Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence had been received from Councillor Gareth Dadd.  Notification had been received that Councillor Annabel Wilkinson was to act as substitute.

Resolved

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 13 May 2025, having been printed and circulated, be confirmed as read and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

All Members are invited to declare at this point any interests they have in items appearing on this agenda, including the nature of those interests.

Councillors Carl Les and Mark Crane declared non-pecuniary interests in Minute 73 as they were directors of NYnet.

Members of the public may ask questions or make statements at this meeting if they have given notice to Elizabeth Jackson, Principal Democratic Services Officer and supplied the text (contact details below) by midday on Thursday 28 August 2025 three working days before the day of the meeting.  Each speaker should limit themselves to 3 minutes on any item.  Members of the public who have given notice will be invited to speak:

·         at this point in the meeting if their questions/statements relate to matters which are not otherwise on the Agenda (subject to an overall time limit of 30 minutes);

·         when the relevant Agenda item is being considered if they wish to speak on a matter which is on the Agenda for this meeting.

If you are exercising your right to speak at this meeting, but do not wish to be recorded, please inform the Chair who will instruct anyone who may be taking a recording to cease while you speak.

There were no public questions or statements.

Recommendation

For the Shareholder Committee to note the report and the Brierley Group Financial Performance for the 2024/25 year.

Considered – A report of the Assistant Director Commercial, Property and Procurement providing the full year outturn position for 2024-25 for the companies that made up the Brierley Group.

Kerry Metcalfe, Assistant Director Commercial, Property and Procurement introduced the report, providing an overview of performance and highlighting the full year achievements and challenges for the individual companies.  She drew members’ attention specifically to the overall positive financial position of the group with a pre-tax profit of £3.2m and total Shareholder Value of c£15.8m for the year.  The outturn position was £300k above the original budget for the year.

Align, Yorwaste, NY Highways, NYnet, NYES and Bracewell Homes all continued to perform well with profits in excess of the targets set.  Brierley Homes reported a loss of £3.2m in comparison to the budgeted £200k profit set for the year, however this was broadly in line with the position set out at Quarter 3.  The Council had loan financing arrangements in place with Brierley Homes which provided a loan financing premium of £1.3m, reducing the overall loss to £1.9m for the year.  An external review of the company was underway and would be reported to Executive on 16 September 2025.

In response in concerns expressed by Councillor Kevin Foster over the financial position of Brierley Homes, Councillor Mark Crane confirmed that Brierley Homes was undertaking activity which benefited the council through the provision of affordable homes which would not otherwise have been built. 

Members noted the report and thanked officers for the update.

Resolved

That Shareholder Committee note the report and the Brierley Group Financial Performance for the 2024/25 year.

Purpose of the Report: To consider and develop the Work Programme for the Shareholder Committee

Members considered and endorsed the work programme for the Committee for the remainder of 2025/26.