Agenda item

The report of the Director – Neighbourhoods is attached.

It was RESOLVED that Cabinet:

a)               endorses the work that has been successfully undertaken to insource the Streetwise operations; and

b)               monitors the delivery of savings achieved via the Transformation Strategy within the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy over the next three years.

The Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment and Safety, Councillor Inglis presented the report of the Director – Neighbourhoods providing an update on the insourcing of Streetwise.

Councillor Inglis advised that this was a progress report following Cabinet’s decision earlier this year to the insourcing of services of Streetwise under the umbrella of Streetwise Environmental Limited and Streetwise Environmental (trading) Limited, which took effect from 1 September.  Cabinet noted that whilst still being in the early days of transition, the project had been delivered smoothly, without any loss of services and already quality had been improved in some areas with the adopted contracts.  Councillor Inglis stated that there were still legal steps to be taken to complete the process as detailed in paragraphs 4.3 and 7.2 of the report, which were anticipated to be completed in 2023.

Cabinet noted that the Business Plan to the insourcing was based on projected cost savings within the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy over three years, and Councillor Inglis referred to the pressures of the recent high rises in inflation, energy, fuel and pay, but advised that those increased costs would have still been present had Streetwise not been insourced.  The financial progress would continue to be monitored and Councillor Inglis hoped that the current development of a chargeable discretionary service would enhance further income.

Councillor Inglis referred to the open and regular communication with staff, including the creation of a Staff Working Group, which had proved very successful, and it would continue, with all positive feedback being shared to encourage the drive towards even greater service quality.

Cabinet noted that assets have been reviewed and negotiated and where appropriate disposals had been made in the streamlining process, for example the leased secondary depot at Sproxton.

In conclusion Councillor Inglis considered that the insourcing process was working effectively and on track to meet all of the Council’s Corporate Priorities and thanked officers for their hard work during the transition period.  Whilst visiting the depot and liaising with staff, Councillor Inglis was pleased to note that the move had been welcomed and supported by them.

In seconding the recommendation, Councillor Moore referred to the considerable discussions on this issue and considered that the correct decision had been made to bring Streetwise operations in house and it was pleasing to note that the operation was running smoothly.  Councillor Moore reiterated the thanks given by Councillor Inglis and asked for those thanks to be passed on to the team.  Councillor Moore noted the financial comments detailed in paragraph 7.1 of the report and referred to current financial pressures, which he agreed were not due to Streetwise being insourced.  Councillor Moore sought clarification on Recommendation B and asked how the financial monitoring would take place.

The Director – Finance and Corporate Services confirmed that processes were in place to comprehensively record both performance and the budget going forward.  Streetwise would be included in the quarterly Budget Monitoring reports, in the Medium Term Financial Strategy, which would be considered by Full Council in March 2023, and referenced in the Council’s Transformation Programme, with savings targets hard wired into the Budget, which would be monitored going forward.

It was RESOLVED that Cabinet:

a)               endorses the work that has been successfully undertaken to insource the Streetwise operations; and

b)               monitors the delivery of savings achieved via the Transformation Strategy within the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy over the next three years.