Purpose

Request Waverley Borough Council to discharge
those Finance functions of Guildford Borough Council which are
Executive functions, with effect from 1 April 2026.

Content

Decision:
 

1.                    
Agree that Waverley Borough Council discharge on
behalf of Guildford Borough Council such of its Finance functions
which are Executive functions, with effect from 1 April
2026.

2.                    
Agree to the creation of new joint posts to deliver
Finance Services to both Waverley Borough Council and Guildford
Borough Council and delegate authority to the Joint Assistant
Director for Finance to implement a joint staffing structure within
the approved budget.

3.                    
That the Joint
Executive Committee recommends that Guildford Borough Council
resolves to:

4.                    
Request that Waverley Borough Council discharge on
behalf of Guildford Borough Council such of its Finance functions
which are Council functions as set out in paragraph 12.2.3 with
effect from 1 April 2026.

5.                    
That the Joint
Executive Committee recommends that Waverley Borough Council
resolves to:

6.                    
Accept the request from Guildford Borough Council
that Waverley Borough Council discharge on behalf of Guildford
Borough Council such of its Finance functions which are Council
functions as set out in paragraph 12.2.3 with effect from 1 April
2026.

7.                    
That the Joint
Executive Committee recommends to Waverley and Guildford Borough
Councils that they:

8.                    
Note that the joint staffing structure for delivery
of Finance functions will consist of staff transferred from
Guildford Borough Council on 1 April 2026 and Waverley Borough
Council staff.

9.                    
Authorise the Strategic Director of Democracy, Law
and People in consultation with the co-Chairs of the Joint
Governance Committee to update the Inter-Authority Agreement to
include provisions that ensure all decisions in relation to the
arrangements are made by both Guildford Borough Council and
Waverley Borough Council.
 
Reason(s):
 

1.                    
To enable Finance functions to operate in an
efficient and cost-effective way, making use of the resources
available and sharing experience and knowledge with the opportunity
to provide more specialist skills across both authorities, leading
to increased efficiency, improved performance and service delivery
with an expansion of knowledge for individuals and sharing of best
practice.

2.                    
To provide increased resilience, capacity and
capability in the provision of statutory financial services as
there will be a more flexible pool of officers delivering the
services across both Waverley Borough Council and Guildford Borough
Council. The current structure has many single points of failure
when staff go on agreed leave of absence. An outcome of this puts
serious strain on the resources that remain to cover and increases
the risk of service delivery failure. 
This new structure will provide additional resilience to cover
sickness absence, annual leave, vacancies or increased workload
should this be required.

3.                    
The shared Finance service is within the approved
budget.  Increased capacity and
collaborative working through standardised processes and procedures
should see improvements in the collection of income and in the
service response to our external customers, ensuring backlogs in
the provision of Housing Benefits and Revenues and Benefits
services are minimised.   

4.                    
To ensure that joint working is undertaken in a
consistent manner and in accordance with existing HR policies for
such posts and the Inter-Authority Agreement between the two
authorities for the sharing of staff.

5.                    
To reduce dependency on external resources and
further implement succession planning and career development which
will provide opportunities for an increase in internal promotion
appointments for existing staff to vacant posts.
 
Other options considered and
rejected by the Joint Executive Committee:
 
Option 1 Do nothing
Option 3 Do Collaboration with
savings of £0.575m.
 
Details of any conflict of
interest declared by the Leaders or lead councillors and any
dispensation granted:
None.