Councillor Altany Craik (Fife Council) and Councillor Ruairi Kelly (Glasgow City 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 18 October 2024.

DECIDED: That the Minute be approved.

 

There was submitted a joint report by the Treasurer and the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel presenting the Revenue Estimates of Scotland Excel, including the requisition of the constituent authorities, for the financial year 2025/26 along with indicative planning figures for 2026/27 and 2027/28. 

The report intimated that the annual Revenue Estimates process outlined the summary revenue budget position for the organisation and that the budget estimates provided in Appendix 1 to the report outlined the projected position for 2025/26 and an indicative position for 2026/27 and 2027/28. Appendix 2 to the report detailed the proposed requisitions for 2025/26 with the assumptions used in developing these projections being outlined in sections 4 and 5 or the report.

The report noted that Scotland Excel had provided an update on the proposed 0% increase to requisition for 2024/25 and 2025/26 to stakeholders.   

The Treasurer noted that changes to the level of national insurance paid by employers, announced as part of the UK Government’s budget, had not been factored into the draft revenue estimates and that further detail was required on how the policy change would work in practice to allow its impact to be fully assessed. It was expected that further information on this would be included in the report to be submitted to the Joint Committee.

DECIDED: 

(a) That the Revenue Estimates of Scotland Excel for the financial year 2025/26, as detailed in Table 1 of Appendix 1 to the report, be noted; 

(b) That the requisitions from constituent authorities and total estimated savings for 2023/24, as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report, be noted; and 

(c) That the indicative estimates for 2026/27and 2027/28 be noted; and

(d) That it be noted that the estimates were expected to be updated to reflect the impact of changes to the level of national insurance paid by employers prior to submission to the Joint Committee.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel which provided the Executive Sub-committee with an opportunity to review the proposed Operating Plan 2025/26, a copy of which was appended to the report.

The report intimated that in December 2022, the Joint Committee approved a five-year strategy covering the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2028. This strategy was supported by annual operating plans which provided more detailed information on the actions and activities that Scotland Excel would undertake each year to deliver the strategy. 

DECIDED: That the proposed Operating Plan 2025/26 be noted prior to submission to the Joint Committee in December 2024.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel relative to Scotland Excel’s Risk Strategy for 2025/24, a copy of which was appended to the report.

The Risk Strategy outlined the approach that Scotland Excel would take in identifying, monitoring and managing risks that might impact upon the successful delivery of the organisation’s five-year Corporate Strategy. Further that the revised strategy sought to enhance the organisation’s existing robust risk management methodology for formalising and creating more structured strategic risk management processes. 

The report provided detail in relation to the proposed approach to risk management; the review of the organisational risk appetite; and the frequency of the review and reporting of Scotland Excel’s strategic risk management.

DECIDED: That the proposed Risk Strategy 2025/28 be noted.

 

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel relative to the award of a second-generation renewal framework for the Provision of Debt recovery and Sheriff Officer Services for a period of up to 48 months. It was noted that subject to approval, it was intended that the framework would commence on or around 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 £1.5 million per annum, totalling an estimated spend of £6 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 eight 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 all eight suppliers, as outlined in Appendix 2 to the report, subject to satisfactory conclusion of insurance checks. 

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 Provision of Debt Recovery and Sheriff officer Services, as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report, be approved.

 

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel advising that Forgewood Housing Co-operative 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 Forgewood Housing Co-operative Limited to become an associate member of Scotland Excel, with an annual membership fee of £550, be approved, subject to completion and signing of the agreement documentation.

 

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel advising that Garrion People’s Housing Co-operative Limited 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 Garrion People’s Housing Co-operative Limited to become an associate member of Scotland Excel, with an annual membership fee of £550, be approved, subject to completion and signing of the agreement documentation.

 

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel advising that Waverley Housing 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 Waverley Housing to become an associate member of Scotland Excel, with an annual membership fee of £2,255, be approved, subject to completion and signing of the agreement documentation.

 

There was submitted a report by the Clerk relative to proposed dates for meetings of the Executive Sub-committee during 2025. 

DECIDED: That, if required, meetings of the Executive Sub-committee be held remotely using the Microsoft Teams platform at 9.30 am on 24 January, 21 February, 21 March, 25 April, 16 May, 20 June, 22 August, 19 September, 24 October, 21 November and 12 December 2025.

 

DECIDED: That it be noted that the next meeting of the Executive Sub-committee would be held remotely on MS teams at 9.30 am on 6 December 2024.