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 Shareholder Committee agreed that under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Item 3 ‘Minutes of the meeting held on 11 February 2022’ (restricted minutes only), Item 4 ‘Shareholder update’, Item 5 ‘Wholly-owned company financial performance as at Month 9 2021/22’, Item 6 ‘Update report on BECL Lease/Operating Agreements’, Item 7 ‘Blackpool Entertainment Company Limited Financial Performance’, Item 8 ‘Blackpool Entertainment Company KPI Dashboard’ and Item 9 ‘Blackpool Entertainment Company Recovery Plan’.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 11 February 2022 as a true and correct record.

The two sets of minutes (one public and one restricted) will be circulated separately.

(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 11 February 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.

(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 Steve Thompson, Director of Resources and Mr Alan Cavill, Director of Communications and Regeneration were invited to provide an update on the Council Wholly-Owned Companies on behalf of the Shareholder.

The Committee noted the update provided.

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).

Mr Steve Thompson, Director of Resources provided an overview of the financial performance of the Council’s Wholly-Owned Companies as at Month 9 2021/2022.

The Committee discussed the financial information in detail and noted the report.

To receive a verbal update on the implementation of the  following decision from the Shareholder Committee on 19 November 2021

Shareholder Committee decision:

1.       To note the update report including the outstanding matters in relation to the building.

2.       To note that a revised lease agreement would be issued to BECL, to include the conference centre, in due course.

3.        To note that an operating agreement would be considered with a report provided back to the Shareholder Committee in due course.

(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 Michael Williams, Managing Director, Blackpool Entertainment Company Limited (BECL), Ms Karen Dunmore, Finance Director, BECL and Councillor Amy Cross, Chair, BECL Board joined the meeting from this item onwards.

Mr Steve Thompson, Director of Resources provided an update on the implementation of the decision from the Shareholder Committee on 19 November 2021 in relation to the Blackpool Entertainment Company Limited Lease and Operating agreements.

The Committee agreed to note the update.

To provide an update to the Committee on Blackpool Entertainment Company Limited’s performance to date for the Financial Year 2021/22 and to provide supporting narrative around the forecast outturn at March 2022.

(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 Karen Dunmore, Finance Director, Blackpool Entertainment Company Limited (BECL) presented the report to the Committee and highlighted the key issues for discussion.

The Committee agreed to note the report.

To provide information regarding performance against KPIs for BECL.

(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 Karen Dunmore, Finance Director, Blackpool Entertainment Company Limited (BECL) presented the report to the Committee and highlighted the key issues for discussion.

Shareholder Committee decision:

1.       The Committee agreed to note the report.

2.       To agree that Blackpool Entertainment Company Limited considers running costs for opening of the Winter Gardens venue and returns to a future meeting with the detailed options on opening for consideration. Further details of the decision are commercially sensitive and so are only included in the restricted minutes.

Reason for the decision:

The reasons for the decision are not for publication and so are included only in the restricted minutes.

Other options considered:

The decision taken is to consider all options and provide a report back to a future meeting.

Date of decision:

25 February 2022.

To update the Committee on BECL’s recovery plan following the Coronavirus Pandemic.

(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 Michael Williams, Managing Director, Blackpool Entertainment Company Limited (BECL) presented the report to the Committee and highlighted the key issues for discussion.

The Committee agreed to note the report.

To note the date and time of next meeting as Friday 18 March 2022 at 10am.

The Committee agreed to note the date and time of the next meeting as 18 March 2022, commencing at 10am.