Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 24 March 2016.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 24 March 2016) were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made.

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)

Members of the public were invited to put questions to the Chair on any matters within the powers and duties of the Area Committee, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice.

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whether it is in the public to exclude the public during consideration of agenda items which contains information “not for publication by virtue of Category 3 ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority)’ as set out in the Local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RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of information which was not for publication relating to the financial or business affairs of the any particular person (including the authority), the disclosure of which would not be in the public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would be in breach of Data Protection principles, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the ‘not for publication’ agenda items 6 and 7 (see minutes 6 and 7 below)

To consider reports of the Finance Director, Solutions SK Ltd:-

·         Year End Accounts 2015/2016

·         Budget 2016/2017 key highlights

·         Latest month end position

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

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 in respect to the Year End Accounts 2015/2016, key highlights for the budget 2016/2017 and the latest month end position.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The external auditors, Hurst & Co had signed a clean, unqualified audit report.

·         The impact of FRS 102 on SK Ltd had been relatively small – there had been some changes to disclosures in the statutory notes and in calculation methodology but these were not material to the overall financial picture of the company.

·         In financial terms the year to 31 March 2016 had been a good year for the company – profit was achieved and the business had delivered both its Budget target and its Forecast target.

·         In respect to the 2016/2017 budget – frontline services had been reduced in line with the high level plan for 2016/2017, overheads had been reduced and savings from better procurement have been assumed.

·         The business has traded positively for the first 3 months to 30 June 2016.

·         Greater effort was being made on developing business in WSSK – management were of the opinion that continued focus on revenue generating activity will enable this part of the business to develop further.

·         Councillors welcomed the report and the substantial progress that the company has made in recent years – they asked that their thanks be passed on to all Solutions SK employees.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and accounts be approved.

To consider reports of the Managing Director, Solutions SK Ltd.

·         FBE Dispute Update

·         Strategy – Review and update for new members

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) providing an update in respect to the FBE dispute and a presentation in respect to Company strategy.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Organisational progress had been made with a remodelled senior management team and effective governance in place.

·         An employee engagement plan was in place and widescale behavioural performance standards were being applied with a culture of customer focus being instilled in the organisation.

·         Substantial amounts of savings had been paid back annually to the Council over the period 2012-2016.

·         In May 2016 an engagement project with schools had been launched in conjunction with Stockport County FC to encourage young people to think about healthy eating and lifestyles.

·         Positive engagement in local communities and with charities including St Ann’s Hospice.

·         A Facebook Group for employees had been launched in April 2016 and in June 2016 an SMS communication channel was created with messages being sent out each week.

·         Recruitment had commenced to enhance the work of the Business Development & Sales Team.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the thanks of the Committee be extended to the two non- executive director of Solutions SK for the contributions they had made over the previous 3 years who were now retiring from their positions.