Decision details

The Director of Financial Services referred members to his report which provided details of an option for the Council to initiate a procurement process for a strategic partner to create a Centre of Excellence for specific services.

Members were advised that Council officers had been reviewing opportunities to develop, within Rhondda Cynon Taf, a Centre of Excellence for certain support / transactional services and the Director referenced a similar model within Denbigshire Council in respect of a revenues and benefits service.

The Director continued by adding that it was proposed that the Council seek to procure a partnership arrangement whereby a partner would bring functional expertise, market and commercial knowledge, change management expertise and capacity to grow the service.  He added that the transition toward universal credit was likely to reduce the workload of the revenues and benefits service and have an adverse effect on the number of jobs. A strategic partnership would enable the service to grow through the provision of services to other councils within the South Wales region and / or beyond.

The Cabinet Member for Corporate Services welcomed the opportunity for partnership working, commenting that such an opportunity would safeguard existing as well as creating and bringing more jobs into the County Borough.  He also added that the opportunity would allow for the further growth of an existing efficient and effective service area.

The Deputy Leader spoke on the item, recognising the positive example of collaboration and regional working that the opportunity provided.

The Leader also commented on the safeguarding of jobs through the initiative, and welcomed the continuation of the apprenticeship and graduate scheme within the proposal.

Following discussions it was RESOLVED:

1.   To note and consider the key principles underpinning a potential strategic partnership arrangement;

2.   To authorise officers to initiate a procurement process; and

3.   To receive a further report with the outcome of the procurement process in order to determine whether or not it wishes to proceed with the opportunity.

N/A