Agenda and minutes

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

Councillor D Brown declared a non-pecuniary interest as a former Chairman of CERF.

Councillor L Smetham declared a non-pecuniary interest as a former Director of Orbitas.

The following visiting members declared disclosable pecuniary interests as Directors of ASDVs:

Councillor D Marren as a Director of Orbitas.

Councillor A Moran as a Director of Ansa.

To approve the minutes of the meetings held on 22^nd January and 14^th February 2020.

On consideration of the minutes, it was noted that the Portfolio Holder had approved the ASDV business plans in April, having considered the recommendations of the Committee.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meetings of 22^nd January and 14^th February 2020 be approved as a correct record subject to an amendment to the timetable in minute 35, resolution 1 to amend the phrase ‘Interviews held’ to ‘Interviews to be held’.

To receive a verbal brief on the criteria for appointing directors to Council-owned companies.

The Committee received a verbal briefing on the governance arrangements for the appointment of Directors to the Boards of ASDVs.

Authority to appoint Council representatives to Boards of Directors had been delegated by Cabinet to the Leader and Deputy Leader. There were no specific criteria to be met in making such appointments and they were not subject to proportionality rules. However, the relevant experience of individuals would be taken into consideration.

Under the Articles of Association and Shareholder Agreements, ASDVs were also able to appoint their own Directors in addition to those appointed by the Council, and would normally do so on the basis of business skills and other relevant experience.

RESOLVED

That the arrangements for appointing Directors to Boards of Council-owned companies be noted.

To receive a verbal update on the recruitment of the co-opted members to the Shareholder Committee.

The Committee received a verbal update on the recruitment of two co-opted members to the Committee.

The Chairman and Councillor Smetham had, on the morning of the Committee’s meeting, shortlisted four individuals to be interviewed in October. The Chairman asked if any other members of the Committee wished to become involved with the interview and appointment of the co-opted members. Councillor Brown expressed an interest in doing so.

RESOLVED

That

1.    The update be noted; and

2.    Councillor D Brown be appointed to the Interview Panel.

The reports relating to the remaining items on the agenda have been withheld from public circulation and deposit pursuant to Section 100(B)(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that the matters may be determined with the press and public excluded.

The Committee may decide that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items pursuant to Section 100(A)4 of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and public interest would not be served in publishing the information.

PART 2 – MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED WITHOUT THE PUBLIC AND PRESS PRESENT

RESOLVED

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items pursuant to Section 100(A)4 of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and the public interest would not be served in publishing the information.

To receive a verbal update on the progress of the ASDV Change Programme. 

The Committee received a verbal update on the progress of the ASDV Change Programme.

RESOLVED

That the update be noted.

To be presented with the latest available quarterly strategic reports (Q4 2019/20 to 31/03/2020) for Ansa Environmental Services, Transport Service Solutions and Orbitas Bereavement Services for discussion.

The Committee received the latest available quarterly strategic reports (Q4 2019/20 to 31^st March 2020 from the following companies:

ANSA Environmental Services Ltd

The following attended the meeting to present the report and answer members’ questions:

Geoff Baggott – Chairman

Kevin Melling – Managing Director

Tracy Baldwin – Group Finance Manager

At the conclusion of the presentation, the Chairman thanked the representatives and congratulated ANSA on ensuring that the bin collection service continued to operate during the pandemic.

The representatives then left the meeting, following which the Committee considered the matter further.

Transport Services Solutions Ltd

The following attended the meeting to present the report and answer members’ questions:

Councillor Jonathan Parry – Chairman

Kevin Melling – Managing Director

Tracy Baldwin – Group Finance Manager

Councillor Handley asked a question about transporting children. Mr Melling undertook to provide a written answer.

At the conclusion of the presentation, the Chairman thanked the representatives who then left the meeting, following which the Committee considered the matter further.

Orbitas Bereavement Services Ltd

The following attended the meeting to present the report and answer members’ questions:

Councillor David Marren – Chairman

Kevin Melling – Managing Director

Tracy Baldwin – Group Finance Manager

At the conclusion of the presentation, the Chairman thanked the representatives, and thanked Orbitas for coping with the challenge of the pandemic. The representatives then left the meeting, following which the Committee considered the matter further.

The Committee agreed on the need for the contract to be renewed fairly quickly. The officers would be completing a review in the autumn and would submit a report to the Committee early in the new year.

RESOLVED

That the quarterly strategic reports of the three companies be received.

To identify through discussion any possible amendments to the 2021/22 ASDV Business Plan template, and review process, ahead of issuing guidance to the ASDVs.

The Committee considered whether any amendments were required to the 2021/22 ASDV Business Plan template and review process, ahead of issuing guidance to the ASDVs.

RESOLVED

That the Committee considers that the current template and process are satisfactory and that no changes are required.