Agenda item

A report by the Leader giving an overview of the planned reset and reboot of the West Sussex Plan priorities post COVID-19, as presented to Council in July.  Chief Executive to provide a verbal update to the report.

The Committee is asked to scrutinise the report and make any relevant recommendations to the Cabinet and Chief Executive.  The Committee should have a particular focus on the underlying values and principles, change in service priorities, and the involvement and input of the wider Membership in the reset and reboot before it is finalised.

84.1  The Committee received a report by the Leader giving an overview of the reset and reboot priorities post COVID-19, as presented to Council in July (copy appended to the signed minutes). 

84.2  The Leader introduced the report, commenting that COVID-19 has significantly interrupted the Council’s plans and service delivery.  A recent significant rise in cases could lead to a second wave of COVID over the winter, the extent of which is unknown.  The Reset document evaluates what key services are needed for the future, and all Members will be included in the ongoing development of the document before it goes for approval by Full Council in December 2020. 

84.3  The Committee received an update on the Reset and Reboot project from the Chief Executive.  Building upon the Reset document, the Reboot document will be the integrated plan regarding performance, finance, and risk associated with the reset plans and will be based on local evidence.  It will include service improvements, be underpinned by a focus on climate change, and incorporate best learning from the COVID-19 experience.  The Reboot aims to support all Members in their roles, ensure Members and officers work well together, and ensure the Council works efficiently with other Partners.  It will also support core operational standards for officers (including the People Framework) and work is already underway on the action plan which will underpin this; the action plan will go for Cabinet approval later this year and then come to the Committee for comment.

84.4  The Committee made comments in relation to the reset and reboot project including those that follow. It:

·       Highlighted the need for rapid access to COVID-19 testing within the county, and encouraged the Council to work with the NHS to set up local provision.  The Chief Executive explained the Council are lobbying hard on this locally, regionally and nationally.  There is also a critical need for laboratory testing capacity and the Council are working closely with partners on solutions. 

·       Commented that devolution is referred to in the Policy Context of the Reset, and the County Councils Network (CCN) recently published an evaluation by PwC of the implications of local government reorganisation in two tier counties.  Queried what conclusions have been drawn from that for West Sussex and, rather than continuing with a ‘wait and see’ approach, should the Council now be preparing or updating earlier work on this issue in order to be able to respond to the White Paper once published.  The Leader explained he is a member of the CCN and South East 7 Leader Group where devolution is regularly discussed.  Conversations with district and borough council Chief Executives are unlikely without a framework from Government within which to hold discussions and, given the current difficulties for councils in maintaining their services during COVID-19, discussion of devolution at this time would be a distraction.  There are opportunities and potential benefits in unitary status but the second tranche is expected to focus on the Midlands. 

·       Noted some concern that there has been no consultation with district and borough councils on devolution.  The Committee supported devolution discussion being set aside for the future given the current COVID-19 situation facing councils.  The Leader noted the concern and comments.

·       Commented that significant governance, IT, and service provision work had been identified at the Council prior to the additional effect of COVID-19.  Queried if there is sufficient resource and appetite for possible organisational change to deliver a modern and effective Council for the future.  The Chief Executive explained that change to the organisation will be led by the services, rather than by a transformation programme or team.  There needs to be a concentration on key areas rather than lots of individual projects.  A key change will be to simplifying the decision making process.  The tier and span of management will be considered so that change to organisational culture will be driven by good managers with clarity of purpose, backed up by clear employment policies.  The Council needs to be better at ‘finishing things’.

·       Commented regarding Corporate Risk 71 [staff will be expected to continue to work from home] whether this expectation will change once Government guidance changes, and whether staff will be supported to continue to work from home if they are in favour and it realises service or corporate benefits.  The Chief Executive said that productivity would be the key factor in assessing the benefits of working from home versus the office, and it must also be balanced against the temptation for staff to work longer hours at home which can be an issue.  Staff views are being gauged and, while some roles do need to be office-based, many are saying they are more focused when working from home.

84.5  Resolved:-

1)      That the Committee support the lobbying at regional and national level to improve the capacity of the COVID-19 test and trace system, particularly in relation to laboratory testing capacity; and

2)      That the Committee recognise an effective conversation cannot take place on devolution until a framework is issued by the Government.