Statement of Requirements - Appendix B
Development of a business case and implementation plan to support the creation of a single
county unitary in Surrey
[Insert Reference Number]
CONTENTS
1.
PURPOSE ................................................................................................................. 2
2.
BACKGROUND TO THE AUTHORITY ..................................................................... 2
3.
OVERVIEW OF REQUIREMENT .............................................................................. 3
4.
THE REQUIREMENT ................................................................................................ 4
5.
KEY MILESTONES ................................................................................................... 7
6.
SUSTAINABILITY ..................................................................................................... 7
7.
ACCREDITATION ..................................................................................................... 7
8.
STAFF AND CUSTOMER SERVICE ......................................................................... 7
9.
SERVICE LEVELS AND PERFORMANCE ............................................................... 8
10.
PAYMENT ............................................................................................................... 10
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Statement of Requirements - Appendix B
Development of a business case and implementation plan to support the creation of a single
county unitary in Surrey
[Insert Reference Number]
1.
PURPOSE
1.1
The Government has recently announced its intention to publish a Recovery and
Devolution White Paper in the autumn, setting out its plans for the devolution of
powers, freedoms and flexibilities alongside intentions to increase the number of
unitary and combined authorities and elected Mayors. Given the new and growing
challenges faced by Surrey, even before Covid-19, this presents a significant
opportunity to better organise local government and local accountability and
engagement with residents in Surrey, in a more effective and financially sustainable
manner.
1.2
Doing so will support the achievement of the 2030 Community Vision for Surrey as a
uniquely special place, where enabling long term inclusive growth and tackling the
inequalities that continue to exist in the county ensures everyone has a great start to
life, people live healthy and fulfilling lives, are enabled to achieve their full potential and
no one is left behind.
1.3
The Leader of the County Council has written to the Secretary of State for Housing,
Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick MP, on Friday 10 July to ask him
to invite Surrey to submit a business case to set out proposals for a county unitary
authority for Surrey.
1.4
Surrey County Council (SCC) is awaiting an invitation from the Secretary of State to
submit a business case setting out proposals to create a county unitary authority in
Surrey.
1.5
SCC requires business consultancy support with developing a robust business case
setting out the case for change, analysis showing the benefits of a single unitary
authority, and detailed implementation plans for the new authority including transition
arrangements from the existing local government structures.
1.6
The business case must meet the requirements that Government will be looking for in
terms of criteria used to assess local government reorganisation proposals. These
criteria are currently that across the area as a whole, the proposal is likely to:
o improve the area’s local government
o command a good deal of local support across the area; and
o cover an area that provides a credible geography for the proposed new structures.
2.
BACKGROUND TO THE AUTHORITY
2.1
Surrey is located in the South East of England and is the twelfth most populated county
in England with a population of approximately 1.2 million.
2.2
A Community Vision for 2030 has been created in partnership with stakeholders, with
clear ambitions for the people and places of Surrey, and an aspiration that Surrey is a
uniquely special place where everyone has a great start to life, people live healthy and
fulfilling lives, are enabled to achieve their full potential and contribute to their
community, and no one is left behind. The council has clear strategies and plans in
place to help deliver the vision.
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Statement of Requirements - Appendix B
Development of a business case and implementation plan to support the creation of a single
county unitary in Surrey
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2.3
SCC provides a wide range of services, including education (schools, libraries and
youth services), social services, highway maintenance, waste disposal, emergency
planning, consumer protection and town and country planning for matters to do with
minerals, waste, highways and education.
2.4
The Council is composed of 81 councillors elected every four years. The Cabinet is the
county council’s main decision-making body, consisting of the Leader, Deputy Leader
and eight Cabinet Members.
2.5
SCC has been on a significant transformation journey over the past two years. Since
2018, when the Council’s finances were in a precarious position and key services were
under-performing, the Council has taken 10% out of its budget each year to deliver
£188 million of efficiencies, building financial resilience. Innovative solutions have
delivered rapid service improvements, such as a new Family Resilience Model and
partnership models based on prevention in Children’s Services, and introducing a new
strengths based approach in Adult Social Care focused on supporting independence.
2.6
Surrey is a significant contributor to the Exchequer, contributing £43.4bn to the UK
economy every year. The local economy benefits from natural advantages, including
its proximity to London and access to transport links. Our residents are highly skilled,
with over half of the population qualified to degree level. However we face growing
challenges, with the economy already starting to decline before Covid-19 and
significant and widening economic inequalities between East and West Surrey.
