Decision details
Publica Transition Plan
Decision Maker: Executive, Council
Decision status: Recommendations approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: Yes
Decisions:
Ahead of the agenda item being considered, the Leader stated that Publica employees, who were in scope for Phase 1 of the transition, would leave the room. Officers employed by Publica who would advise members in relation to the Publica transition, remained in the room, as, in accordance with the viewpoint of the Council’s Director of Governance, the need for members to receive answers to questions outweighed the appearance of bias.
Councillor Andy Graham, Leader of the Council, introduced the report, which considered a Detailed Transition Plan for Publica. The report also sought the Executive to note its content and approve recommendations therein.
The Leader reaffirmed the Executive’s commitment, in partnership with Cabinets at partner Councils, to ensuring that the transition process was as smooth as possible, and that services to residents would not be affected during the transition. The Leader also stated that the Executive remained steadfast in ensuring that the terms and conditions of staff were protected as part of the transition, and paid tribute to the work of those directly involved in the transition project.
By invitation of the Leader, Giles Hughes, Chief Executive, reminded the Executive that the Publica model was not the same as the one that was initially set up in 2017, and the needs and aims of both individual councils and residents had changed over the time that the partnership working model had been in place. The Chief Executive highlighted that generic working practises had changed significantly since Publica’s creation in 2017, and the project was underpinned with the Council’s future in full view. The project was key to ensuring the Council’s ambitious plans were better placed to be achieved as a result of the transition.
The Chief Executive stated that the first phase of the transition would take effect on 1 November 2024, with Council staff employed by Publica in roles which directly supported a sole Council from the partnership, being transferred to the Council’s employment via a TUPE process. The Chief Executive highlighted that employment which would fall under the Council’s direct ownership would have greater clarity and certainty in the work undertaken by sovereign departments and employees.
The Chief Executive stated that employees who would remain in shared roles with partner councils (e.g. Cotswold District Council) would be employed by one District Council as appropriate, in keeping with detail contained within the transition plan. The Chief Executive reaffirmed commitments to ensure that any redundancy measures were minimised as much as possible.
In debate, the Executive paid tribute to all staff employed as part of the Publica partnership, highlighting that additional work related to the transition came on top of normal working commitments. The Executive also stated that the transition was part of a wider aspiration of partner councils to return to previous working arrangements, and that each council would play their own role in the transition. The Executive also paid tribute to the work of the transition team to ensure that financial implications pertaining to the transition were fully visible and thorough.
At the invitation of the Leader, Councillor Julian Cooper queried the shared working proposals between partner councils and how that would work in practise. The Chief Executive confirmed that initial shared working would remain between partner councils of Publica, and that any potential opportunities for shared working with other councils or organisations would be considered when appropriate.
Councillor Michele Mead queried if any staff training would be undertaken in relation to a move to a non-partner council working arrangement. The Chief Executive stated that appropriate training would be considered for all employees as appropriate and would be built into further transition plans and then implemented at the appropriate juncture.
Councillor Andy Graham proposed that the Executive agree to the recommendations as listed on the report. This was seconded by Councillor Duncan Enright, was put to a vote, and was unanimously agreed by the Executive.
The Executive Resolved to recommend to Full Council to:
- Approve the implementation of Phase 1 of the Publica Transition on the basis of the Detailed Transition Plan;
- Delegate to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council the decision to deal with any final detail matters arising from the Detailed Transition Plan;
- Delegate authority to the Director of Governance in liaison with the Leader to update the constitution by making any consequential changes required as a result of Phase 1 of the Publica Transition;
- Carry out a budget re-basing for the 2026/7 financial year so that the funding provided to Publica is proportionate to the services received.
Officers employed by Publica Group, who had left the room ahead of the agenda item being considered, returned to the Council Chamber.
Publication date: 26/07/2024
Date of decision: 22/07/2024
Decided at meeting: 22/07/2024 - Executive
Effective from: 04/08/2024
Accompanying Documents:
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