MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

CABINET

 

12 JUNE 2013

 

REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF CHANGE, PLANNING AND THE ENVIRONMENT

 

 

Report prepared by Ryan O’Connell

 

 

1.      ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SHARED SERVICE

 

1.1        Issue for Decision

 

1.1.1  To present the Environmental Health Shared Service business case for approval to enter into a shared service.

 

1.2     Recommendation of the Director of Change, Planning and the Environment:

 

1.2.1 That approval be given in principle for the creation of a shared Environmental Health Service between Maidstone, Swale and Tunbridge Wells Borough Councils;

 

1.2.2 That a two site model, located at Swale and Tunbridge Wells, with a single shared Environmental Health Manager be developed as the preferred model, with the stipulation that Maidstone be treated as a single territory for the delivery of its food and commercial premises inspections;

 

1.2.3 That an interim Shared Environmental Health Manager be appointed for a period of 6 months to develop the organisational and operational arrangements for the shared service, including identifying the financial implications of the model and reviewing the service delivery arrangements for premises inspections and environmental permitting for the partnership as a whole ; and

 

1.2.4  That Overview and Scrutiny be invited to comment on the proposed operational model for the shared service before final approval and that delegated authority for this decision be given to the respective portfolio holders for Environmental Health at each authority.

 

1.3        Reasons for Recommendation

 

1.3.1 The reasons and considerations set out in the attached report, Appendix A – Report of the Director of Development and Environment (Tunbridge Wells).

 

1.4        Alternative Action and why not Recommended

 

1.4.1   Alternatives are considered in Appendix A.

 

1.5    Impact on Corporate Objectives

 

         For Maidstone to be a decent place to live

 

1.5.1 Continues to be a clean and attractive environment for people who live in and visit the Borough      

 

         The primary driver behind the shared service is delivering resilience in the Environmental Health service which will help to deliver against this objective.

 

         Corporate and Customer Excellence

 

1.5.2  Effective cost efficient services are delivered across the borough

 

Shared services are a means of delivering efficient services through working with partners.  In this case improved resilience will be delivered without increasing the overall cost of the service.

 

1.6        Risk Management

 

1.6.1   Risk Management considerations are set out in Appendix A.

 

1.7        Other Implications

 

1.7.1   The financial, staffing, legal and procurement implications are set out in Appendix A.

 

1.8        Relevant Documents

 

1.8.1   Appendices

 

Appendix A – Report of the Director of Development and Environment (Tunbridge Wells) – Environmental Health Shared Service

 

IS THIS A KEY DECISION REPORT?

 


Yes                                               No

 

 

If yes, when did it first appear in the Forward Plan?

 

…………………………………………4 February 2013…………………………………………………..

 

This is a Key Decision because: …It represents a significant service development in a service that delivers frontline services across the Borough

 

Wards/Parishes affected: …………None directly………………………………………………..