Councillor Christina Larsen (North Ayrshire), Councillor Dennis Leask (Shetland Islands Council) and Councillor Chris Cullen (South Ayrshire Council).

There were no declarations of interest or transparency statements intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting.

There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of the Executive Sub-committee held on 20 September 2024.

DECIDED: That the Minute be approved.

There was submitted a joint revenue budget monitoring report by the Treasurer and the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel for the period to 13 September 2024. 

The report advised that at the end of period 6, Scotland Excel was projecting a £0.138 million underspend by year-end in its Core activities and an increase of £0.574 million in Project Reserves. 

It was noted that reference to ‘Drawdown from Reserves’ in Appendix 1 to the report should refer to ‘Contribution to Reserves’.

DECIDED: 

(a) That the report be noted;

(b) That the proposed budget virements, as indicated in paragraph 3.3 of the report, be noted; and

(c) That the proposed budget virement, as detailed in paragraph 3.10 of the report, be approved; and

(d) That it be noted that reference to ‘Drawdown from Reserves’ in Appendix 1 to the report should refer to ‘Contribution to Reserves’.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel relative to the award of a fifth-generation renewal framework for the Supply and Distribution of Catering Sundries for a period of 48 months. It was noted that subject to approval and completion of a standstill period, it was intended that the framework would commence on 1 December 2024.

The report summarised the outcome of the procurement process which contained two lots, as detailed in Table 1 of the report. The framework had been advertised with a value of up to £4.5 million per annum, totalling an estimated spend of £18 million over the maximum four-year period of the framework. Appendix 1 to the report detailed the participation, spend and savings summary for those participating in the framework. 

Tender responses had been received from 12 suppliers and a summary of the offers received and the scoring achieved by each supplier was detailed in Appendix 2 to the report. 

Based on the evaluation undertaken, and in line with the advertised criteria and weightings set out in the report, it was recommended that a multi-supplier framework arrangement be awarded to seven suppliers, as outlined in Appendix 2 to the report. 
The report detailed the approach taken by suppliers in relation to fair work practices and their position on the payment of the Real Living Wage together with the other benefits that would be achieved through the framework. The report intimated that, in accordance with Scotland Excel’s established contract segmentation tool, the framework had been classified as class D. 

DECIDED: That the award of the framework agreement for the Supply and Delivery of Catering Sundries, as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report, be approved.

The Chief Executive of Scotland Excel submitted a report providing an overview of Scotland Excel’s approach to ensuring best value in the national social care portfolio and highlighting the risks faced.

The report provided information in relation to the social care portfolio which could be broadly split into two categories, commissioned care services, and goods and services which aid the delivery of local government service provision; best value in commissioned care services; and the risks being faced.

The report advised that Scotland Excel was aware of the financial challenges faced by its local government members and was exploring how best to support members by improving the national commercial approach which must continue to align with ethical commissioning principals, particularly sustainability, to ensure that Scotland had high-quality services in the future. 

DECIDED:

(a) That the contents of the report be noted; and

(b) That Scotland Excel be supported in seeking to retain an ethical commissioning approach, within the challenging area of social care fee setting for commissioned services, by supporting continued uptake of national contracts.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel advising that the Cairngorms National Park Authority had applied to become an associate member of Scotland Excel. 

The report provided details of the organisation and the legislative position in relation to the application.

DECIDED: That the application by the Cairngorms National Park Authority to become an associate member of Scotland Excel, with no annual membership fee, be approved, subject to completion and signing of the agreement documentation.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel providing an update on the Strategic Risk Register maintained to monitor threats and risks that could impact the delivery of Scotland Excel’s strategic objectives and to identify controls that were in place to mitigate these risks. A copy of the Strategic Risk Register was appended to the report. 

The report intimated that the Strategic Risk Register had been developed using methodology set out in the Strategic Risk Strategy approved by the Joint Committee in December 2022. Currently there were 12 strategic risks identified ranging in assessed risk score from 6 to 16 and a summary of key elements in relation to each identified risk was detailed in the Register. 

DECIDED: That the Strategic Risk Register be noted.