Decision Maker: Executive

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: September 11, 2025

Purpose:

Content: Decision:   (1)         To request Waverley Borough Council to discharge those Regulatory Services functions of Guildford Borough Council which are Executive functions, with effect from 1 January 2026.   (2)         To note that Guildford Borough Council officers within the existing Regulatory Service will be transferred to the employment of Waverley Borough Council where joint posts will be created to deliver the service.   The Executive also agreed the following recommendations to full Council:   (1)         To request Waverley Borough Council to discharge those Regulatory Services functions of Guildford Borough Council which are Council functions, as set out in Appendix 4 to the report, with effect from 1 January 2026.   (2)         To note that the joint staffing structure for delivery of the Regulatory Services functions will consist of staff transferred from Guildford Borough Council on 1 January 2026 and Waverley Borough Council staff.   (3)         To 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.   Reasons: ·      To enable Regulatory Services 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. ·      To provide increased resilience across both authorities 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. ·      To reduce the operational costs for both councils, of delivering Regulatory Services. As the new service develops there will be further opportunities to deliver savings through joint contracting or delivering specialist services using in house knowledge and skills.  There will also be further opportunities to combine It and other systems that will provide both cash savings and give consistency in our approach to programmed service delivery and reporting on key performance indicators. ·      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. ·      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 Executive: Option 1: Do nothing Option 3: Restructure existing teams   Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted: None.