Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 January 2021

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 28 January 2021 were approved as a correct record.

Councillors and Officers to declare any interests which they may have in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made.

To report any urgent action taken under the Constitution since the last meeting of the Committee.

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 meeting on the card provided. You can also submit via the Council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/publicquestions)

No public questions were submitted.

To consider whether it is in the public interest to exclude the public during consideration of agenda items 6-12 which contain information ‘not for publication’ by virtue of Category 3 ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority)’ as set out in the Local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RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of information which was not for publication relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority), the disclosure of which would not be in the public interest,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 6-12.

The Chief Executive Officer, Totally Local Company to report at the meeting.

Officer Contact: David Hughes at email: david.hughes@totallylocalcompany.co.uk

The Chief Executive Officer, Totally Local Company provided a verbal presentation which updated Members on Covid-19.

RESOLVED – That the verbal presentation be noted.

The Chief Executive Officer, Totally Local Company to report at the meeting.

Officer Contact: David Hughes at email: david.hughes@totallylocalcompany.co.uk

The Chief Executive Officer, Totally Local Company provided a verbal presentation on The Way Forward.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         In response to a Member question, Members were advised that IT teams had been repurposed.  A process had been introduced to enable teams to suggest improvements in technology which could help them in their roles.

·         A short discussion took place regarding the need for a flexible workforce and how this might look in the future.

RESOLVED – That the verbal report be noted.

The Chief Executive Officer, Totally Local Company to report at the meeting.

Officer Contact: David Hughes at email: david.hughes@totallylocalcompany.co.uk

The Chief Executive Officer, Totally Local Company provided a verbal presentation which updated Members on the financial mechanism relating to the transfer of security to Stockport Homes Group.

RESOLVED – That the verbal report be noted.

The Chief Executive Officer, Totally Local Company to report at the meeting.

Officer Contact: David Hughes at email: david.hughes@totallylocalcompany.co.uk

The Chief Executive Officer, Totally Local Company provided a verbal presentation which provided Members with an update on Manchester Fayre’s withdrawal from School Meals in Manchester.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         In response to a Member question, the Committee was advised that a number of schools had acted as references for Totally Local Company in relation to school meals.

RESOLVED – That the verbal report be noted.

To consider a report of the Finance & Commercial Director, Totally Local Company

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

Officer Contact: Steve Jallands at steve.jallands@totallylocalcompany.co.uk

The Finance & Commercial Director, Totally Local Company submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which updated Members on the Financial Report to 28 February 2021.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Members enquired as to whether Totally Local Company was competing on a level playing field compared to its competitors in relation to school meals.  In response, Members were advised that workers were paid at least the national living wage and that pension schemes were honoured.  This may put the company at a slight disadvantage but this was managed due to the support received from Stockport Council.

·         Members commented on the comprehensive nature of the report and were very pleased to see that everyone had paid what they owe and that the school meals service had been preserved.

·         A short discussion took place relating to the levels of accrued income and how this worked in practice.

·         In response to a Member question relating to Signshop and what was being done in terms of advertising outside the Council, Members were advised that this was an area that was being looked at as it was disappointing that so far there had not been much progression on this.  The challenge was to be part of accredited frameworks.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Finance & Commercial Director, Totally Local Company

The Committee is invited to review, approve and adopt the presented budget for 2021/22.

Officer Contact: Steve Jallands at steve.jallands@totallylocalcompany.co.uk

The Finance & Commercial Director, Totally Local Company submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided details of the budget for 2021/22.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Members asked for clarification relating to key themes and the crediting back of monies.  How does this assist both the Council and Totally Local Company?

·         It was hoped that in the next six months, Totally Local Company would be able to focus on future planning, including looking at reducing packaging and waste and improving environmental pollution.

·         The Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer provided an explanation for the school meals letter which had been circulated.

·         Members stated that they would like to know where the next stable programme of work was going to come from and requested a report for the next meeting which set out a roadmap for this.

RESOLVED – (i) That the report be noted.

(ii) That presented Budget for 2021-22 be approved.

To consider a report of the Finance & Commercial Director, Totally Local Company

Officer Contact: Steve Jallands at steve.jallands@totallylocalcompany.co.uk

The Finance & Commercial Director, Totally Local Company submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which updated Members on the Consolidated Income Statement, Statement of Financial Position and Cashflow Statement.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.