1. Local Government Reorganisation Programme Update - April 2018

2. Government decision
The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, has agreed to the creation of two new unitary councils for Dorset. 
The two new authorities will replace Dorset’s nine existing councils. One will cover Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, and the other will serve the residents of the rest of the county.
The two new councils are due to go live in April 2019, and, from that date, existing councils will cease to exist.

3. LGR programme structure
BCP joint committee
Dorset leaders and chief executives
Dorset area joint committee
Chief Executives Group
Dorset area programme board
BCP programme board
Central team – phase one
Dorset area team – phase two
BCP team – phase two
Dorset area team – phase three
BCP team – phase three

4. Programme relationships
Central programme team
Phase one – creation of new councils (statutory)
Programme Director: Julian Osgathorpe
Programme Director: Keith Cheesman
Dorset area programme team
Phase two – delivering services on 1 April 2019
Phase three – designing and building the new local authority
BCP programme board
Phase two – delivering services on 1 April 2019
Phase three – designing and building the new local authority
Dorset area programme board
Phase two – delivering services on 1 April 2019
Phase three – designing and building the new local authority
DCC programme team
Phase one – statutory compliance and disaggregation
Phase two – preparation for day one, including due diligence

5. Joint Committees Two Joint Committees have been formed
One for the ‘Dorset Area’
One for the 'Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Area’
Details of Dorset Area Joint Committee (DAJC), including minutes & reports
Details of Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Joint Committee (BCPJC), including minutes & reports

6. Phasing Timescales
Phase 1
Creation of Shadow Council
Now - Summer 2018
Phase 2
Delivering services on 01 April 2019
Now – 31 March 2019
Phase 3
Designing and Building the new Local Authority
From April 2018 onwards
Phases will run concurrently to ensure successful delivery by 01 April 2019 for statutory and ‘must do’s’, and ensure delivery during phase 1 and 2 compliments phase 3.
Dorset County Council will exist until 31 March 2019 and will then form part of Dorset Council.

7. Three key programme phases;
2. Delivering services on 01 April 2019
Create Shadow Authority and new Council
Budgets – revenue and capital, Council Tax Setting
Policy – review / adoption / creation
Contract novation
HR / Workforce / TUPE process (workforce in place with their contracts)
Service safety (services continue on day 1)
3. Designing & Building the new Local Authority
Future Vision / Operating Model
Culture / Values / Organisational Design
Communication & Community Engagement
Capital Development Plan / Operational Plan
Creation of the new Council, largely delivered by the Central Programme
SCO / Consequential Orders
Disaggregation
Electoral Review
Council Tax Harmonisation Strategy
TUPE preparation
Ongoing after the Central Programme Closes:
Area Based Decision Making
Council Tax Harmonisation
Legal Entity

8. Dorset Area Workstreams
Workstreams will include:
Workforce
Communications
Finance
Legal
Aggregation
Future State
ICT (Day 1)
ICT (Future)
Governance
Customer / Services
The workstreams will inter-relate across the phases
Workstream Coordinators will work with and be responsible to the Programme Managers to plan and organise the work required to deliver the changesrequired to deliver the new unitary authority.
The diagram illustrates that the workstreams will inter-relate across the phases:
The Programmes (phases) will have project managers and will draw in subject matter expertise from the existing councils / services as required
External expertise may be brought in to support where required

9. Dorset Area Task & Finish Groups
These are member groups supported by lead officers
Current task & finish groups
Future task & finish groups
will recommence summer 2018
Structural Change Order
Lead member:
Anthony Alford
Lead officer:
DMOG
Council Tax Harmonisation
Lead member:
Jeff Cant
Lead officer:
Steve Mackenzie
Electoral Boundary Commission Review
Lead member:
Spencer Flower
Lead officer:
Richard Jones
Area Based Decision Making
Community Partners Engagement
Lead member:
Barry Quinn
Lead officer:
Rebecca Kirk
Lead member:
Sherry Jesperson
Lead officer:
TBC
Disaggregation
Lead member:
Jeff Cant
Lead officer:
Debbie Ward
Budget (Revenue & Capital)
Lead member:
Jeff Cant
Lead officer:
Steve Mackenzie
Governance
Lead member:
TBC
Lead officer:
Communications
Lead member:
Graham Carr-Jones
Lead officer:
Fiona Napier
Future Service Integrations (Shared Services)
Lead member:
TBC
Lead officer:
Keith Cheesman
There are six active task & finish groups reviewing phase 1 activity.
Additionally, four task & finish groups have been placed on hold;
Wider Member Engagement
Future Service Integrations (Shared services)
Community Partners Engagement
Area Based Decision Making

10. BCP Area Workstreams
32 horizontal sub-groups across three portfolio’s of work;
Children’s
Adults
Place/ E&E
Seven vertical sub-groups within a fourth corporate portfolio
Finance
Legal
ICT HR
Comms
Assets
Info Gov
Customer access

11. Key Milestones both programmes
Expected Secretary of State Decision
On/Before 5 Mar ’18 
Latest date for ‘negative order’ to cancel the Weymouth election
6 Mar ’18
Parliamentary Approval of Structural Change Order
30 May – 7 June ‘18
Shadow Authority Active
1 - 8 Jun ‘18
Boundary Commission engaged
14 Jun ’18
Mandatory appointment of an officer implementation team and an officer lead
Jun ’18
Parliamentary Approval of Consequential Change Orders
27 Jul ’18
Draft Budget / Aggregation plan agreed
31 Aug ’18
Boundary Review Complete
23 Oct ’18
Boundary Order Approved
21 Dec ’18
New Council Budget finalised
Jan ’19
Budget Approved by Shadow Authority
20 Feb ’19
Council Tax bills issued
15 Mar ’19
Vesting Date
31 Mar ’19
These dates are estimates, and will be confirmed once the final decision is received

12. Our priorities, getting ready for the future
Being safe and legal
Making sure critical services are maintained
Pro-actively engaging with partners and communities
Taking a more radical approach to working with others
Strengthening links between local housing and health and well-being to deliver safe and prosperous communities

13. Organisational and Group Inclusion
Some of the organisations and groups that our work is connected to – there will be many more.