Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Mr Archer

The minutes of a meeting of the North Yorkshire Building Control Partnership held on the 17 December 2009 (previously circulated) were presented.

            Resolved

            That the minutes of a meeting of the North Yorkshire Building Control             Partnership held on the 17 December 2009 be approved.

To receive notice of any urgent business which the Chairman considers should be dealt with at the meeting as a matter of urgency by virtue of Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There were no items of urgent business.

Members to indicate whether they will be declaring any interests under the Code of Conduct.

Members making a declaration of interest at a meeting of a Committee or Council are required to disclose the existence and nature of that interest.  This requirement is not discharged by merely declaring a personal interest without further explanation.

There were no declarations of interest made.

            Resolved

            That under Section 100(4)(A) of the Local Government Act 1972 the             public be excluded from the meeting for the following items as there will             be a likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1             and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as the information relates to             the financial or business affairs of any particular person (other than the             authority).

The Building Control Manager submitted a report (previously circulated) in order to seek Members approval for the expansion of the North Yorkshire Building Control Partnership with the inclusion of Richmondshire District Council Building Control.

The report gave full details of the background to the approach made to the Partnership, to investigate the viability of Richmondshire Building Control joining the Partnership, and the investigation, which had consequently taken place.

At Annex A was a revised budget for 2010/111 onwards.

A detailed discussion followed and Members were of the opinion that further enlargement would enable the Partnership to achieve its aims in delivering a high quality, cost effective and efficient service whilst reducing the level of risk to current partners

Concerns were raised that the individual Authorities’ S151 Officers had not had the opportunity to meet  prior to the Board meeting, and it was decided that for future meetings this should be arranged, whenever possible. 

In addition Board members felt that due to the financial challenges, and with the addition of Richmondshire, it would be advisable to review the structure of the organisation and the deployment of staff.  The Head of Building Control reminded Members that fundamental changes in Building Control, were on the horizon nationally and this should be taken into account during the review.   Members were in agreement that a Working Party be organised to review the structure in due course

Looking to the future, Members were also minded to review the level of reserves that the Partnership should hold, and it would also be timely to review the Legal Agreement, it was agreed that a Working Party be arranged for this purpose.

            Resolved

                                       I.     That each Authority be recommended to approve in principle with affect from 1 April 2010 the North Yorkshire Building Control Partnership enters into formal joint working arrangements with Richmondshire District Council.

                                      II.     With effect from 1 April 2010 the two Building Control staff from Richmondshire District Council formally transfer to Ryedale District Council, being the host authority, under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006.

                                    III.     That an initial one-off contribution of £30,000 joining charge be provided to the Partnership Reserve.

                                  IV.     That the legal agreement be revised to include Richmondshire District Council, and a working party be arranged to undertake a full review of the Partnership’s Legal Agreement.

                                   V.     That payment of any surpluses to Richmondshire District Council, would not take place until the current deficit to existing Partners is fully refunded.

                                  VI.     The five partner councils would equally share any deficit incurred from 1 April 2010.

                                VII.     That a working party be arranged to review the structure, following full details of the changes to Building Control Services nationally.

Wednesday 24 March 2010 at 1.30pm

The next meeting was scheduled for the 24 March 2010.