Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director of Service Delivery (copy enclosed).

The Council considered the report of the Director of Service Delivery seeking Members’ approval of the Commercial Strategy 2019 – 23 (Appendix 1 to the report) and Commercial Projects Plan (Appendix 2).

It was noted that the Commercial Strategy (the Strategy) outlined how the Council would develop a more commercial approach to achieving a financial return to the Council and achieve positive social outcomes wherever possible.  The Strategy and associated Projects List identified potential financial income necessary to contribute to the significant financial gap identified in the Medium-Term Financial Strategy.

The Leader of the Council presented the report and thanked Members, particularly Councillor R H Siddall, for the work they had put into the Strategy which he commented was a very important part of the transformation of the Council.  The Leader proposed that the recommendations as set out in the report be agreed and he further proposed that the Corporate Leadership Team provide a contingency plan for closing the financial gap in the event that annual financial commercial targets were not met.  This proposal was duly seconded.  The Leader provided the Council with further explanation regarding his additional recommendation.  This was duly seconded and agreed.

RESOLVED

(i)              that the Commercial Strategy 2019 – 23 be approved and adopted as Council policy;

(ii)            that the Commercial Projects Plan be approved;

(iii)          that the Corporate Leadership Team provide a contingency plan for closing the financial gap in the event that financial commercial targets were not met.