retain the right staff. 

 

Councillors supported the proposed amendment 7. The Leader wished to amend 8:

 

8. Noting the competitive market for planning staff, officers are asked to explore measures that would strengthen the recruitment and retention of planning staff.

 

Councillor Bick requested that it be minuted that he thought there should be an explicit reference to pay and grading.

 

The Leader said the following in response:

     i.        He thought that putting pay into the public domain was not helpful; the change of wording indicated a commitment to paying a competitive rate.

    ii.        The current changes would have a big impact. In order to be competitive the package needed to be broader than just pay and grading.

 

The Committee resolved unanimously to endorse the recommendations as amended.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.

 

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.