Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interests in the items under consideration and in doing so state:

(1) the type of interest concerned either a

(a)   personal interest

(b)   prejudicial interest

(c)    disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI)

and

(2) the nature of the interest concerned

If any member requires advice on declarations of interests, they are advised to contact the Head of Democratic Governance in advance of the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest on this occasion.

The Committee considered excluding the public and press from a number of items on the agenda that would likely lead to the disclosure of information that was exempt from publication on the grounds that they would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act. The Committee carefully considered the public interest and concluded that the public interest would be best served by excluding the public and press due to the potential impact on the Council’s wholly owned companies and third parties.

Resolved:

That the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items: Item 2 Minutes of the Last Meeting held on 18 March 2022; Item 3 Shareholder Update; Item 5 Wholly Owned Company Financial Performance as at Month 0 2022/23; Item 6 Blackpool Coastal Housing Limited General Update; Item 7 Blackpool Coastal Housing Limited KPI’s and Business Plan; Item 8 Blackpool Coastal Housing Limited Financial Performance; Item 9 Blackpool Housing Company KPI and Financial Performance at Period 6 2022/23 and Item 10 Blackpool Housing Company Limited Business Plan and Budget 2022/23.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 18 March 2022 as a true and correct record. There are two sets of minutes one public and one restricted attached.

(This item contains commercially sensitive information which is exempt from publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972).

The Committee considered the minutes of the last meeting held on the 18 March 2022, noting that there was a public and restricted version of the minutes.

The Committee agreed that the minutes of the meeting be signed by the Chair as a true and correct record.

To receive a verbal update on the Council’s wholly-owned companies provided by the Shareholder representatives. To include the latest developments on housing levelling-up pilots.

(This item contains commercially sensitive information which is exempt from publication By virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972).

The press and public were excluded prior to the consideration of this item as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972).

Mr Mark Towers, Group Company Secretary, Mrs Vikki Piper, Head of Housing Strategy and Ms Kirsten Whyatt, Finance Manager were invited to provide an update on the Council Wholly-Owned Companies on behalf of the Shareholder.

The Committee noted the update provided.

The Committee to note the actions required on the Action Tracker document and receive an update on progress on any actions outstanding.

The Committee considered the action tracker for the Committee which included details of progress on the implementation of the recommendations of the wholly owned companies governance review and the previous resolutions of the Shareholder Committee. This meeting being the second time the action tracker had been considered by the Shareholder Committee. Mr Towers, Group Company Secretary sought the Committee’s approval to review the action dates from the internal audit recommendation, included in the action plan and report back revised dates at the next meeting.

The Committee noted the update and while raising no particular issues agreed that the action tracker continue to be brought to the Shareholder Committee in future.

To report detailed information on the financial performance of each of the Council wholly-owned companies to the Shareholder Committee in line with decision EX26/2021.

(This item contains commercially sensitive information which is exempt from publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972).

(The press and public were excluded prior to the consideration of this item as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972).

Ms Kirsten Whyatt, Finance Manager, provided an overview of the financial performance of the Council’s Wholly-Owned Companies as at Month 0 2022/2023. Ms Whyatt reminded members that this had been the first of the regular monthly monitoring reports of 2022/23 and it was intended that the final outturn would be presented to the June meeting.

The Committee noted the update provided.

To receive an update on key emerging issues and the social housing white paper.

(This item contains commercially sensitive information which is exempt from publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972).

(The press and public were excluded prior to the consideration of this item as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972).

Mr John Donellon, Chief Executive, Mr Stephen Dunstan, Chief Financial Officer and Councillor Neal Brookes, Chair of Blackpool Coastal Housing Limited joined the meeting at this point.

Mr Donnellon, Chief Executive and Councillor Neal Brookes, Chair of Blackpool Coastal Housing presented an update on key emerging issues for the company and the social housing white paper.

To inform the shareholder of current performance and the company’s business plan.

(This item contains commercially sensitive information which is exempt from publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972).

(The press and public were excluded prior to the consideration of this item as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972).

John Donnellon, Chief Executive presented the key performance indicators to the Committee and the business plan for approval. The Committee noted that key performance indicators were broadly positive and that in respect of voids where performance had been lower than anticipated a task and finish group had created to further investigate the issues.

The Committee considered the business plan, noting that this had been approved the Company Board and concluded that it met the requirements of the Shareholder.

Shareholder Committee decision:

1.To note the Key Performance Indicators.

2.To approve from the perspective of the shareholder the Business Plan for Blackpool Coastal Housing Company Limited.

Reason for the decision:

The Shareholder Committee agreed that the Business Plan for Blackpool Coastal Housing met the requirements of the Shareholder including those in the Governance Framework was deliverable and balanced, and had been approved by the Board of the Company and had been reviewed by the Council’s finance team. 

Other options considered:

The Shareholder Committee noted that it could have not approved the Business Plan but did not consider this reasonable in the circumstances.

Date of decision:

27 May 2022

To inform the shareholder of the current financial performance of the company.

(This item contains commercially sensitive information which is exempt from publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972).

 (The press and public were excluded prior to the consideration of this item as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972).

Stephen Dunstan, Director of Resources, Blackpool Coastal Housing Limited provided an update on the company’s financial performance.

John Donnellon, Chief Executive and Stephen Dunstan, Director of Resources, Blackpool Coastal Housing Limited left the meeting at the conclusion of this item.

Councillor Neal Brookes as Chair of Blackpool Housing Company Limited remained in the meeting for the following items.

To provide the Shareholder with a progress update in respect of Blackpool Housing Company Ltd and its subsidiary, Lumen Housing Ltd.

(This item contains commercially sensitive information which is exempt from publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972).

(The press and public were excluded prior to the consideration of this item as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972).

David Galvin, Managing Director and Paul Whitehead, Director of Finance and Resources - Blackpool Housing Limited joined the meeting at this point.

David Galvin, Managing Director provided an update on key performance indicators and Paul Whitehead, Director of Finance and Resources provided an update on financial performance for the period to March 2022. The information included was in respect of Blackpool Housing Company Limited and its subsidiary, Lumen Housing Limited.

The Committee noted the update provided.

This report presents the long term draft Business Plan and Budget for 2022/23. Summary information related to these is attached in the form a 10 year Profit and Loss projection, a monthly 2021/22 Profit and Loss Budget, a consolidated business plan incorporating Lumen and the former business of Lancashire Management Operations Ltd (LMOL) and a table showing stress testing results.

(This item contains commercially sensitive information which is exempt from publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972).

(The press and public were excluded prior to the consideration of this item as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972).

David Galvin, Managing Director, presented the consolidated business plan incorporating Lumen Homes Limited and the former business of Lancashire Management Operations Ltd and Paul Whitehead presented the budget for 2022/23.

The Committee noted the update.

To note the date and time of the next meeting as Friday 17 June 2022, commencing at 10am subject to confirmation at Annual Council.

To note, as confirmed at Annual Council on 18 May 2022, the date and time of the next meeting as Friday 17 June 2022, commencing at 10am