Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairman for the duration of the meeting.

Councillor B A Alcock was elected Chairman for the duration of the meeting.

Where a Councillor has a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest the Councillor must declare the interest to the meeting and leave the room without participating in any discussion or making a statement on the item, except where a councillor is permitted to remain as a result of a grant of dispensation.

There were no declarations of interest.

To present a draft of the Council’s revised risk management policy for discussion (report of the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, Governance and Transformation is attached).

Consideration was given to the report of the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, Governance and Transformation, which presented a draft of the Council’s revised Risk Management Policy to the Joint Committee for discussion.

The following issues were raised:

·         The report was clear and concise and contained relevant information.  Officers were thanked for the report.

·         Members commented that under the ‘Definition’ section of the Policy Statement, reference should be made to the Authority’s financial stability.  Officers agreed that this would be incorporated within the Risk Management Policy going forward to the Governance and Audit Committee for agreement.

·         Members asked how it could be ensured that officers would be able to incorporate all the information within the Policy within their day to day work?  Officers responded that that a business partner approach was being considered, working more closely with the Authority’s various services.  In addition, a training framework would be rolled out alongside this.

·         Members asked when this policy would be due for review.  Officers advised that the proposed review date would be January 2020.

AGREED:

a)    That the content of the report and appendix be noted; and

b)    That the draft Risk Management Policy be presented to the Governance and Audit Committee for approval, subject to the changes discussed and agreed by the Joint Panel and officers.

(The Executive Manager People and Public Protection and the Corporate Improvement Manager left the meeting, following discussion of this item.)

There were no urgent items.

To consider resolving that, under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

AGREED:

That, under section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

To receive a presentation from Max Associates updating members on the current leisure procurement. The Portfolio Holders for Growth and Commercialisation and Communities and Facilities will be in attendance along with the Executive Director - Place and Place Manager.

The Executive Director Place and the South Holland Place Manager provided the Joint Committee with details around the procurement process for contracts to run the leisure facilities at the Castle Sports Complex and the Peele School.  The procurement process was coming to an end, and a decision to award a contract would be made at the meeting of full Council on 28 November 2018.

Members considered the information provided, and the following issues were raised:

·         Work on consideration of future leisure provision at the end of the contract was due to take place in April/May 2019.  Although this was around the time of the District Council Elections, members commented that many of the current councillors had spend a lot of time in shaping the future of leisure, and should therefore have some input into the process.  Recommendations from past Task Groups should also be considered.

o   Officer responded that they understood why current members would wish to be involved with this, and would therefore consider how this could be effected in light of timescales for the District Election.

·         Members asked of there would be a robust plan written into a future contract, taking account of hopes and aspirations, management and costs involved. 

o   Officers responded that site management had been specified within the new contract.  It was important to have a good relationship with the provider.

·         Members were advised that although the proposals did not include a new build of any of the facilities, there would be new investment on the sites, with an improvement in service and to the internal space.

·         Members commented that the age of the building could be an issue for the chosen contract provider. 

o   Officers responded that each bidder had sent their asset teams to inspect the sites - they would be aware of any routine issues and what they were taking on in respect of the building’s age.  Any bigger problems would have to be resolved between the provider and the Authority.

·         Members asked whether exit clauses had been written into the contract for both the Authority and the contractor.    

o   Officers responded that break clauses had been included, and that details regarding this would be confirmed with members in due course.  The contract would lay out clearer processes regarding what was expected, and what would happen if standards were not met. 

·         Were officers confident that costs for running the service, provided by bidders, were realistic?.

o   Officers responded that the figures provided were all being thoroughly checked,.  In addition, the Authority was using Max Associates to test the figures externally, and to also check robustness.

·         Members had been advised that there was the opportunity to extend the initial contract by a further 2 years if required – when would this be considered?

o   Officers responded that this would be considered a couple of years into the initial contract, once it could be seen how it was progressing.  Fully considered proposals for the way forward would then be produced.  The Authority would also  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.