Agenda item

(a)  To recognise the important role that Commercialisation will make in financing high quality outputs, outcomes and services in the future, a Commercial Committee comprising four elected members be established.

(b)  To agree that the fundamental role of the new Committee will be to maximise existing and future commercial and business development opportunities in accordance with the contents of this report.

(c)  To note that the Commercial Committee will develop a Commercial Strategy and Action Plan that will be subject to Cabinet approval.

(d)  To agree that the Service Lead Governance be instructed to arrange for any necessary changes to the Constitution to be presented to Council for adoption, following approval by the Monitoring Officer, to enable the work of the Committee to begin as soon as possible.

(e)  To note that induction will be arranged for the members of the Committee in accordance with the contents of this report following their appointment, including training on commercialisation and business development.

(f)  To agree to the proposal to introduce a dedicated finance resource associated with the role of the Commercial Committee and emerging Commercial Strategy and delegate authority to the Director of Finance to resource this proposed new post.

(g)  To note that an update report be brought to Cabinet by September 2019 that will include the proposed Commercial Strategy and Action Plan.  The report will also include the Terms of Reference which will, if approved, be reported to Council.

The Project Manager, Regeneration introduced a report that proposed the introduction of a new Commercial Sub-Committee.

The Council had a range of boards, strategies, joint ventures and commercial companies in place to deliver regeneration and generate income that supported front line services.  These included Slough Urban Renewal, the Strategic Acquisition Board, James Elliman Homes and the DSO/Teckal.  There was not currently a single strategy to align this activity and a Commercial Strategy was being prepared to direct activity.  The introduction of a Commercial Sub-Committee would strengthen the governance structures to oversee the strategy and performance.  It would be a sub-committee of the Cabinet composed of four Lead Members with the relevant portfolios.  If it was agreed to established the Sub-Committee, the terms of reference and Commercial Strategy would be considered by Cabinet in September 2019.

Speaking under Rule 30, Councillor Strutton asked if the Sub-Committee would be open and transparent.  The Chief Executive confirmed that as Cabinet Sub-Committee it would operate in much the same way as other committees with non-executive Members able to attend as per the Access to Information procedure rules and the Sub-Committee would only meet in private where exempt information was likely to be disclosed.

The Cabinet welcomed the establishment of the Sub-Committee and approved the recommendations.

Resolved –

(a)  That to recognise the important role that Commercialisation would make in financing high quality outputs, outcomes and services in the future, a Commercial Committee comprising four elected members be established.

(b)  That it be agreed that the fundamental role of the new Committee would be to maximise existing and future commercial and business development opportunities in accordance with the contents of the report.

(c)  That it be noted that the Commercial Committee would develop a Commercial Strategy and Action Plan that would be subject to Cabinet approval.

(d)  That the Service Lead Governance be instructed to arrange for any necessary changes to the Constitution to be presented to Council for adoption, following approval by the Monitoring Officer, to enable the work of the Committee to begin as soon as possible.

(e)  That it be noted that induction would be arranged for the members of the Committee in accordance with the contents of the report following their appointment, including training on commercialisation and business development.

(f)  That the proposal to introduce a dedicated finance resource associated with the role of the Commercial Committee and emerging Commercial Strategy be agreed and that delegated authority be given to the Director of Finance to resource this proposed new post.

(g)  That it be noted that an update report be brought to Cabinet by September 2019 that would include the proposed Commercial Strategy and Action Plan.  The report would also include the Terms of Reference which will, if approved, be reported to Council.