Issue - meetings

Report of the Executive Director of Place

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services the aim of which was to allow Members to carry out effective scrutiny of the Council company Sefton Hospitality Operations Limited to provide a level of assurance that both the Council’s interests and the services or products provided by the company to our residents, were safe and well managed and offered good value for money.

The report provided information on the aims of the Sefton Hospitality Operations Limited Annual Report; expected outcomes; the Council’s objectives for the company; the Council’s governance arrangements including the governance arrangements in place for the company in 2021/22; the key objectives for the Company as per the Business Plan in 2021/22; a review of performance for 2021/22; financial performance 2021/22; key areas of risk during the year; evaluation of performance in 2021/22 compared to Council objectives for setting up the company and the approved Business Plan for the year; and the Delivery and Improvement Plans for 2022/23.

The Committee was requested to:

·       provide feedback on key issues arising from the report and to advise on further information that would support the scrutiny review in future years

·       provide feedback on current performance (operational and financial) and how this supported the Council’s strategic aims and ambitions and aligned with the objectives and reasons for setting up the companies; and

·       seek clarification or additional information from officers in order to carry out the scrutiny function

Members of the Committee asked questions/commented on the following issues:

·       in respect of the Business Plan and company’s projected loss during 2021-22 of £178,350; and the cessation of the previous annual subsidy from the Council to CLAC of £250,000 per annum and the potential impact this may have on the Council’s revenue budget

·       how the company was supported or underwritten by the Council

·       the low level of staff turnover and the high percentage of staff employed at the Lake House being Sefton residents

·       the successful operation of the Lake House since opening and particularly over the recent Christmas period

·       bookings already being taken for Christmas 2023

·       positive Lake House customer feedback 

RESOLVED:

That the report on Sefton Hospitality Operations Limited 2021/22 Outturn Review of Council Wholly Owned Companies be noted.