Issue - meetings

(a)       That the Committee’s comments on the development of an intelligent client function be considered by the officers and used to inform further progress; and

(b)       That the operating model for the service areas covered in the report be endorsed.

The Chief Officer (Organisational Change (2)  introduced a report on the plans for the development of an ‘Intelligent Client Function’ which would see an increasing commissioning role within the service areas covered within the report.  He advised that the model was developed as part of the work relating to the Alternative Delivery Model Programme and seeks to deliver work through strategic framework contracts where appropriate rather than direct in house delivery.

                        The Chief Officer referred to the role and purpose of the Intelligent Client function and gave an outline of the Design Consultancy and Property Maintenance service and Valuation and Estates service.  He commented on the Service remodel and final design solution for Property and Capital Delivery Services. 

                        The Chair invited Members to raise questions.

                        Councillor Dave Mackie commented that the information contained in appendix ‘C’ was difficult to read.  He raised concerns around the implications for schools and queried how it could be more cost efficient to commission external services  than those provided in-house by the Council.  The Chief Officer explained that schools gave very careful consideration to the  services which could be purchased from the external marketplace.  He advised that the Service had significantly modified its existing service level agreement into a buy back agreement which schools could choose to opt in or out of for future provision of school maintenance services

The Chief Officer explained that the model was developed as part of the work relating to the Alternative Delivery Model Programme and sought to deliver work through strategic framework contracts where appropriate rather than direct in house delivery. The transformation work would produce more streamlined and efficient in house delivery  which procured work through national and local framework contracts.  .  He referred to the need to reduce invoice processing through streamlining the main contractor supply chain.  The Chief Officer commented on the need for quality and consistency across the supply chain. 

During discussion Officers responded to the further concerns raised by Councillor Dave Mackie around the tendering process and the need for local framework contracts.  Officers advised that the in house client function worked closely with portfolio departments to enable service  areas to deliver core business.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Committee’s comments on the development of an intelligent client function be considered by the officers and used to inform further progress; and

(b)       That the operating model for the service areas covered in the report be endorsed.