Issue - meetings

Report of Assistant Director for Human Resources and Transformation

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor Elayne Merry

(Key decision):

(1) To note the progress of the joint transformation programme.

(2) To approve the business case for the joint transformation programme phase 3, which includes recommendations to approve:

a) The total savings/income target of £400,000 for phase 3;

b) The approach for delivering the phase 3 transformation and savings/income;

c) The phase 3 governance arrangements;

d) The phase 3 costs and allocate an additional £1.4m to the programme (£700,000 from Lewes District Council);

e) The revised costs and benefits realisation ratio of 50:50 between Lewes District and Eastbourne Borough Councils.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Assistant Director for Human Resources and Transformation, updating them on the progress of the joint transformation programme through March and October 2018 and to seek their approval for the phase 3 business case.

Although titled as an update to the programme, the report primarily focused on the next steps of the transitional journey and future opportunities, through the final part of the programme, phase 3.

The joint transformation programme phases 1 and 2 had delivered £2.8 million of savings and efficiencies. Phase 3 of the programme would target recurring savings of £400,000. The business case for phase 3 was detailed at appendix 1 to the report.

The Assistant Director for Human Resources and Transformation clarified that phase 3 was smaller in scope and would largely consist of structural reconfigurations and generate more income, as opposed to savings, in comparison to the previous two phases.

Support for staff during phase three was detailed at 2.17 of the business case. The Cabinet conveyed thanks to staff for the work undertaken during the programme and their positive response to the challenges faced.

Visiting member, Councillor Gardiner, Chair of Scrutiny Committee commented on the challenges faced during phase 2, including benefits, communication and resourcing of planning enforcement. The Director of Service Delivery gave updated statistics for communications from the last week regarding abandoned calls (less than 12%), calls answered within 60 seconds (60%) and average speed of answer (102 seconds) which were significant improvements since additional resources had been added to the call centre. Additional work had also taken place to shift calls online. Councillor Smith detailed the work undertaken, including the complexities of script creation and case management to deliver the current performance with communications.

In response to a question from visiting member, Councillor Chartier, Chair of Audit and Standards Committee, officers confirmed that the phase 3 proposals, outlined in the report would not compromise the integrity of the audit unit.

Resolved (key decision):

(1) To note the progress of the joint transformation programme.

(2) To approve the business case for the joint transformation programme phase 3, which includes recommendations to approve:

a) The total savings/income target of £400,000 for phase 3.

b) The approach for delivering the phase 3 transformation and savings/income.

c) The phase 3 governance arrangements.

d) The phase 3 costs and allocate an additional £1.4m to the programme (£700,000 from Lewes District Council).

e) The revised costs and benefits realisation ratio of 50:50 between Lewes District and Eastbourne Borough Councils.

Reason for decisions:

To enable Cabinet members to consider the progress of the joint transformation programme and to determine the next steps in the transformational journey.