Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 26 March 2015.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 26 March 2015 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors, Directors of Solutions SK Ltd and Officers were invited to declare any interests which they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

The following interest was declared:-

Personal and Prejudicial Interest

Members of the public are invited to put questions to the Chair on any matters within the powers and duties of the Committee, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice.  (Questions must be submitted prior to the commencement of the meeting on the card provided.  These are available at the meeting. You can also submit via the Council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/publicquestions)

No public questions were submitted.

To consider whether it is in the public to exclude the public during consideration of agenda items which contains information “not for publication by virtue of Category 3 ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority)’ as set out in the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of information which was not for publication the disclosure of which would not be in the public interest, would not be fair and would be in breach of Data Protection principles, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items:-

The consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive, Stockport Council.

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the results of an initial fact finding review carried out by the Council’s Internal Audit and Risk Manager under the Whistleblowing Policy following the receipt of an anonymous letter to the Deputy Chief Executive on 23 April 2015.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That clarification be provided to Members of the Committee on the process to be followed should they receive similar anonymous letters in the future regarding Solutions SK Ltd.

To consider a report of the Finance Director, Solutions SK Ltd.

The Committee are invited to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Stephen Morris by email: stephen.morris@stockport.gov.uk

The Finance Director, Solutions SK Ltd, submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) enclosing the statutory accounts for Solutions SK Ltd which set out the final results for the year to 31 March 2015, including the Directors’ report and Strategic report.

RESOLVED – That the statutory accounts for Solutions SK Ltd be adopted for the year to 31 March 2015.

To consider a report of the Finance Director, Solutions SK Ltd.

The Committee are invited to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Stephen Morris by email: stephen.morris@stockport.gov.uk

The Finance Director, Solutions SK Ltd, submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the latest trading report of Solutions SK Ltd for the three month period to 30 June 2015 including an overview of performance against the budget.

Negotiations were ongoing with Council Officers to try and increase the amount of highways work undertaken by Solutions SK Ltd.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Finance Director, Solutions SK Ltd.

The Committee are invited to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Stephen Morris by email: stephen.morris@stockport.gov.uk

The Finance Director, Solutions SK Ltd, submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on progress regarding Individual Solutions SK Ltd.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Managing Director, Solutions SK Ltd.

The Committee are invited to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Stephen Morris by email: stephen.morris@stockport.gov.uk

The Managing Director, Solutions SK Ltd, submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the agreed actions following a meeting held with Directors of FBE Ltd on 1 July 2015.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Managing Director, Solutions SK Ltd.

The Committee are invited to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Stephen Morris by email: stephen.morris@stockport.gov.uk

The Managing Director, Solutions SK Ltd, submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out Solution SK’s People Strategy. Modernised policies had already been agreed with the trade unions with regard to the following:-

·         Heath and safety policy statement

·         Disciplinary

·         Grievance

·         Leave

·         Maternity and paternity leave

·         Shared parental leave

·         Adoption

·         Acceptable use of IT

·         Social media

The sickness policy and its application would be discussed and agreed collectively with the trade unions and Solutions SK’s business managers. The next group of reviews would be the attendance management policy, drugs and alcohol policy, and safeguarding policy.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Whether drug and alcohol tests would be able to be carried out on agency workers.

·         Solutions SK had been liaising with Council Officers regarding a ‘generic apprenticeship’ model and aimed to start a feasibility study with the local colleges and apprenticeships centres in September. The current group of apprentices who remained with the company and had passed their examinations had obtained employment with Solutions SK.

·          There would be merit in some of the safeguarding courses being run in conjunction with schools.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

·          

To consider a report of the Managing Director, Solutions SK Ltd.

The Committee are invited to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Stephen Morris by email: stephen.morris@stockport.gov.uk

The Managing Director, Solutions SK Ltd, submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the developing framework for the 2016/17 budget. The primary aim of Solutions SK’s plan was to maintain, wherever possible, front line services and the plan was being presented with the themes of growth, reductions, efficiencies and pricing. The pricing option was the removal of the profit element of cost plus pricing to be replaced by commercial pricing.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Managing Director, Solutions SK Ltd.

The Committee are invited to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Stephen Morris by email: stephen.morris@stockport.gov.uk

The Managing Director, Solutions SK Ltd, made a presentation on a Strategic Update for Solutions SK Ltd between 2015-18, including its Values, Mission Statement, current achievements, performance, efficiency, customer focus, human resources, future strategic objectives, and what Solutions SK required from the Council. Solutions SK was requesting significant extensions to a number of contracts from the Council in order to give the Board and its employees certainty, create a solid platform to increase its commercial workload and complete the recovery process.

RESOLVED – That the presentation be noted.

To note dates for future meetings as follows:-

·         29 October 2015 at 10am

·         27 January 2016 at 10am

·         24 March 2016 at 3pm

·         25 July 2016 at 10am

·         29 September 2016 at 10am

·         26 January 2017 at 10am

RESOLVED – That future meetings of the Committee be held as follows:-

·         29 October 2015 at 10.00am

·         27 January 2016 at 10.00am

·         24 March 2016 at 3.00pm

·         25 July 2016 at 10.00am

·         29 September 2016 at 10.00am

·         26 January 2017 at 10.00am

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager reported that this item had been placed on the agenda at the request of Mr David Teale, Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Solutions SK Ltd.

It was reported that it was proposed to extend the contracts for the Non-Executive Directors for a further twelve months.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the contracts for the Non-Executive Directors of Solutions SK Ltd being extended for a further twelve months from September 2015.