Councillors and committees

Decision details

Moving Closer to Residents: Delivering Our Ambition

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

Cabinet will be asked to approve the programme of work required to deliver the Moving Closer to Residents business case and introduce new ways of working across the council, including the location of the new Civic Heart in the context of the future corporate estate.

 

Decision:

RESOLVED:

 

1.    That the importance of this programme to our successful transformation plans and delivery of the Community Vision 2030 and Organisation Strategy be noted.

2.    That, subject to Council approval, the acquisition of Midas House, Woking on the terms set out in this report as the County Council’s new Civic Heart be approved.

3.    That subject to full Council approval of the acquisition of Midas House, Woking on the terms set out in the submitted report, authority be delegated for the completion of the requisite legal processes and documentation relating to the acquisition of Midas House, in accordance with the Heads of terms set out to the Executive Director for Transformation, Partnerships and Prosperity, in consultation with the Leader of the Council.

4.    That the establishment of a Member Task Group to support the planning and design of Civic spaces and functions, including for full Council meetings and associated Member facilities be approved.

5.    That a design and build contractor for fitting out the new Civic Heart in order to facilitate modern, agile working practices be procured.

6.    That the importance of supporting staff through the implementation of more agile working practices and move from County Hall, Kingston to a Civic Heart in Woking and the need for a change management programme to ensure a positive outcome for them, with a similar programme tailored to Members’ needs be acknowledged.

7.    That the investment in the information and digital technology required to effectively support agile working, as contained in the capital programme, with a roadmap for implementation presented to Cabinet in February 2019 be endorsed

 

Reason for decision:

 

The council had a commitment to being closer to residents in all that it does and to enable new, modern ways of working for the council. The Moving Closer to Residents (MCTR) programme of rolling out agile working across the council was underpinned and advanced by confirmation of a new Civic Heart premises at Midas House, Woking.  The MCTR work was not simply about acquiring a building and making a value for money judgement on the associated costs, alone. The programme will deliver on a range of other benefits – including demonstrable productivity improvements from better use of technology, reduced travel costs, new talent pools and attracting new staff, contributing to our carbon neutral ambitions; plus a number of important non-quantifiable benefits, including advancing the shift in organisational culture.

 

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Resources and Performance Select Committee]

 

Report author: Dominic Mackie

Publication date: 27/11/2019

Date of decision: 26/11/2019

Decided at meeting: 26/11/2019 - Cabinet

Effective from: 05/12/2019

Accompanying Documents: