Service Modernisation Revenue Budget Planning 2016/17

Transcription

1 Service Modernisation Revenue Budget Planning 2016/17 Agenda Item 6(8) Directorate and Service Area: Proposal refs: Lead Officer: Environment & Sustainable Communities Regulatory Services ESC/D Removal of Dog Warden/Pest Control Post John Molyneux Head of Regulatory Services Recommendation That the Executive: (i) (ii) Approve the proposal, in principle, to allow for appropriate consultation with stakeholders; Acknowledge the requirement to comply with the Council s statutory equality duty and, therefore, the need for detailed equality analyses to be completed as appropriate during the consultation phase. 1. What does this service do? The Environmental Health & Trading Standards Services (known as Regulatory Services) covers a number of areas including: The periodic inspection of food premises, investigating all food complaints, infectious disease notifications, food poisoning outbreaks, food and feed standards, The regulation of standards for houses in multiple occupations (including licensing) and private sector housing enforcement. Carrying out inspections and investigations, and providing advice to employers and employees on workplace safety and accident investigation looking for root-cause analysis. Enforcing a wide range of consumer protection legislation with regard to protecting the most vulnerable members of

2 our community Weights and measures inspections, Petroleum, poisons and performing animals licensing Dog warden and pest control services. Emergency planning, business continuity and flood risk management to enable people to go about their business freely and with confidence, and improving the emergency preparedness of Bedford Borough Council and the wider borough. In addition to the above the service also provides appropriate advice and guidance to all the Council's Directorates to enable them to operate robust health and safety management systems as an integral part of their service delivery. 2. What changes are we proposing? The current Dog Warden and Pest Control Service is provided by two full-time Dog Warden/Pest Control Officer (DW/PCO) posts. These existing posts work to provide a service that meets statutory obligations for the collection of stray dogs and the provision of pest control services. Income generated from pest control services makes the provision of the Pest Control service essentially cost neutral. The Dog Warden element of the service is currently provided by two methods. During normal office hours the duty to collect stray dogs is carried out by one of the DW/PCO. After hours the duty to collect stray dogs is provided by an external contracted kennelling service. The changes being proposed are the removal of the one Dog Warden/Pest Control post providing a potential saving of 15,000. Despite the salary of a Dog Warden/Pest Controller being in the region of 20,000 pa (incl. on costs) this would create a saving of 15,000 pa. The proposal is that the statutory duty relating to the collection of strays will be covered by a tendering process, with a view to awarding a contract to an external third party who will provide a complete solution to the collection of stray dogs, covering both normal office hours and out of hours. The residual costs of approx. 5,000 will be utilised to increase the external contract provision to cover both day time and out of hours collection.

3 3. Resource and Cost Implications Cost Centre(s): 2016/17 Notes 000 Saving Type: Dog Warden Employees 15 The saving comes from the salary saving of x1 DW/PCO. The existing budget for kennelling costs, under Supplies, would still be required in order to deliver the service via the third party kennelling contractor. Premises Transport related expenditure Supplies Total Saving 15 Income Grants and Contributions Customer and client receipts Other income Total Income Known additional costs (including Invest to Save) Total Human Resources Implications Does the proposal require staff restructuring? (Details if known) Yes Deletion of the Dog Warden/Pest Control post (2 FTE) and creation of a Snr Pest Control Officer (1 FTE). The proposal is to effectively consolidate two posts into one.

4 5. Risk Analysis Statutory duties appertaining to service will be covered by remaining staff and the service to collect stray dogs would be achieved by increasing the present contract arrangements with contract kennels for collection of stray dogs, or via a tendering process to cover the collection and kennelling on behalf of the Borough Council. (Score) /Severity (Score) Very Likely (4) Very High (4) Likely (3) High (3) Unlikely (2) Low (2) Very Unlikely (1) Very Low (1) Risk Assessment Matrix Service Disruption Financial Reputation People Governance

5 Rating RAG Rating RAG Rating RAG Rating RAG Rating RAG 5 G 5 G 8 A 1 G 1 G 6. Equalities Implications A relevance test for equality has been completed. The equality test determined that further equality analysis is required. An equality analysis will be carried out and findings of the equality analysis will be reported prior to a final decision being made. 7. Proposed Consultation The proposals will be included in the main public consultation. Stakeholders, service users, and those potentially affected by these proposals will need to be identified and consulted. Individual consultations to be carried out with all effected staff where required.