Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR – REGULATORY

To provide the Sub-Committee with the first annual report of the Local Authority Trading Companies (LATCos) in which North Herts Council has a role, to enable the Sub-Committee to fulfil its role as shareholder. The LATCos in this report cover the area of building control in which the Council is one of eight equal shareholders. The committee is also requested to consider what information they wish to be included in future reports.

RESOLVED:

(1)   That the Cabinet Sub-Committee noted the report.

(2)   That the Cabinet Sub-Committee made recommendations on the content of future reports and annual reviews.

REASON FOR DECISIONS: To enable the Cabinet Sub-Committee to fulfil its role and responsibilities as shareholder in the local authority trading companies for building control.

Audio recording – 2 minutes 40 seconds

The Service Director – Regulatory presented the report entitled ‘Annual Review of North Herts Trading Companies – Building Control’ and advised that:

·       This was the oldest Local Authority Trading Company that North Herts owned.

·       There was a projected saving from being part of the Building Control company to 2025/26 (since its inception) in avoided costs of £2.76m as detailed in paragraph 10.4 of the report.

·       The AGM was held last week which he had attended with the Service Director – Enterprise who was a director of the Local Authority Trading Companies.

·       At the Local Authority Building Control Awards, Herts Building Control (HBC) had put forward a number of schemes that had won awards.

·       Following changes to the regulatory field, the position of Building Control and Building Inspector were now protected professions and nearly all staff had achieved the required competency level or were working towards it.

·       The Local Authority Trading Companies had employed external advisers to help with commercial growth and development.  

In response to a question from Councillor Ian Albert, the Service Director – Regulatory advised that a new CEO had been appointed who had significant public and private sector experience in Building Control.

The following Members took part in the debate:

·       Councillor Ian Albert

·       Councillor Daniel Allen

Points raised during the debate included:

·       Thought there was a need in relation to the timing of meetings and annual reviews with regard to AGMs to ensure Members had time to provide comments and feedback.

·       It would be useful to have interim reports, possibly 6 monthly, to enable Members to be kept up to date with information ahead of the yearly meeting.

·       There should be a recommendation added to the next meeting to carry out an audit on an annual or bi-annual basis.

Councillor Ian Albert proposed and Councillor Val Bryant seconded and, following a vote, it was:

RESOLVED:

(1)   That the Cabinet Sub-Committee noted the report.

(2)   That the Cabinet Sub-Committee made recommendations on the content of future reports and annual reviews.

REASON FOR DECISIONS: To enable the Cabinet Sub-Committee to fulfil its role and responsibilities as shareholder in the local authority trading companies for building control.