Agenda and minutes

The Committee noted the apologies of Councillor Denness and the appointment of Councillor Leggett as representative for the purposes of the meeting.

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 23 September 2024, and to deal with any matters arising, attached.

RESOLVED: that the minutes for the Committee meeting on  23 September 2024 be approved and signed as a correct record.

Report of the Chair of the Improvement Board.

The Committee received the report of report of the Chair of the Improvement Board.

RESOLVED That to enable consideration of all appropriate information at the same time, consideration of the Improvement Board report should be deferred until after receipt of the Grant Thornton report.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Housing Operations setting out the progress being made in the number of voids and the actions to address all the areas given limited assurance that has been cited to date.

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Housing Operations, the Committee approved the following:

(i)  Members noted the report to the Governance Committee on the progress being made to improve Void performance.

(ii)  Members accepted and endorsed the Voids Improvement Plan.

(iii)  The Committee supported the redefined classifications of the Voids.

(iv)  The Committee recommended that Internal Audit carry out a follow up review in 2025/26.

(v)  The Committee noted the need for performance metrics to be improved and recommended that work be done in consultation with the Cabinet Member to gain a better understanding of priority order.

To move that in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, specifically the Access to Information Procedure Rules contained within the Constitution, the press and public be excluded from the meeting in respect of any consideration of the exempt Appendices to the following Item.

Appendix 1, 2 and 3 to this report are confidential in accordance with paragraph number 7(A) of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules in Part 4 of the Council's Constitution as they contain information about Council contracts and contractors which may be deemed to be confidential and commercially sensitive.

The Committee chair moved that in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, specifically the Access to Information Procedure Rules contained within the Constitution, the press and public be excluded from the meeting in respect of any consideration of the exempt Appendices to the following Item.

Appendix 1, 2 and 3 to the report were confidential in accordance with paragraph number 7(A) of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules in Part 4 of the Council's Constitution as they contain information about Council contracts and contractors which were deemed to be confidential and commercially sensitive.

Report of the Head of Contracting and Procurement and Director of Commissioning detailing an overview of the performance, governance and contractual matters relating to the Council’s most strategically important contracts (“the Strategic Contracts”) in respect of financial year 2023/24 and the Council’s upcoming strategic procurement activity (“the Strategic Procurement Activity”) arrangements for which need to be operational by the end of financial year 2026/27.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Contracting and Procurement & Director of Commissioning.

RESOLVED:

(i)  To note the information related to the Council’s Strategic Contracts attached as Appendix 1 and 2 which related to the period April 2023 to March 2024.

(ii)  To note the Strategic Procurement Activity planned for and being undertaken as set out in Appendix 3 to the report.