Issue - meetings

Commercial Strategy

Meeting: 14/01/2020 - Executive (Item 4)

4 Commercial Strategy pdf icon PDF 96 KB

To consider the report of the Director (DB).

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Agreed

RECOMMENDED that Council approve:-

 

(1)  the adoption of the Commercial Strategy; and

(2)  Strategic Management Board (SMB) being authorised to approve whether a commercial project continues.

 

Reason for Decision:

As set out in the report.

 

 

 

Minutes:

The Executive received the report on the Commercial Strategy which detailed the process to determine the viability of commercial projects and achieve the Council’s aims and aspirations for commercialisation. The strategy would ensure that there was an open and transparent process in place to develop commercial ideas.

 

The focus of the work was on providing an increase to funding through the services delivered by the Council through a phased approach. The first phase addressed cost recovery and market testing, while the second phase focussed on delivering surplus from commercial activity and providing a delivery model for the service. It was highlighted that any additional funding would require approval from Members.

 

Particular reference was made to the first stage of the work and whether it met the evaluation criteria. If it did not meet the criteria, the work would need to be amended or discontinued and all work would undertake an Equality Impact Assessment.

 

Specific mention was made to the development of the Exeter City Services brand to be launched later in the year and that the ideas for work currently included commercial trade waste, commercial properties and ground maintenance.

 

Councillor D. Moore, having given notice under Standing Order No. 44, spoke on this item. She commented on the commercialisation of Council property and given the Council’s need to reduce the external spending, whether the Executive would be reviewing the current business case for the new leisure centre and the intention for a third party to deliver the new leisure centre contract. She commented on the need to generate income to support the Council’s core services and that stopping free car parking on Thursday evenings should be considered in order to save £35,000 a year.

 

During the discussion, the following points were raised:-

 

 

·         Members were pleased with the strategy, especially with limited public sector resources, as it would support services and was essential in generating additional income;

·         Members commended the professionalism and work of the officers involved and noted that it provided an opportunity to achieve the aims and objectives of the Council and support the priorities of residents;

·         The strategy met the Carbon Neutral targets set by Exeter City Council;

·         The loss of car parking charges would need to be evaluated while maintaining a level of support to local businesses.

 

RECOMMENDED that Council approve:-

 

(1)  the adoption of the Commercial Strategy; and

(2)  Strategic Management Board (SMB) being authorised to approve whether a commercial project continues.