Issue - meetings

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, on a Joint Building Control Service.

It was reported that a Collaboration Agreement had been in place between Halton and Knowsley Councils since July 2015, with the aim of exploring the potential for a shared Building Control service. In January 2018, the Leaders and Chief Executives of both Councils, endorsed the undertaking of work to examine the potential establishment of a Regulation 12 company, as detailed in the report, on the basis that the Company would be jointly and equally owned by both Councils.

The Board was advised that in order to complete the work, approval was required to formalise an interim shared service agreement until 31 March 2020 with Halton, for the provision of Building Control services.

Reason(s) for Decision

The Building Control Service required sufficient resource and capacity to continue to provide high quality advice to residents, developers and investors. Following the departure of all Building Control Officers in November 2017, temporary arrangements had been in place to provide service continuity. The reason for the decision was to place the Service on a sustainable footing for future service delivery.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Do nothing – The current temporary arrangements (the use of an agency member of staff) were not cost effective, nor efficient, and the current team lacked capacity to offer a high quality service and generate income.

Outsourcing – A higher quality, more cost effective service could be offered through a joint shared service. An in-house service was far more responsive in terms of support for public services (for example, public safety at events) and did not rely upon commercial contracts as the basis for delivery. The preferred approach retained local control over service delivery.  

Implementation Date

1 January 2019.

RESOLVED: That

1)    a shared service arrangement for Building Control services for Halton and Knowsley Councils be approved on the basis set out in the report and with a joint structure to be hosted by Knowsley Council for a period until March 2020;

2)    the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources be authorised to execute all relevant documentation required for the establishment of a shared service agreement for Building Control services for Knowsley and Halton Council, as set out in the report; and

3)    the proposal to explore the establishment of a Building Control Regulation 12 company be endorsed, which would be the subject of a future report to Executive Board.