Common use of Remit of the Project Clause in Contracts

Remit of the Project. The purpose of this document is to establish whether there is a sufficient business case for exploring in more detail the setting up of a Shared Housing Improvement Agency (HIA) function and whether there is a particular way of sharing this service that is preferred. The business case will test how far the potential partner Councils are prepared to work together towards common ends, informed by a high level analysis of whether a shared service model has sufficient cost and service benefits to proceed with the initiative. In light of the change in funding stream for DFGs, the district councils, in partnership with the County Council held a workshop in August 2015 to discuss current DFG service arrangements and areas for improvement. It was agreed that it would be useful to conduct a review of the way DFG services are accessed and delivered across the county. In January 2016 the Chief Executive’s Co-ordination Group (CECG) considered an options paper. CECG authorised the creation of a project to examine the Business Case for a Shared Home Improvement Agency function, committing to funding project management support to achieve this. Subject to Business Case approval, the intention is to implement new structural arrangements in 2017/18 followed by a two year period of service development as new ways of working are established. Costings have been carried out for a small group of five authorities which have indicated a significant interest in progressing with the shared service, with a further authority presented as joining in Year Two. Underpinning this Business Case is a set of workings which can easily be flexed for other combinations of authorities depending on appetite for inclusion within the proposal. Table 1 shows the representation of authorities which have been included in the costings. Table 1: Representation of authorities within the Business Case Year One Five Authorities Year Two Six Authorities  Broxbourne Borough Council  East Herts Council  Hertfordshire County Council  North Hertfordshire District Council  Watford Borough Council  Broxbourne Borough Council  East Herts Council  Hertfordshire County Council  North Hertfordshire District Council  Stevenage Borough Council  Watford Borough Council

Remit of the Project. The purpose of this document is to establish whether there is a sufficient business case for exploring in more detail the setting up of a Shared Housing Improvement Agency (HIA) function and whether there is a particular way of sharing this service that is preferred. The business case will test how far the potential partner Councils are prepared to work together towards common ends, informed by a high level analysis of whether a shared service model has sufficient cost and service benefits to proceed with the initiative. In light of the change in funding stream for DFGs, the district councils, in partnership with the County Council held a workshop in August 2015 to discuss current DFG service arrangements and areas for improvement. It was agreed that it would be useful to conduct a review of the way DFG services are accessed and delivered across the county. In January 2016 the Chief Executive’s Co-ordination Group (CECG) considered an options paper. CECG authorised the creation of a project to examine the Business Case for a Shared Home Improvement Agency function, committing to funding project management support to achieve this. Subject to Business Case approval, the intention is to implement new structural arrangements in 2017/18 followed by a two year period of service development as new ways of working are established. Costings have been carried out for a small group of five authorities which have indicated a significant interest in progressing with the shared service, with a further authority presented as joining in Year Two. Underpinning this Business Case is a set of workings which can easily be flexed for other combinations of authorities depending on appetite for inclusion within the proposal. Table 1 shows the representation of authorities which have been included in the costings. Table 1: Representation of authorities within the Business Case Year One Five Authorities Year Two Six Authorities  • Broxbourne Borough Council  • East Herts Council  • Hertfordshire County Council  • North Hertfordshire District Council  • Watford Borough Council  • Broxbourne Borough Council  • East Herts Council  • Hertfordshire County Council  • North Hertfordshire District Council  • Stevenage Borough Council  • Watford Borough Council