Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 29 September 2016.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 29 September 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whether it is in the public to exclude the public during consideration of agenda items which contain information “not for publication by virtue of Category 3 ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority)’ as set out in the Local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RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of information which was not for publication relating to the financial or business affairs of the any particular person (including the authority), the disclosure of which would not be in the public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would be in breach of Data Protection principles, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the ‘not for publication’ agenda items 6,7,8 and 9.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.                 (To Follow)

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the issue of the budget pressures on the catering model provided by SSK. This included outlining the current format and financing of the Civic and Venue Management catering services provided to the Council.  The report highlighted a number of issues and sought members’ comments.

Councillors discussed the options presented in the report and recognised that action was required to address the budgetary issues associated with the provision of Catering, including the canteen.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the Deputy Chief Executive be requested to explore further with the Managing Director of Solutions SK option 5 as detailed in the report including any necessary actions regarding consultation with employees and service users.

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

The report provides an Executive summary and a commentary on performance by business area, a statement of financial position and information on debtors and cash.

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 information in respect to performance by business area, a statement on the financial position of the company and information on debtors and cash.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Security provision at the new Stockport Homes Head Office development.

·         Opportunities for the company to explore in relation to the Redrock development.

·         The process for the replacement of street lighting and street furniture including programmed work.

·         The modernisation and rationalisation of the systems in place from the point at which issues are reported to jobs being logged and dealt with.

·         The business continued to trade positively in challenging trading conditions. Many areas of the business were trading in line with forecast – levels of cash also remained adequate to meet current liabilities.

·         Refuse & recycling and Streetcare were both operating at profit against forecast.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

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

Officer Contact: Stephen Morris by email: stephen.morris@solutionssk.co.uk

The Finance Director, Solutions SK Ltd submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) summarising the Forecast 2016-2017 and explain the process by which the re-forecast had been undertaken.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report provides information in respect to:-

·         Progress and update on SSK/SMBC Service Level Agreements & Service Operation Specifications.

·         SSK & The Living Wage

·         FBE Settlement

·         Benefits of a Teckal Company

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

Officer Contact: Stephen Morris by email: stephen.morris@solutionssk.co.uk

The Managing Director, Solutions SK Ltd submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Committee with information in respect to a number of issues including:-

·         Progress made between the Public Realm Service and SSK in reviewing the Service Level Agreements.

·         An update in respect to the implementation of The Living Wage.

·         The settlement of the FBE contract.

Councillors thanked the Managing Director for his efforts in resolving and bringing to a conclusion issues relating to the FBE contract.

The Managing Director also made a presentation in respect to the ‘Benefits of a Teckal Company’ and answered Councillors questions in respect to the presentation.

RESOLVED – That the reports be noted and the Managing Director be thanked for his attendance and presentation