Agenda item

      Report by Chief Executive Officer – Terence Herbert

Cllr Pauline Church Cabinet Member for Finance, Procurement and Commercial Investment presented the report which provided proposed revised business plans for the Stone Circle Companies and gave consideration to establishing the Stone Circle Energy company.

Questions and statements were received from the following in relation to the Stone Circle Companies:

·       Benji Goehl about becoming carbon neutral by 2030

·       Margaret Willmot about carbon neutral developments

·       Anne Henshaw about the Independent Director and the housing land supply timetable

·       John Russell about housing policies

·       Eva McHugh about carbon neutral developments by 2030

·       Peter Blacklock about carbon neutral developments by 2030

·       Steve Perry about the Independent Director

The Leader acknowledged that the questions had received written responses which had been published on the Council’s website prior to the meeting. He indicated that supplementary questions could be asked and these would receive a written response following this meeting.

In response to a question from Cllr Hopkinson about the appointment of an Independent Director, Cllr Church explained the process and explained that candidates were being interviewed shortly.

The Cabinet noted that the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Environment Select Committee had received a briefing on the Stone Circle Company business plans on 1 July 2020. Cllr Wheeler, Chair of the Environment Select Committee indicated that he and the Vice-Chair were in support of the proposals going forward and suggested that an additional Director was needed for the Company Boards following the stepping down of the Council’s Joint Chief Executive. They also recognised that under the current proposed structure, any nomination of a Council officer might well lead to significant conflicts of interest.

Resolved:

1.    Cabinet is asked to agree the revised business plan for Stone Circle housing company as set out at Appendix A in the exempt part of the agenda.

2.    Cabinet is asked to agree the revised business plan of Stone Circle development company as set out at Appendix B in the exempt part of the agenda.

3.    Cabinet is asked to agree the Council nominee to the board of Stone Circle holding company, Stone Circle housing company, Stone Circle development company and Stone Circle Energy is Alistair Cunningham as an independent Director.

4.    Cabinet is asked to agree that the appointment of the vacant independent board member of Stone Circle Housing company is delegated to the Chief Executive officer in consultation with the cabinet member for Finance & procurement and Commercial Investment.

5.    Cabinet is asked to agree to delegate authority to conclude detailed contract arrangements with the Stone Circle Companies to the Director of Housing and commercial development in consultation with the Director of Finance and procurement and Commercial Investment and the Director of legal, electoral and registration services

Reason for Decision

The proposals aim at complying with the shareholder agreement the Council

has with the Stone Circle Companies to agree the business plans and

consequent actions that the Council needs to consider.