Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED – That Councillor Mark Hunter be elected Chair for the duration of the meeting.

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 30 March 2017.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 30 March 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.

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whether it is in the public to exclude the public during consideration of agenda items which contains information “not for publication by virtue of Category 3 ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority)’ as set out in the Local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RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of information which was not for publication relating to the financial or business affairs of the any particular person (including the authority), the disclosure of which would not be in the public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would be in breach of Data Protection principles, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the ‘not for publication’ appendix to agenda items.

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

The report provides an update in relation to:-

·         Statutory Accounts for the Year to 31 March 2017

·         Management Accounts to 30 June 2017

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 an update on the statutory accounts for the year to 31 March 2018 and the management accounts to 30 June 2017.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The impact of FRS 102 on SSK Ltd continues to be relatively small. There have been some changes to disclosures in the statutory notes and in calculation methodology to certain assets and liabilities.

·         It is important to remember that FRS102 / FRS17 makes the assumption that all assets and liabilities are crystallised at a set point in time

·        Councillors noted that the annual movement on net liabilities for the defined pension scheme in the Statement of Financial Position is now required to be reported in the Consolidated Income Statement.

·        Councillors discussed performance by business area and welcomed the progress made particularly in respect to the School Meals service.

·        Councillor requested further information in respect to the valuation of assets.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Chair of the Solutions SK Board.

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

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

The Chair of the Solutions SK Board submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the work undertaken by the Board including recent appointments, duties and responsibilities and current major projects.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Councillors discussed the implications of the tensions created by the Councils roles of Shareholder, Banker, Client and Supplier in understanding the company especially for newly appointed non-executive directors

·         The Chair was satisfied that the Board had inherited a switched-on, hardworking team who are focussed on delivery for the residents of Stockport.

·         The future restructuring of the company, major projects and opportunities and barriers to growth.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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@stockport.gov.uk

The Managing Director, Solutions SK Ltd submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing and update on various parts of the business including vehicles, schools, venue catering and business development.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

The profit and savings made by the company was the best result that could have been achieved. Councillors asked that there thanks be extended to employees of the company for their excellent work in the previous year.

The company were in preparation for an OJEU tender for Fleet Maintenance.

This will include getting Market Intelligence for vehicles that will allow us to assess the best options moving forward.

An announcement would be made shortly in respect to venue catering.

Contracts had been secured with schools in Cheshire East and Manchester for the provision of the School Meals service.

In respect to business development - resource had been increased to one full-time BD Executive and 2 part-time BD Executives. The company were currently recruiting one more full-time BD Executive and one part-time telesales member of staff.

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@stockport.gov.uk

The Managing Director Solutions SK Ltd made a presentation on the work currently undertaken by the company, progress made in respect years and on future projects for growth. The report outlined:-

·         Key achievements to March 2017 which included £4.2m of debt being repaid and a saving to the budget of £4.4m.

·         Issues relating to risk and the delivery of outcomes.

·         Work being undertaken in respect to restructuring and rebranding.

·         Evidence of how the company was more productive whilst at the same time delivering cost reductions.

·         Work undertaken with employees so that they take pride in what they do and working for the company – by way of example the Passport to Leadership Programme.

·         Strategic objectives and growth of the business.

·         The need for the Council to offer consistent levels of capital works growth.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration be requested to submit a report to the next meeting of the Committee on the levels of capital works growth allocated by the Council to the company.

Councillors are requested to agree dates for meetings in 2018. Officers from Solutions SK Ltd have suggested the following as a best fit for providing the most up to date reports possible:-

·         Thursday 25 January 2018 at 10.00am

·         Thursday 29 March 2018 at 10.00am

·         Thursday 26 July 2018 at 10.00am

·         Thursday 29 November 2018 at 10.00am

RESOLVED - That meetings of the Contributors Committee for 2018 be held as follows:-

·         Thursday 25 January 2018 at 10.00am

·         Thursday 29 March 2018 at 10.00am

·         Thursday 26 July 2018 at 10.00am

·         Thursday 29 November 2018 at 10.00am