Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

There were no apologies.

To confirm as a true and correct record and sign the Part I minutes of the Cabinet Shareholder Group meeting held on 3 December 2024.

The public minutes of the Cabinet Shareholder Group meeting held on 3 December 2024 were presented.

Resolved:

To approve as a correct record and sign the public minutes of the meeting held on 3 December 2024.

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee or Monitoring Officer.

Cllr Adrian Foster declared an interest in agenda item 8 – Stone Circle Business Plan - Update report from Stone Circle, as his wife is a trustee of White Horse Housing Association, who are party to a site in Tisbury.

Note – Cllr Foster is not a member of the Shareholder Group and did not take part in any decisions made at the meeting.

To receive any announcements from the Leader.

There were no Leader’s announcements.

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public.

This meeting is open to the public, who may ask a question or make a statement. Questions may also be asked by members of the Council.

Written notice of questions or statements should be submitted to Democratic Services at committee@wiltshire.gov.uk  by 12.00 noon on Wednesday 22 January 2025.

There were no public participation or Councillor questions.

This is to give further notice in accordance with paragraph 5 (4) and 5 (5) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 of the intention to take the following item in private.

To consider passing the following resolution:

To agree that in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the public from the meeting for the business specified in Item Numbers 7 - 9 because it is likely that if members of the public were resent there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Act and the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information to the public.

Reason for taking item in private:

Paragraph 3 - information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Resolved:

To agree that in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the public from the meeting for the business specified in Agenda Item Number 7-9 because it is likely that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Act and the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information to the public.

To confirm as a true and correct record and sign the Part II minutes of the Cabinet Shareholder Group meeting held on 3 December 2024.

The restricted minutes of the Cabinet Shareholder Group meeting held on 3 December 2024 were presented.

Resolved:

To approve as a correct record and sign the restricted minutes of the meeting held on 3 December 2024.

To receive an update outlining the Stone Circle Companies Business Plan key points and financial information for discussion.  

The Shareholder Group considered the report of the Corporate Director Resources and S151 Officer seeking the Shareholder Group’s consideration of the Assumptions and Scenarios for the 2025/26 Business Plans Shareholder Group review produced by Stone Circle and attached at Appendix A.

Resolved:

1)    To note the content of this report and the Assumptions and Scenarios for the 2025/2026 Business Plans Shareholder Group Review.

2)    To approve the draft model for the 2025/2026 Stone Circle Housing Company Business Plan

3)    To approve the draft model for the 2025/2026 Stone Circle Development Company Business Plan in accordance with Scenario A.

4)    To approve the Director of Assets to take any necessary steps to enable Stone Circle Development Company to pursue the 2025/2026 Business Plan in accordance with Scenario A

Reason for Decision:

The shareholder agreement between the Council and the Companies requires that certain decisions and reserved matters are taken by the Council in its capacity as shareholder.  

The shareholder agreement requires the Companies to present their proposed business plans to the Council at least three months before the start of the financial year in question.   

At its meeting on 3 December 2024 the Shareholder Group requested that Stone Circle present options for the wind down of Stone Circle Development Company

This report seeks the Shareholder Group’s consideration of the Assumptions and Scenarios for the 2025/2026 Business Plans Shareholder Group Review produced by Stone Circle and attached at Appendix A as well as the options identified for the wind down of Stone Circle Development Company.

To receive monthly updates from Stone Circle.

The Cabinet Shareholder Group considered a report from Stone Circle Housing Company and Stone Circle Development Company which provided an update on the performance of the Housing Company from November 2024 to December 2024.

Resolved:

That the Stone Circle Housing Company and Stone Circle Development Company update report and appendices 1-4 be noted. 

Reason for Decision:

The Cabinet agreed a review of governance arrangements for Council owned companies at its meeting in September 2021. Following the review, it was agreed to establish the Shareholder Group to undertake the reserved matters for the Council. 

The governance review also made the following recommendation: 

Recommendation 2 (R2) There should be quarterly performance reporting by the companies to the Council in the order Corporate Leadership Team (CLT), an appropriate Task Group or Scrutiny Select Committee and then Cabinet (through the Shareholder Group). 

This report seeks the Shareholder Group’s consideration of monthly reports produced by Stone Circle Housing Company.