Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 6 February 2018.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 6 February 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair subject to Councillor Hunter’s concerns being recorded in respect to minute 3’ Urgent Decisions’ which he felt did not fully reflect what he had said at the meeting. He stated that he was of the opinion that the Chair had taken a decision on behalf of the Committee to approve a name change for the company and that this should have been reported as an urgent decision.

The Chair reiterated that he had taken no such decision but that he was happy for Councillor Hunter’s comments to be recorded in the minutes. The Committee further agreed that the Head of Legal and Democratic Governance be requested to submit a report to the next meeting of the Committee outlining the process undertaken for the change of the company name.

RESOLVED – That the Head of Legal and Democratic Governance be requested to submit a report to the next meeting of the Committee outlining the process undertaken for the change of the company name.

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.

No urgent decisions were reported.

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 no later than prior to the commencement of the meetingon 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it is in the public to exclude the public during consideration of agenda items 7,8 and 9 which contain information “not for publication by virtue of Category 3 ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority)’ as set out in the Local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RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of information which was not for publication relating to the financial or business affairs of the any particular person (including the authority), the disclosure of which would not be in the public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 agenda items 6,7 and 8.

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@solutionssk.co.uk

The Finance Director, Solutions SK Ltd submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining performance by business area as at February 2018. The report covered Environmental Services, Civil & Electrical Engineering, School Meals and Building Cleansing and a number of other services.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Councillors welcomed and noted the progress made in respect to refuse and recycling and welcomed that the company and the Council were working together to address monitoring the provision and replacement of bins.

·         The Committee requested further information in respect to the assisted bin collection and in particular how the opportunity to receive this services is communicated to residents.

·         The impact of adverse weather conditions on the arboricultural team and the impact that this could have on the budget for the next financial year.

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@solutionssk.co.uk

The Finance Director, Solutions SK Ltd submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) explaining that the Solutions SK Board had signed off the 2018/2019 budget at their meeting on 15 March 2018 and that it was now presented to the Committee for review and approval.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Councillors welcomed that when considering budget savings, emphasis had been placed on ensuring sustainable deliverability.

·         Councillors discussed the potential for a move to the use of electric vehicles in future years but that there were no plans in the immediate future to replace any fleet vehicles.

·         The Committee noted the importance of street lighting capital schemes as the replacement LED programme would be delivered by the company in 2018/2019.

·         Councillors asked for further information as to how reports or concerns raised by them with officers were responded to. They acknowledged the benefits and progress made through the use of digital technology when logging, planning and carrying out repairs.

·         Councillors noted that an update would be provided to a future meeting in respect to VAT charges for the School Meals service.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the 2018/2019 budget be approved in so far as the Committee is concerned.

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@solutionssk.co.uk

The Managing Director, Solutions SK Ltd made a presentation in respect to the future strategic direction of the company as well as challenges for the future in the short, medium and long term.

Councillors discussed the relationship between the company and the Council and the progress made in recent years in respect to communication. The Committee thanked all officers for their efforts and looked forward to further positive reports at future meeting.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Councillors are requested to approve the following dates:-

·         Thursday 24, January 2019 at 10.00am

·         Thursday 28, March 2019 at 10.00am

·         Thursday 25, July 2019 at 10.00am

·         Thursday 28, November 2019 at 10.00am

RESOLVED – That the Democratic Services Manager be requested to make arrangements for meetings of the Committee to be held on the following dates:-

·         Thursday 24, January 2019 at 10.00am

·         Thursday 28, March 2019 at 10.00am

·         Thursday 25, July 2019 at 10.00am

·         Thursday 28, November 2019 at 10.00am