To agree the process of local management of services by the town councils/city council (the local councils) through a programme of devolved services, outlining priority areas and related asset transfers. 

The Cabinet Member Corporate and Assets presented the report of the Director for Economy, Communities and Corporate Services, on the proposals to enable the local management of services by town councils and Hereford City Council.  This would be achieved through a programme of devolving services and transferring appropriate assets.  The move was reflective of the new way of working within local authorities, which sought to deliver services of value at community level.  She said that there were already some good examples of devolved services being run effectively in the community, such as the youth service.  The results of various consultations had indicated that the town councils were keen to manage services and assets directly, and as a result, a series of packages had been developed with each of the town councils and the city council, to reflect their various interests. 

The following principal points arose from the discussion:

• In respect of the transfer of assets, there needed to be clarity early in the discussions about all aspects of the transfer and how it would be funded, including which organisation would be responsible for legal and other fees. 
• There was an initial risk that the change towards devolution would move at a slower pace than the need for services to be provided, due in part to a potential reluctance on the part of parish and town councils to attain funding through increasing their precepts, but also due to the fact that the resultant changes in responsibility would naturally take time to embed.  It was anticipated that numerous organisations and community groups, in addition to parish and town councils, would also become involved in projects over time. 

RESOLVED:   that the Director for Economy, Communities and Corporate Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Corporate and Assets, Enterprise and Culture and relevant portfolio leads as appropriate, be authorised to conclude negotiations with the town councils and the city council on priority areas for the first phase of devolved services within a three month period.