Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

Resolved –

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 19 March 2024  be confirmed as read and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Councillor Gareth Dadd declared a non-pecuniary interest in Minute 45 on the basis that he was a director of Veritau.

Members of the public may ask questions or make statements at this meting if they have given notice to Elizabeth Jackson, Principal Democratic Services Officer, Elizabeth.jackson@northyorks.gov.uk and supplied the text by midday on Thursday 11 July 2024, 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 Chairman who will instruct anyone who may be taking a recording to cease while you speak.

There were no questions or statements from the public.

Recommendation

That the ShareholderCommitteenotes the report and the Brierley Group Financial Performance for the 2023/24 year.

The report of the Assistant Director – Commercial, Property and Procurement, providing a Quarter 4 and outturn financial performance update on the companies that make up the Brierley Group.

Kerry Metcalfe, Assistant Director – Commercial, Property and Procurement introduced the report, providing an overview of performance and highlighting the fourth quarter achievements and challenges for the individual companies.  She drew Member’s attention specifically to:

·        The strong performance across most areas, with a projected pre-tax profit of £3.934m and Shareholder value to the Council of £12.897m for the year.

·        The projected outturn was £3.775m, representing a positive variance of £159k against budget.

·        Brierley Homes brought added value as it assisted the Council to deliver affordable homes

·        Align Property Partners, Yorwaste and Bracewell Homes showed strong financial performance for the year and have each delivered pre-tax profits in excess of £1m.

·        NYES outturn was £854k which was an improvement against projections after it made a loss last year.

·        Brierley Homes made an outturn loss of £1.3m due to issues at the Marton cum Grafton site as reported in Quarter 3 leading to additional costs and delays in sales

·        Brimhams Active reported an outturn loss of £491k due to delays to the refurbishment.

·        North Yorkshire Highways had had a successful year as it had achieved MOT test centre status and compliance to ISO standards.  It had delivered £2.7m of financial efficiencies to the Council.

The improvement for NYES was noted.  In response to questions the Assistant Director advised that some savings were due to vacancies, however the company was not expected to return to the previous level of losses.  It was confirmed that Brimhams Active had always relied on subsidy and it was to be brought back in-house alongside other council leisure provision.

The Leader advised that a question had been received from Councillor Paul Haslam that morning as follows:

Have all the Brierley and other companies we own adopted and embraced the climate emergency and the appropriate parts of the climate mitigation strategy? If not, when?

Additionally have all our companies adopted an active ESG environment, social and governance policy? If not, when?

Have these companies adopted the circular economy where it is possible which ensures better use of feedstock and therefore saving money as well as reducing their impact on nature and climate? If not, when?

If we adopt this, if it has not already happened, then maybe we can help our suppliers and other north Yorkshire businesses on their journey to net zero and then share best practice with our many able suppliers.

The Chief Executive advised the Committee that the Council owned companies were separate organisations with their own environmental policies and strategies and specific ESG approaches.  It was agreed that the Corporate Director of Resources would provide a written response to Councillor Haslam.

Members noted the report and thanked officers for the update.

Resolved –

That the Shareholder Committee note the report and the Brierley Group Q4 and outturn Financial Performance for the 2023/24 year.

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

The Assistant Director – Commercial, Property and Procurement advised that a further item on the role of elected members on Company Boards should be added to the work programme for the meeting to be held on 17 September 2024.

Members then considered and endorsed the work programme for the Committee for the remainder of 2024/25.