Serious and persistent road and rail congestion harms both the economy and the
environment. Public services in Surrey face growing demands due to an ageing
population, and vulnerable residents are being hit hardest by Covid-19.
3.
OVERVIEW OF REQUIREMENT
3.1
SCC requires a detailed business case setting out a new county unitary model of local
government for Surrey accompanied by a detailed and deliverable implementation
plan. In developing the business case consideration should be given to potential
devolution opportunities. A first draft of these documents is required by Monday 10
August and a final draft by Friday 21 August 2020.
3.2
The Supplier will be given access to initial research that has been undertaken by SCC
including a high level options appraisal and contextual information outlining the case
for change.
3.3
The Supplier will be required towork collaboratively with SCC and other Suppliers to
produce the business case and implementation plan..
3.4
Services currently provided by 12 local authorities in Surrey will be in scope for this
business case:
• Surrey County Council
• Elmbridge Borough Council
• Epsom and Ewell Borough Council
• Guildford Borough Council
• Mole Valley District Council
• Reigate and Banstead Borough Council
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Statement of Requirements - Appendix B
Development of a business case and implementation plan to support the creation of a single
county unitary in Surrey
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• Runnymede Borough Council
• Spelthorne Borough Council
• Surrey Heath Borough Council
• Tandridge District Council
• Waverley Borough Council
• Woking Borough Council
3.5
There are 84 Parish Councils in Surrey who although will not be in scope of any
proposed reorganisation, will play an important role in ensuring local communities are
at the heart of the new model of local government.
3.6
The business case is not expected to extend beyond this geographical area and, as
such, will not include any local authorities from outside of Surrey.
4.
THE REQUIREMENT
4.1
The business case and implementation plan should reflect, as a minimum, the
requirements set out in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act
2007 for a Type A proposal “that there should be a single tier of local government for
the area which is the county concerned”.
4.2
It is SCC’s intention for the transition to the new unitary authority to be under a
continuing authority arrangement so the business case and implementation plan
should be reflective of this (unless, during the contract period, advice is received from
government that an alternative approach is needed).
4.3
The Supplier must have a detailed understanding of local government structures and
processes as well as significant knowledge of the transformation needed to move from
a two tier arrangement to a single tier model. The Supplier must also have expert
knowledge of central government policy around local government reorganisation and
devolution, and experience of writing business cases to meet central government’s
requirements.
4.4
The Supplier must ensure that any components of the business case the Supplier is
responsible for delivering takes account of the need for any statutory requirements,
such as the requirement for public consultation on any proposed changes to local
government structures in Surrey.
4.5
The business case must clearly demonstrate how the proposal meets the criteria used
by the Secretary of State to assess local government reorganisation proposals. These
are currently that across the area as a whole, the proposal is likely to:
• improve the area’s local government
• command a good deal of local support across the area; and
• cover an area that provides a credible geography for the proposed new
structures.
4.6
If the Supplier or SCC become aware of any changes to these criteria during the
contract period then the Supplier should amend the components of the business case
the Supplier is responsible for to reflect the new criteria.
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Statement of Requirements - Appendix B
Development of a business case and implementation plan to support the creation of a single
county unitary in Surrey
[Insert Reference Number]
4.7
Throughout the work the Supplier will need to evidence potential equality impacts on
Surrey residents and staff at the county council and 11 district and borough councils,
and how to mitigate these to make sure no-one is left behind. This includes paying due
regard to the Public Sector Equality Duty when developing the business case. SCC
will provide the necessary guidance and templates for this process.
4.8
The Supplier should ensure their work considers wider impacts from a community and
organisational perspective, including an assessment of the associated risks and how
to best manage these.
4.9
SCC will make available all the required data it has, however for the district and
boroughs it may only be publicly available data that is available for the Supplier to work
with. The Supplier may be asked to engage with all 11 district and borough councils to
understand their data and services, but SCC cannot provide any guarantees regarding
the degree of access that will be afforded.
4.10
The Supplier must use the data from all existing Surrey councils including:
• Financial information (both income and expenditure)
• Service performance (e.g. social care, housing, leisure and planning)
• Projected demands
• Population and demographic changes
• Housing, infrastructure and growth requirements
This is not an exhaustive list.
4.11
Of critical importance regarding source data is all 12 authorities' visions and strategic
plans to ensure that the business case not only meets current needs but also future
needs in considering the approach to a single authority. Regard should also be given
to existing or emerging partnership plans such as the Health and Wellbeing Strategy
and the 2050 Place Ambition, and partnership activity, such as that of the Integrated
Care System.
