|
| Latest News |
|
|
| KEY Documents |
|
|
| KEY INFORMATION |
|
|
Your Questions Answered:
DELIVERING YOUR SERVICE IN THE NEW AUTHORITY
We have added answers to the most frequently asked questions about service delivery in the new authority below.
Delivering your service in the new authority questions:
Are there plans to outsource any current activities?
Is it intended to keep current council depots? Where will area offices be located?
Will a housing function remain with the new Council?
Will there be a flexible approach to customer callout, e.g. mobile office visits to outlying areas?
Why are valuable assets being sold off?
Delivering your service in the new authority answers:
Are there plans to outsource any current activities?
The vision is to create a new look, new style council delivering efficient, effective and accountable excellent services to our communities. It is not possible to give a guarantee as to how services will be delivered and procured. All services will be considered as part of the process of transformation and must be able to demonstrate they are best value for the residents and community we exist to serve.
[Last updated 31st March 2008]
There is concern that the proposals seem to place emphasis on outsourcing substantial parts of the existing organisation and centralising mainly corporate support services elsewhere. Can you clarify whether the current outline proposals contain such proposals?
There is currently a proposal relating to an initiative that brings corporate services together. This can be done in a number of ways including an internal ‘shared services’ approach. There are initial discussions underway with Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire Councils on the possibility of joining their ‘shared services’ joint venture which includes an external partner. Durham County is also keeping a ‘watching brief’ over developments. One of the important side benefits of the initiative looks at how services could be provided to other organisations and there is an emphasis on creating additional jobs in the county of Northumberland. The initiative is being at looked at with an open mind and there are no hidden plans. A business case will need to be produced should any such venture be eventually proposed. Additionally the trade unions are supporting an effective internal provision that can be used as a benchmark against which any alternative proposals can be judged.
[Last updated 7th April 2008]
Is it intended to have any outsourcing or joint venture arrangements in place for Vesting Day? If not, what is the intended timescale? If services were to be privatised would Council staff be transferred to the private company on TUPE or will there be voluntary redundancies?
There is nothing intended to be in place by Vesting day. Any proposals would be a longer term issues, possibly three to four years. The TUPE Regulations apply to outsourcing and privatisation but it is not possible to say what any detailed arrangements would be since there are no current plans to privatise services. At this time it is not possible to say how some services will be provided in the medium to long term. The initial proposal for a single unitary Council did recognise that the new Council should assess whether there are any benefits from alternative service provision mechanisms. In the event that alternatives are eventually considered, the trade unions will be consulted fully.
[Last updated 7th April 2008]
In a recent Blueprint Design meeting it was mentioned that the costs associated with providing "shared services" and maintaining physical assets needed to be reduced to fund transformation elsewhere in the new organisation. How is this to be done?
The reduction in the costs of ‘shared services’ could be achieved through one of the initiatives mentioned above or some other future initiative. Reductions in the costs of maintaining the physical assets could come from a variety of initiatives including selling, renting out, converting or a mix. However both aspects are linked to transformation and not transition, and not day one imperatives.
[Last updated 7th April 2008]
Is it intended to keep current council depots? Where will area offices be located?
Such detail is yet to be determined, but service delivery will be influenced by the model of 3 area and 27 belonging communities set in the submission to the government.
[Last updated 31st March 2008]
Will a housing function remain with the new Council?
The new council will take on all statutory and community requirements including housing. A review of services across the county is needed and it is not yet possible to say how this will be harmonised and best delivered in the future.
[Last updated 31st March 2008]
Will there be a flexible approach to customer callout, e.g. mobile office visits to outlying areas?
Out of hours and emergency callouts are an integral part of various services existing councils provide to their residents and communities. This will continue to be the case within the new council. How this is best provided for will be part of the work on transition and transformation and will be subject to discussion with the trade unions. What is important is that services are provided in the best way for those that require them.
[Last updated 31st March 2008]
Why are valuable assets being sold off?
Establishing a new council is an opportunity to introduce more efficient working practices and to rationalise assets such as property.
[Last updated 22nd April 2008]