Local Government Reorganisation Programme Update April 2018 Government

Local Government Reorganisation Programme Update - April 2018

Government decision The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, has agreed to the creation of two new unitary councils for Dorset. The two new authorities will replace Dorset’s nine existing councils. One will cover Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, and the other will serve the residents of the rest of the county. The two new councils are due to go live in April 2019, and, from that date, existing councils will cease to exist.

LGR programme structure BCP joint committee Dorset leaders and chief executives Dorset area joint committee Chief Executives Group Dorset area programme board BCP programme board Central team – phase one BCP team – phase two Dorset area team – phase two BCP team – phase three Dorset area team – phase three

Programme relationships Central programme team Phase one – creation of new councils (statutory) Programme Director: Keith Cheesman Programme Director: Julian Osgathorpe Dorset programme team BCParea programme board • Phase two – delivering services on 1 April 2019 • Phase three – designing and building the new local authority DCC programme team • Phase one – statutory compliance and disaggregation • Phase two – preparation for day one, including due diligence Dorset area programme board • Phase two – delivering services on 1 April 2019 • Phase three – designing and building the new local authority

Joint Committees • Two Joint Committees have been formed • One for the ‘Dorset Area’ • One for the 'Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Area’ Details of Dorset Area Joint Committee (DAJC), including minutes & reports www. dorsetareacouncils. wordpress. com Details of Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Joint Committee (BCPJC), including minutes & reports https: //bcpjointcommittee. wordpress. com

Phasing Timescales Now - Summer 2018 Phase 1 Creation of Shadow Council Now – 31 March 2019 Phase 2 Delivering services on 01 April 2019 From April 2018 onwards Phase 3 Designing and Building the new Local Authority Phases will run concurrently to ensure successful delivery by 01 April 2019 for statutory and ‘must do’s’, and ensure delivery during phase 1 and 2 compliments phase 3. Dorset County Council will exist until 31 March 2019 and will then form part of Dorset Council.

Three key programme phases; 1. Creation of the new Council, largely delivered by the Central Programme 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. SCO / Consequential Orders Disaggregation Electoral Review Council Tax Harmonisation Strategy TUPE preparation Ongoing after the Central Programme Closes: 1. Area Based Decision Making 2. Council Tax Harmonisation 3. Legal Entity 2. Delivering services on 01 April 2019 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Create Shadow Authority and new Council Budgets – revenue and capital, Council Tax Setting Policy – review / adoption / creation Contract novation HR / Workforce / TUPE process (workforce in place with their contracts) 6. Service safety (services continue on day 1) 3. Designing & Building the new Local Authority 1. 2. 3. 4. Future Vision / Operating Model Culture / Values / Organisational Design Communication & Community Engagement Capital Development Plan / Operational Plan

Dorset Area Workstreams will include: 1. Workforce 2. Communications 3. Finance 4. Legal 5. Aggregation 6. Future State 7. ICT (Day 1) 8. ICT (Future) 9. Governance 10. Customer / Services The workstreams will inter-relate across the phases

Dorset Area Task & Finish Groups These are member groups supported by lead officers Current task & finish groups Future task & finish groups will recommence summer 2018 Structural Change Order Lead member: Anthony Alford Lead officer: DMOG Disaggregation Lead member: Jeff Cant Lead officer: Debbie Ward Council Tax Harmonisation Lead member: Jeff Cant Lead officer: Steve Mackenzie Budget (Revenue & Capital) Lead member: Jeff Cant Lead officer: Steve Mackenzie Electoral Boundary Commission Review Lead member: Spencer Flower Lead officer: Richard Jones Governance Lead member: TBC Lead officer: TBC Area Based Decision Making Lead member: Barry Quinn Lead officer: Rebecca Kirk Communications Lead member: Graham Carr-Jones Lead officer: Fiona Napier Community Partners Engagement Lead member: Sherry Jesperson Lead officer: TBC Future Service Integrations (Shared Services) Lead member: TBC Lead officer: Keith Cheesman

BCP Area Workstreams 32 horizontal sub-groups across three portfolio’s of work; 1) Children’s 2) Adults 3) Place/ E&E Seven vertical sub-groups within a fourth corporate portfolio 1) Finance 2) Legal 3) ICT 4) HR 5) Comms 6) Assets 7) Info Gov 8) Customer access

Key Milestones both programmes Expected Secretary of State Decision Latest date for ‘negative order’ to cancel the Weymouth election Parliamentary Approval of Structural Change Order Shadow Authority Active Boundary Commission engaged Mandatory appointment of an officer implementation team and an officer lead Parliamentary Approval of Consequential Change Orders On/Before 5 Mar ’ 18 6 Mar ’ 18 30 May – 7 June ‘ 18 1 - 8 Jun ‘ 18 14 Jun ’ 18 22 -29 Jun ’ 18 27 Jul ’ 18 Draft Budget / Aggregation plan agreed 31 Aug ’ 18 Boundary Review Complete 23 Oct ’ 18 Boundary Order Approved 21 Dec ’ 18 New Council Budget finalised Jan ’ 19 Budget Approved by Shadow Authority 20 Feb ’ 19 Council Tax bills issued 15 Mar ’ 19 Vesting Date 31 Mar ’ 19 These dates are estimates, and will be confirmed once the final decision is received

Our priorities, getting ready for the future • Being safe and legal • Making sure critical services are maintained • Pro-actively engaging with partners and communities • Taking a more radical approach to working with others • Strengthening links between local housing and health and well-being to deliver safe and prosperous communities

Organisational and Group Inclusion Some of the organisations and groups that our work is connected to – there will be many more.