Purpose

Cabinet will be asked to agree arrangements for the OneSource Legal Services disaggregation and creation of a sovereign Legal Service for Havering Council.

Decision

Report title: oneSource Legal Services Disaggregation, Creating Havering Legal Services

Presented by: Councillor Keith Prince, Leader of the Council

Cabinet:

1. Authorised:

(a)       the Council to withdraw its delegation from oneSource relating to Legal and Governance.

(b)       the Council’s retention of (a) Exchequer and Transactional Services and (b) Print Services within oneSource.

1. Authorised the Chief Executive (Head of Paid Service) and the Strategic Director for Resources to make all necessary arrangements to give effect to the authorisation at 1 above, including but not limited to the delegations below:

(a)       To implement the Human Resources (HR) and other operational processes to give effect to the recommendations.

(b)       To agree the date for the withdrawal of Legal and Governance from oneSource.

(c)        To agree, amend and finalise any variations to the oneSource Agreements and the delegations contained therein as necessary to give effect to 1 above on behalf of the Council.

(d)       To make arrangements to receive staff into Havering Council as a result of the disaggregation and amendments to the Agreement.

(e)       To delegate to the Chief Executive and the Strategic Director for Resources authority to finalise the structure for Legal Services for Havering Council (with the input of the Monitoring Officer).

(f)        To make arrangements to allow Havering Council to share its Legal Services resource (where required on a reciprocal basis) for a transitional period beyond the agreed date of implementation whilst permanent arrangements are put in place within Havering Council.

(g)       To note that the budget for the Havering Legal Services structure will be addressed as part of the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) process.

(h)       To delegate to the Monitoring Officer the authority to adjust and implement the proposed structure in response to consultation with staff (with the approval of the Chief Executive and the Strategic Director for Resources).

(i)         Authority for Havering Council to enter into a Collaboration Agreement with Newham Council and such other agreements and arrangements that may be necessary to fully implement the disaggregation and the creation of a separate Legal Services for Havering Council.

(j)         Delegated Authority to the Monitoring Officer to take all necessary steps and procure supplies/services to facilitate the operation of the separate Havering Legal Services.

1. Waived the rights to any compensatory payments due to Havering Council under the Agreement noting that Newham Council will also waive its rights under these reciprocal arrangements.
2. Noted that staff employed by Havering Council or Newham Council will return to their respective employing Authority based on their contract of employment as required under the Agreement dated 1 September 2014.