Meeting documents

There were none.  The Chairman welcomed Mrs Anita Cranmer to her first meeting of the Committee.

To disclose any Personal or Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

Mr Bendyshe-Brown declared an interest in agenda item 6 as he had been involved in the Bucks Sports and Social Club bid and he left the meeting.

Mrs Julie Ward declared an interest in agenda item 6 as she had supported the call-in of the decision to close the Bucks Sports and Social Club.  She was advised that she could remain in the meeting but not participate in the debate.

To agree the Minutes of the Meeting held on 14^th November 2017.

The minutes of the meeting held on 14^th November 2017 were agreed as a correct record.

Public Questions is an opportunity for people who live, work or study in the county to put a question to a Scrutiny Committee about any issue that has an impact on their local community or the county as a whole.

Members of the public, who have given prior notice, will be invited to put their question in person.

The Cabinet Member and responsible officers will then be invited to respond. 

Further information and details on how to register can be found through the following link:-

http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/about-your-council/scrutiny/getting-involved/

There were none.

Purpose: The Committee will receive a progress report from the Cabinet Member for Resources following the Committee’s decision at its meeting on 12^th September 2017, to uphold the call-in of Cabinet Member decision R04.17 to close the Bucks Sports and Social Club.

Contributors:

Mr John Chilver, Cabinet Member for Resources

Mrs Deb Clarke, Director of HR and OD

Background Papers:

Link to minutes of 12^th September meeting and subsequent letter to the Cabinet Member

Data/BCC FPaRSC/201712191000/Agenda/httpsdemocracy - buckscc - gov - ukdocumentsg9781Public%20minutes%2012th-Sep-2017%2014 - 00%20Finance%20Performance%20and%20Resources.pdf

The Chairman welcomed Mr John Chilver, Cabinet Member for Resources, Mrs Gill Quinton, Executive Director, Resources, Ms Deb Clarke, Interim Director of Organisational Development and Human Resources (OD&HR) and Mr Richard Ambrose, Director of Finance and Assets to the meeting. 

The Chairman also welcomed Ms Sara Turnbull, Head of Democratic Services and the Council’s Statutory Scrutiny Officer, who reminded Members that the Call-in process enabled the Select Committee to provide a robust check and challenge to decisions taken by Cabinet or Cabinet Members.  The Call-in had been concluded at the 12^th September meeting when the Committee recommended that the Cabinet Member should reconsider his decision to close the Bucks Sports and Social Club and in particular should reconsider Option 3, which was to consider transferring the management of the Club to an Alternative Delivery Vehicle, for example, a Community Interest Company.

The Chairman asked the Cabinet Member to outline the process he had undertaken following the 12^th September meeting.  During the presentation and in answer to subsequent Members’ questions the following main points were noted:

·         Following the 12^th September meeting, the Cabinet Member had written to interested parties to invite them to submit proposals to take over management of the Bucks Sports and Social Club. A deadline of 20^th November 2017 was set. A dedicated email address for consultation had been established.

·         The Cabinet Member had regular meetings with the local Member to keep him updated throughout the process.

·         Two proposals were received by the deadline and these were evaluated by an independent panel comprising of Legal, Procurement and Finance professionals.

·         The Interim Director of OD & HR explained that she had met with the Bucks Sports and Social Club Members group, along with the Cabinet Member and on one occasion with the Commercial Director, to explain the required format for their submission and to answer any questions.  She and the Cabinet Member met with the group approximately six times.

·         Once the bids were received they were evaluated by the panel.  The Cabinet Member advised that he chose not to look at the submissions in detail as he wanted the independent panel to evaluate them.

·         Both bids had areas where further information could have been helpful and one bid did not include Profit and Loss details. 

·         However the view of the evaluation panel was that the community bid was over-optimistic about potential income levels, whilst also being unrealistic about costs.  The Profit and Loss projected a very slim profit margin for the Club which meant that it would be difficult to build up any reserves for the future.

·         The Director of Finance and Assets confirmed that he agreed with the financial assessment of the submissions.  The business case from the Sports and Social Club members was very full but the financial risks to the Council remained.  Assumptions around income and membership levels were optimistic and although the submission outlined various grants and donations that the Club hoped to secure, there was little evidence to support this.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To agree the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 14^th November 2017.

The confidential minutes of the meeting held on 14^th November 2017 were agreed as a correct record.

Tuesday 3^rd March 2018 at 10am in Mezzanine Room 1, County Hall, Aylesbury.

Budget Scrutiny meetings will be held on 9^th, 10^th and 11^th January 2018, at County Hall, Aylesnury.

Tuesday 6^th March 2018 at 10am in Mezzanine Room 1, County Hall, Aylesbury.

Budget Scrutiny meetings will be held on 9^th, 10^th and 11^th January 2018, at County Hall, Aylesbury.