Agenda and minutes

None.

Councillors’ declarations of interest (if any) in relation to any items on the agenda.

None.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 18 November 2021.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 18 November 2021 are agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair subject to the inclusion of Michael Harrowven, who was added to the list of attendees.

Any matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.

None.

To review the Sub Committee’s work plan

Councillor Joel Charles noted that governance arrangements (terms of reference and frequency of meetings) for the Shareholder Sub Committee would need to change should the Business Plan (Item 6) be approved.

RESOLVED that the work plan was noted.

The Shareholder Sub Committee received a report on the HTS Group Ltd Business Plan (2022-2027). Councillor Joel Charles noted that the Business Plan covering report referred to “HTS (Property and Environment) Ltd”. The agenda and covering report would be amended to “HTS Group Ltd”.

Councillor Joel Charles noted that the Business Plan had short, medium and long-term objectives that aim to deliver a framework to move the group forward to improve performance and access new commercial opportunities that would increase the return to taxpayers. 

Overall, the Sub Committee supported the Business Plan ambitions.  However, it was noted that the importance of ensuring the success of the core activities, through an improvement plan, which includes an updated service level agreement and new key performance indicators to guide HTS (Property and Environment) Ltd and support the wider governance piece, was important in terms of providing a more structured approach to manage the local authority trading company, the future scheduled dates to review progress and the specific reporting required.

RESOLVED that:

A    TheShareholderSubCommittee approves recommendation of theHTS Board that the proposed Business Plan, as set out in Appendix A to the report, be agreed.

B    The Shareholder Sub Committee requires that an evaluation of the proposals to acquire properties for rent as part of the expansion of the Housing and Regeneration subsidiary be carried out no later than June 2022 and that the results of the evaluation will be reported back to the Shareholder Sub Committee.

C    The Shareholder Sub Committee requires further work to be undertaken to fully evaluate the option to create a Construction subsidiary of the Group, as set out in the Business Plan, such that an options appraisal is submitted to the Shareholder Sub Committee no later thanOctober 2022.

None.

None.

Such other business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be received as a matter of urgency by reason of special circumstances to be specified in the minutes.

None.

To be confirmed.

The date of the next meeting would be confirmed following the governance review.