Unitary Adviser Brief Frame Town Council Brief to advise Frame Town Council in the run up to and establishment of unitary authority(ies) in Somerset

1. Scope

Frame Town Council is recognised locally, nationally and internationally as a forward thinking and innovative Council. We are renowned for exploring how to expand the remit of town councils. Somerset is about to embark on local government reorganisation. The county council and the district councils will be replaced with one or two unitary councils in April 2023. FTC sees this as an opportunity to change the way local government in Somerset works towards a more community led approach where decisions are made at the appropriate level and with the appropriate engagement.

Influencing how the new unitary is established and developed is a key project for the Council.

We want to appoint an experienced advisor or small consultancy to work with FTC Cllrs and staff and other relevant organisations in and beyond Fro me. This work is likely to last at least until September or October 2021 and we anticipate 2 to 3 working days per week.

We will be interested in someone who understands local government, has worked at a senior level in relevant organisations, who understands large scale change programmes and ideally also has recent experience of local government reorganisation. The ability to build excellent working relationships at all levels of local government and business will be essential.

With other Somerset based parish sector organisations, FTC commissioned a report (here) last year which explores the possibilities of reorganisation. Its seven recommendations have been accepted by both proposals presented to the Government: One Somerset (here) promoted by the County Council, and Stronger Somerset (here) promoted by the four district Councils. A further report commissioned by the national Society of Local Council Clerks, that FTC is part­ managing, is currently being prepared to present more details on how these recommendations might be put into practice. This work will be completed by the end of March.

2. Issues to be addressed

The person appointed will be expected to advise Cllrs and senior staff on how to address the following issues (which are not exhaustive or exclusive) as well as ensuring the seven recommendations in the earlier report begin to take shape. a. Assets, liabilities and services

• To advise the Council on the policy options facing it in the future, especially around the pros and cons of enabling or owning. • To identify and analyse the local assets and services that might be offered to the Town Council and to report in detail on the benefits and downsides of each of these services or assets and their impact on the council and the community.

1 FrOMe Madedifferently TOWN COUNCIL Unitary Adviser Brief Frame Town Council b. Local Community Networks/ One Frame

Local community networks (LCNs) have the potential to become integrated into the way the unitary will work at the local level. Both the Stronger Somerset (insert link) and the One Somerset (insert link) cases for support have committed to establishing LCNs. LCNs may be based on CCG/PCN areas or other areas such as market towns and surrounding areas. The Frame LCN might be called One Frame.

• To advise on how a Frame LCN might be established. This part of the project will necessitate close dialogue and consultation with other local organisations in the public, voluntary and private sectors, • What would the terms of reference of the LCN be? • What powers would be devolved to it? • What would the membership of the Frame LCN be? • What would the priorities of the Frame LCN be? c. Influencing the shadow unitary authority (SUA)

The period up to the development and establishment of a shadow unitary authority will be an opportunity for FTC and other parish councils to liaise with and influence how structures are built in advance of vesting in April 2023.

• To advise the Council on how it works with the SUA d. Working with other towns and parishes

To increase the possibility of influencing the SUA, the advisor should explore the potential of helping to create an alliance of market towns in Somerset. An East Somerset Market Towns Unitary Liaison Group, for example, would be a coherent group to work with the SUA. Questions to answer include:

• Would a market towns alliance be a suitable platform from which to launch a unitary wide LCN approach? • Which towns would be part of the alliance? • What would its aim and objectives be? • Given that we see them as partners in future work with the SUA and the unitary council, how do we build a good working relationship with our neighbouring parish sector councils? e. Frame as a pilot

• To advise FTC on the merits of becoming a pilot for how the unitary council could work effectively and efficiently at the local level

3. Pulling it all Together

Time is of the essence so the person appointed will be expected to work with a specially

2 FrOMe Madedifferently TOWN COUNCIL Unitary Adviser Brief Frame Town Council formed small group of Councillors and staff to make rapid decisions. At the end of the first phase of this project, likely to be in the Autumn 2021, a report will be required to summarise recommendations and next steps.

Terms and remuneration will be subject to negotiations once expressions of interest and selection have been undertaken. The Council recognises the importance of this project and the skills required and remuneration will be set accordingly.

3 FrOMe Madedifferently TOWN COUNCIL