Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 30 July 2014.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 30 July 2014 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

No declarations of interest were made.

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it is in the public to exclude the public during consideration of agenda items 6, 7 and 8 which contain information “not for publication by virtue of Category 3 ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority)’ as set out in the Local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RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of information which was not for publication relating to the financial or business affairs of the any particular person (including the authority), the disclosure of which would not be in the public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 agenda items 6, 7 and 8 (see Minutes 6, 7 and 9 below).

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 a report of the Managing Director, Solutions SK Ltd.

The report provides an overview against targets which support the company strategy.

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

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

The Managing Director, Solutions SK Ltd, submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of progress against targets that supported the Company’s Corporate Strategy.

The following issues were raised:-

·         Improved financial situation and profits was welcomed.

·         Improved system for monitoring and pursuing outstanding debtors.

·         The imminent start of the new Finance Director.

·         The impact of the living wage on the competitiveness of services to schools.

·         Ongoing efforts to improve performance of the sign-shop.

·         Proposals to restructure the Senior Management team.

·         Ongoing discussion on the future of the Bio Plant.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report provides an update on issues relating to company business.

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

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

The Managing Director, Solutions SK Ltd, submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update in respect of:-

·         School Meals

·         Staff Recruitment

·         Improvements to HR

·         Updating of the Strategic Risk Register

·         Audit findings

·         Highways Reactive Repairs

The following issues were raised:-

·         The impact of universal Free School Meals for infant pupils and efforts to ensure kitchens were able to respond to the increasing demand.

·         Improvements in reactive highway repairs through changing working practices and the improved quality of the work. Further work was needed to streamline the end-to-end process.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

At 10.55 the meeting adjourned.

At 11.02 the meeting reconvened.

The Managing Director, Solutions SK Ltd to report at the meeting.

Representatives of Price Waterhouse Coopers attended the meeting to outline their brief in relation to the review the options for the future of Solutions SK.

Councillors expressed the view that they would wish to have more regular updates on progress with the review and suggested further meetings of the Committee.

RESOLVED – (1) That the update be noted.

(2) That the Democratic Services Manager be requested to arrange further meetings of the Committee to discuss the ongoing Solutions SK Options Appraisal.

The Committee are requested to consider the following dates for future meetings of the Committee:-

28 January 2015 at 10.00am

22 April 2015 at 10.00am

29 July 2015 at 10.00am

28 October 2015 at 10.00am

RESOLVED – That, subject to any additional meeting dates needed to consider the Solutions SK Options Appraisal, the following dates of future meetings be agreed (to commence at 10am):-

·         28 January 2015

·         22 April 2015

·         29 July 2015

·         28 October 2015