Agenda and minutes

Please note that this meeting may be filmed or recorded by the Council for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council’s internet site or by anyone attending the meeting using any communication method. Although we ask members of the public recording, filming or reporting on the meeting not to include the public seating areas, members of the public attending the meeting should be aware that we cannot guarantee that they will not be filmed or recorded by others attending the meeting. Members of the public participating in the meeting (e.g. making deputations, asking questions, making oral protests) should be aware that they are likely to be filmed, recorded or reported on. 

By entering the meeting room and using the public seating area, you are consenting to being filmed and to the possible use of those images and sound recordings.

The chair of the meeting has the discretion to terminate or suspend filming or recording, if in his or her opinion continuation of the filming, recording or reporting would disrupt or prejudice the proceedings, infringe the rights of any individual or may lead to the breach of a legal obligation by the Council.

The Leader referred those present to agenda Item 1 as shown on the agenda in respect of filming at this meeting and asked that those present reviewed and noted the information contained therein.

The Leader will advise of any items they have decided to take as urgent business.

None.

The report will seek Leader approval of the Terms of Reference for the Joint Committee of the Shared ICT and Digital Service. The report will also seek Leader approval to delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer and the Borough Solicitor, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources, to negotiate, agree and enter into any necessary legal arrangements that will govern and underpin the operation of the shared service. The report will further seek approval to appoint two members of the Cabinet (the Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources and the Cabinet Member for Finance and Health) to be members of the Joint Committee for the remainder of the municipal year 2016/17.  

Following Cabinet approval for the creation of a shared ICT and Digital Service between Camden, Haringey and Islington in March 2016, the report sought approval for the Terms of Reference for the Joint Committee.

RESOLVED

That the Leader:

      I.        Agrees the Terms of the Reference for the Joint Committee as set out in Appendix A with it to come into effect from 1 October 2016,

    II.        Delegates authority to the Chief Operating Officer and the Borough Solicitor, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for IT, to negotiate, agree and enter into any necessary legal arrangements that will govern and underpin the operation of the shared service and to give effect to this decision

   III.        Appoint two members of the Cabinet (the Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources and the Cabinet Member for Finance & Health) to be members of the Joint Committee for the remainder of the municipal year 2016/17.

Alternative options considered

The report proposed terms of reference for the operation of the shared ICT and Digital Services Joint Committee.  This sets out to strike a balance between what is delegated by the Joint Committee to the Chief Digital Information Officer (CDIO) overseen by the Management Board and what remains with the Joint Committee. It would be possible to either further increase or to reduce the work and decision making powers retained by the joint committee, but it is considered that the distribution of responsibilities set out in the draft terms of reference in Appendix A strikes the right balance in the light of the four overarching principles set out in paragraph 5.3 of the report.

It should be noted that decisions of the Joint Committee will be made by a simple majority of those present and able to vote, this means that Haringey’s members of the Joint Committee may be out voted by the other members of the committee.

In considering the options for the Joint Committee and related legal agreement, four overarching principles have been used that are consistent with the wider objectives of the proposals.  Any arrangement should:

·           Be as light touch as possible to ensure that decisions can be made in the most efficient and effective way possible,

·           Avoid any form of ‘duplicate decision’ making within the organisations that undermine the integrated nature and spirit of the undertaking, 

·           Facilitate, and not undermine, a potential move towards a more public services company model in the future and

·           Ensure appropriate levels of input and scrutiny for each council.   

Options exist to pursue a different governance structure than a Joint Committee, including the creation of a public services company.  As part of the development of these proposals, Cabinet agreed that the Joint Committee approach would be implemented for October 2016.  It was felt that this provided the quickest route to operation, but it was recognised that further consideration should be given to other long term strategic options.  Officers have been asked to prepare a review of governance arrangements for consideration by the Joint Committee within one year of its inception.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

To consider any items of Urgent Business admitted under Item 2 above.

N/A