Decision details

To consider the report of the Solicitor to the Council seeking approval to enter into a Service Level Agreement with Fareham Borough Council for the provision of a joint legal services function with effect from 1^st April 2011 at the latest. 

(i)  That the Solicitor to the Council be delegated authority to:

(a)  enter into a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with Fareham Borough Council for the provision of a joint legal services function with effect from 1^st April 2011 at the latest upon such terms and conditions as the Solicitor to the Council considers appropriate and reasonable;

(b)  employ such staff as are reasonably required to undertake the services under the SLA.

(ii)  That following the signing of the Service Level Agreement and on commencement of the arrangements that the staff detailed in exempt Appendix 1 be transferred under TUPE Regulations to the City Council.

In the summer of 2010, Fareham Borough Council approached the City Council to enquire whether it would be feasible for it to provide either or both the strategic and “day to day” legal services function in order for Fareham to have greater resilience in providing a comprehensive legal function and to achieve budget savings.

The alternative to the proposal is not to enter into a service level agreement with Fareham Borough Council but this has been rejected on the basis that the arrangement offers good value for money, economies of scale, resilience and potential savings for both authorities.