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 23 March 2022.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 23 March 2022 are agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair, subject to the amendment of Minute 32 to include the following sentence:

“Councillor Vince asked it to be noted that he had concerns about the terms and conditions of new employees of HTS differing from existing ones.”

Any matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.

The Sub Committee considered a report to note the HTS Group Ltd audited statutory accounts for 2021/22.

RESOLVED that the Sub Committee noted the HTS Group Ltd Audited Statutory Accounts attached as Appendix A to the report.

The Sub Committee considered a report to approve the recommendations in the People Strategy commissioned by HTS (Property and Environment) Ltd.

RESOLVED that:

A    The proposal to implement the recommendations included in the People Strategy report commissioned by HTS (Property and Environment) Ltd be approved.

B    That the Council as sole shareholder agreed to support the recommendations and Cultural Change proposals included in the strategy.

The Sub Committee considered a report to approve the proposal to implement the recommendations in the IT Strategy report commissioned by HTS (Property and Environment) Ltd.

RESOLVED that:

A    The proposal to implement the recommendations included in the I.T. Strategy report commissioned by HTS (Property and Environment) Ltd be approved.

B    That the Council as sole shareholder agreed to support the recommendations and Cultural Change proposals included in the strategy.

The Sub Committee received a report to approve the proposal to implement the recommendations in the Establishing HTS (Property and Environment) Ltd as a Non-Tekal Company report.

Councillor Vince asked that his concerns about the differences in employment terms and conditions between the existing company and Non-Tekal company.

RESOLVED that:

A    The proposal to implement the recommendations included in the Establishing HTS (Property and Environment) Services Limited as a Non-Tekal Company report trading within the HTS Group be approved.

B    That the Council as sole shareholder agreed to support the recommendations and proposals included in the strategy.

The Sub Committee considered a report on the future of the business plan proposals regarding the HTS (Housing and Regeneration) and HTS Construction companies.

Councillor Vince said he could not support recommendation C i) of the report.

RESOLVED that the Sub Committee:

A    Noted the findings of the independent reports that have been commissioned regarding the Housing and Regeneration Company and the Construction Company proposals.

B    Approved the Housing and Regeneration company is not expanded as proposed in the March 2022 Business Plan.

C    Requested that the HTS (H&R) Board consider the following options and report back to the shareholder on the decisions taken:

                             i)        Considers the disposal of the 5 (five) properties currently operated by the company and the repayment of the outstanding debt associated with them to the council (its lender) as soon as is practicably possible and once any existing tenancies have been terminated/vacated; or

                            ii)        Agrees that the properties remain in the ownership of HTS (H&R) Ltd and continue to be managed and let by the company for the foreseeable future.

D    Agreed not to proceed with the creation and expansion of the Construction Company as set out in the March 2022 HTS Business Plan.

E     Agreed the proposals set out in the Construction Company report undertaken by Local Partnerships to deliver the new build programme through a Joint Venture arrangement.

The Sub Committee considered its work plan. It was agreed that a report on roofing repairs be considered at the September meeting, and on HTS (Housing and Regeneration) Ltd’s assets be considered at the November meeting.

RESOLVED that the work plan be noted.

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.

A Special meeting to consider HTS (Property and Environment) Fleet Replacement would be held on 11 May 2023.