4.12
The Supplier must be able to forecast service demand and how this can continue to
be met during a transition stage and subsequently through the new approach to a new
unitary council for Surrey. As such, the Supplier will need to pay due regard to policy
changes on the horizon to ensure that the solution not only meets current requirements
but is also future proof, as far is practical to do so.
4.13
The business case must set out in detail how the new authority will be able to deliver
more effective, efficient and financially sustainable services than if the current two tier
arrangement was to continue.
4.14
The Supplier must work collaboratively with the SCC team to ensure the content of the
business case for a unitary authority in Surrey includes the following (SCC will provide
existing research and work to date to inform the content):
• The challenges and opportunities faced by Surrey as a community and place
• The case for change and the opportunities and challenges for local
government in Surrey
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Statement of Requirements - Appendix B
Development of a business case and implementation plan to support the creation of a single
county unitary in Surrey
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• An appraisal of the options for local government reform and recommended
approach to deliver the priority outcomes for Surrey in the most efficient and
effective way (initial content for the options appraisal will be provided by SCC
and the Supplier is asked to review and add to this where required)
• The structure of the proposed new authority and outline operating model
• The strategic impact and efficiencies that will be delivered through the new
model
• How the new model will better meet the needs of residents and stakeholders,
including how it will better support inclusive growth in Surrey and the wider
community and economic recovery
• The proposed model of enhanced local accountability to place local
communities, including Parish and Town Councils, at the heart of local
government
• Local support for the proposal (the Supplier is not required to undertake
engagement work to build support but will need to ensure the business case
incorporates evidence of support)
• Potential opportunities for devolution and how these will further the ambitions
of the new authority for residents and businesses.
4.15
The Supplier should develop a detailed implementation plan to accompany the
business case, setting out the process for transitioning from 12 authorities to one using
the implementation timeframe as directed by SCC. The implementation plan should
include the following core elements:
• Vision for the new authority
• Communications and engagement plan to support the implementation
process
• Step by step transition plan
• Communication and engagement plan
• Transition/implementation costs and payback period
• Financial sustainability and viability of the new authority
• Risk management to minimise any negative impact on business as usual
service delivery while transitioning to the new arrangements.
4.16
The business case and implementation plan must be supplied in an editable version
to enable SCC to use the content in a professionally designed publication.
4.17
The Supplier must not share the business case and implementation plan without SCC’s
prior approval.
4.18
The business case will be developed through a blended team approach with SCC and
the Supplier working together to ensure subject matter expertise from both SCC and
the Supplier feeds into the products. As such the Supplier will need to engage in
governance structures as directed by SCC including, but not limited to:
• Short daily catch ups
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Statement of Requirements - Appendix B
Development of a business case and implementation plan to support the creation of a single
county unitary in Surrey
[Insert Reference Number]
•
An appraisal of the options for local
government reform and
recommended approach to deliver
the priority outcomes for Surrey in
the most efficient and effective way
(initial content for the options
appraisal will be provided by SCC
and the Supplier is asked to review
and add to this where required)
•
The structure of the proposed new
authority and outline operating
model
•
The strategic impact and
efficiencies that will be delivered
through the new model
•
The proposed model of enhanced
local accountability to place local
communities, including Parish and
Town Councils, at the heart of local
government
•
Local support for the proposal (the
Supplier is not required to
undertake engagement work to
build support but will need to
ensure the business case
incorporates evidence of support)
•
Potential opportunities for
devolution and how these will
further the ambitions of the new
authority for residents and
businesses.
3
Implementation
Production of a detailed, realistic
Complete by
plan
implementation plan that covers all the key deadline
stages from business case to single
unitary authority.
4
Ability to meet That the business case and associated
Complete by
the Secretary of implementation plan demonstrate how the
deadline
State’s
proposal meets the criteria used by the
requirements for Secretary of State to assess local
local
government reorganisation proposals.
government
reorganisation
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Statement of Requirements - Appendix B
Development of a business case and implementation plan to support the creation of a single
county unitary in Surrey
[Insert Reference Number]
5
Adherence
to Identification of all relevant statutory
Complete by
statutory
requirements considered as part of the
deadline
requirements
development of the business case and
implementation plan, and how best these
can be met
10.
PAYMENT
10.1
Payment can only be made following satisfactory delivery of pre-
agreed certified deliverables – final drafts of the business case and
implementation plan - as set out above.
10.2
Before payment can be considered, each invoice must include a
detailed elemental breakdown of work completed and the associated
costs.
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