Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 20 July 2017.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 20 July 2017 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.

The Managing Director, Solutions SK outlined the discussions he had had with the Leader of the Council, the Chief Executive and the Chair of the Committee following the postponement of the October 2017 meeting of the Committee concerning a desire of the Solutions SK Board to change the name of the company.

The Chair explained that he had written a letter of support to the Managing Director, Solutions SK but that in his opinion the proposed change of name was a decision for the Cabinet to make.

Councillors Hunter and Lloyd expressed disappointment that this matter had not been brought to the Contributors Committee for discussion and asked that the decision of the Chair to write a letter to the Managing Director, Solutions SK Ltd supporting the proposed name change be formally recorded in the minutes.

MOVED AND SECONDED - That the actions of the Chair of the Committee in writing a letter to the Managing Director, Solutions SK outlining his support for the proposed name change of the company be noted in the minutes.

For the Motion 3, Against 2, 2 Abstentions

It was then

RESOLVED (3 for, 2 against, 2 abstentions) – That the actions of the Chair of the Committee in writing a letter to the Managing Director, Solutions SK outlining his support for the proposed name change of the company be noted in the minutes.

A named vote was requested in relation to the voting on this resolution and the voting was recorded as follows:-

The councillors who voted for the resolution were:-

Councillors Geoff Abell, Mark Hunter and Syd Lloyd

The councillors who voted against the resolution were:-

Councillors Philip Harding and John Taylor

The councillors who abstained were:-

Councillors Anna Charles-Jones and John McGahan

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 6,7 and 8 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 andd 8 (see Minutes 6,7 and 8 below)

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 the forecast for 2017/2018.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Councillors noted that the SSK Board had reviewed the forecast on 11 January 2018 and had formally adopted the version that was presented for consideration.

·         The volume of new capital work from the Council had been lower than had been anticipated when setting the budget and new business from the Council non-HIP team had been lower than aniticpated in the first half of the year.

·         The Tree Team had grown in size and it was anticipated that they would deliver similar profitability to 2015/2016.

·         The Committee discussed the need for future investment in the Control Room and Fleet Management.

·         The impact of the liquidation proceedings for Carillion had had a minimal impact on the company.

·         The Eco Centre, Planned Street Lighting and Building Cleaning were highlighted as areas of business which were performing better that had been anticipated.

·         The contract for the provision of the Grounds Maintenance Service to the Council and the interaction between Solutions SK and Stockport Homes on potential future works.

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, Solution SK Ltd submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) presenting for comment the management accounts to the end of December 2017.

The following comments were made/issues raised: -

·         Councillors noted that three cost centres had produced significant positive.

·         Winter maintenance was performing well in spite of the number of grits that have been delivered during the course of the early winter months.

·         The Committee discussed the Debtors situation and the agreement between the Council and SSK. They were assured that the payment process was running more efficiently than in previous years and that consideration was being given to how this could be further enhanced.

·         Councillors welcomed the news that the company had won back the contract for providing School Meals to a school in Stockport.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a presentation by the Managing Director, Solutions SK Ltd.

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

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

The Managing Director, Solutions SK Ltd made a presentation providing a strategic update in respect to the continued operation of the company and on aspirations and plans for the future.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         It was anticipated that the historic issues relating to the balance sheet would be resolved in 2018.

·         Councillors discussed issues relating to the status of the company being defined as Teckal.

·         Customer satisfaction ratings had continued to increase in spite of the efforts made to reduce costs and drive through efficiencies.

·         The company was proud that they had maintained a ‘low margin’ price for schools meals at a cost of £2.10 per meal. This had in turn helped to keep Stockport commercial competition at low prices. Councillors welcomed the fact that the company had won contracts with a school in Cheshire East and one in Manchester.

·         There had been a 5.22% increase in the number of refuse collections since 2013 whilst the cost of the services had reduced from £8.36m to £7.07m.

·         The company continued to work in line with the GREP strategy which had been approved by Cabinet in December 2015.

·         The need to invest in Fleet Management and the CCTV Systems.

·         Immediate challenges included resources pressures for refuse collection and cost pressures associated with pot-hole repairs.

·         Proposed changes to the Brand and Company Structure.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the Managing Director be thanked for his presentation.