Councillors debate Strategic Partnership proposal at Cornwall Council meeting

Last updated: 24/10/2012 Add to My Bookmarks Subscribe

Following the receipt of more than 6,000 signatures on the petition regarding the Strategic Partnership for Support Services, the programme was brought to today’s meeting of the Full Council.

The Chairman gave the debate more than an hour for Councillors to discuss the action to be taken following the petition. 

There was a sensible debate on the issue, with interesting points raised both for and against the partnership.

Following suggested amendments to the motion the final wording was agreed as follows:

1. This Council expresses its thanks to all the people who signed the petition and have thereby strongly engaged in the local democratic process.

2. The current proposals for the Strategic Partnership for Support Services shall not progress to the Invitation to Submit Final Tender stage until after they have been debated and unless approved by a meeting of Full Council.

3. The Chief Executive be requested to investigate fully, as a matter of urgency, all reasonable alternative methods of delivering the Council services covered by the proposals for the said Strategic Partnership, which addresses the need to make efficiency savings and to generate income, including but not limited to, a thin trading joint venture working with a commercial partner to develop services outside Cornwall; a shared services project with local NHS and other public services but without a commercial partner; an employee led mutual and all other in house options.

4. The Council’s draft Business Plan 2012-16 be prepared to reflect recommendations 2 and 3 above.

5. Full Council supports the ongoing work of the single issue panel on the strategic partnership proposal.

There was a recorded vote with 93 Members voting for the motion, 7 abstaining and none voting against.

Story posted 24 October 2012