Issue - meetings

At the request of the Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee at the meeting on 17/01/2025 this report has been prepared by the Head of Change for consideration.

The Executive Director Corporate Development introduced the report and the key parts of the Our Future Council (OFC) programme as requested by the committee.

Following the scene setting councillors were invited to debate the item. Several key areas were discussed such as;

·       shared recognition for transformation teams across the council in the delivery of transformation to date

·       the priority placed upon savings and programme delivery in 2024/25

·       the source of funding for the consultants engaged being from an external central government grant

·       the change of administration and the impacts of this on multi-year transformational projects.

·       the formal process of handover if there is a change of administration or portfolio holder.

·       the recognition of risks as part of budget setting transformational savings and the role of the Section 151 Officer in that process.

·       the evolution of the OFC programme and the savings identified to include the whole organisational to meet the savings targeted

·       the allocation of resources and funding for roles to deliver the programme

·       how the structure of the organisation’s delivery transformation has changed to one centralised space rather than directorate PMO’s

·       the additional recognition of the complexity of the programme and how the learning from the external consultants raised the awareness of that complexity and realistic timescales

·       the impact of OFC on employee morale and service provision

·       the governance structures around OFC

·       the decision to instruct Price Waterhouse Cooper (PWC)

Recommendations

The committee requested that the Place and Resources Overview Committee look at the potential of a policy of transition during changes of portfolio holder or political leadership

A 6 monthly performance update as part of the OFC programme delivery to the Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee

The Cabinet member for transformation to inform the Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee with details of the decision making around PWC

The Place and Resources scrutiny Committee to receive the PWC business case.