Agenda item

This report sets out a general update on work on the eight agreed More for York work streams, provides a review of the sustainability impacts of the programme, sets out further proposals regarding the provision of community based cash collection, and proposes the commencement of two further blueprints for inclusion in the programme.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the progress made on the More for York Programme be noted.

                        (ii)        That the work undertaken to date on identifying the Sustainability benefits from the programme be noted.

(iii) That the Income Collection proposals set out in paragraphs 42-67 of the report be approved, in particular.

·        the proposal to introduce the Allpay facility

·        the closure of the cashiering function in the banking hall and

·        the provision of a residual cashiering facility at 9 St Leonard’s.

                        (iv)       That the production of an additional Blueprint for work on Children’s Social Care, as set out in paragraphs 69-73, be approved.

                        (v)        That the production of an additional Blueprint for work on Finance Performance and associated support, as set out in paragraphs 74-77, be approved.

REASON:      To help enable the Council to deliver service improvements and create efficiency savings of £15m over the next three years and to redesign services enabling a more customer focused, locally based service delivery model.

Members considered a report which provided an update on the eight agreed More for York efficiency programme work streams, reviewed the sustainability impacts of the programme and presented proposals for the provision of community-based cash collection and the inclusion of two additional blueprints in the programme.

Section 1 of the report (paragraphs 5-29) identified some highlights from the early work on each of the eight blueprints agreed by the Executive on 20 October 2009.  A comprehensive assessment of progress on each work stream would be provided in the next More for York Update report in the Spring.  Section 2 (paragraphs 30-41) explained the importance of sustainability as an integral part of the More for York programme and outlined an approach to realising sustainable benefits that were consistent with the Council’s Carbon Management Programme and did not duplicate work.  Sustainability Impact Assessments (SIAs) had been compiled for the programme and each work stream.  The SIA for the overall programme was attached at Annex 1 to the report.

Section 3 of the report (paragraphs 42-67) detailed, and sought approval for, a proposal to move from the current city centre single cash payment facility to an externally provided facility based in local shops and post offices.  This would mean extending the scope of the Allpay bill payment contract currently used to collect rental income to include all cash payments due to the Council, reflecting the practice already adopted by many other councils.  Implementing this proposal would improve efficiency, provide more convenience for customers and contribute £125 k per year to the programme in 2010/11. 

Section 4 (paragraphs 68-77) outlined two further areas for the development of a blueprint to determine whether work should be initiated, on the basis that the blueprints already agreed formed only the first phase of the programme.  The additional areas were:

·        Children’s Social Care – work to be undertaken by the CYC team to provide the structure, resources and drive required to meet the challenges faced by the service on cost and capacity;

·        Finance, Performance and ancillary areas – work (to be overseen by CMT) to support the proposal in the Organisation Review report to create a central hub for the organisation and identify the most productive and efficient way of delivering these services.

In response to the comments made by the UNISON representative (Minute 124 refers), Officers confirmed that staff and unions had already been extensively involved in developing the proposals and that this would continue.  However, formal consultation with unions would be premature at this stage. 

RESOLVED: (i)         That the progress made on the More for York Programme be noted.

                        (ii)        That the work undertaken to date on identifying the Sustainability benefits from the programme be noted.

(iii) That the Income Collection proposals set out in paragraphs 42-67 of the report be approved, in particular.

·        the proposal to introduce the Allpay facility

·        the closure of the cashiering function in the banking hall and

·        the provision of a residual cashiering facility at 9 St Leonard’s. ¹

                        (iv)       That the production of an additional Blueprint for work on Children’s Social Care, as set out in paragraphs 69-73, be approved. ²

                        (v)        That the production of an additional Blueprint for work on Finance Performance and associated support, as set out in paragraphs 74-77, be approved. ³

REASON:      To help enable the Council to deliver service improvements and create efficiency savings of £15m over the next three years and to redesign services enabling a more customer focused, locally based service delivery model.