Councillor Jack Cruickshanks (Angus Council), Councillor Altany Craik (Fife Council) and Councillor Derek Louden (Highland Council).

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


Prior to the start of the meeting, the Convener, on behalf of the Sub-committee, thanked Councillor Durno for her attendance, participation and support during her membership of Scotland Excel.

There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of the Executive Sub-committee held on 25 April 2025.

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 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. 

The report advised that at the end of financial year 2024/25, Scotland Excel had generated an operating surplus of £0.617 million in its core activities and an increase of £2.261 million in project reserves, after a contribution from projects to core of £0.295 million. Further detail was provided in the report.

The report intimated that the Unaudited Annual Accounts for the year 2024/25 would be presented to the Joint Committee in June 2025.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel relative to the award of a fourth-generation renewal framework for the Supply, Delivery, Installation and Disposal of Domestic Furniture and Furnishings for a period of 48 months from the commencement date. It was noted that subject to approval and completion of a standstill period, it was intended that the renewal framework would commence on or around 1 June 2025.

The report advised that following consultation with the User Intelligence Group (UIG), the framework contained three lots, as detailed in Table 1 of the report. Lots 2 and 3 had been further subdivided into categories and it was noted that tenderers could offer for one, any or all of the categories and offers within those categories were evaluated on a category-by-category basis.

 

 

The report summarised the outcome of the procurement process and advised that the framework had been advertised with a total value of £45 million per annum, equating to an estimated spend of £180 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 nine tenderers and a summary of the offers received and the scoring achieved by each tenderer 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 (in whole or in part) to five tenderers, 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 classification tool, the framework had been classified as class B.

DECIDED: That the award of the framework agreement for the Supply, Delivery, Installation and Disposal of Domestic Furniture and Furnishings, as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report, be approved.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel relative to a progress update on the 2025/26 Contract Delivery Plan which detailed frameworks approved, new framework developments and renewals, flexible frameworks, framework extensions and frameworks with ongoing contract management activity and appendices 1 to 5 to the report provided further details. 

The report highlighted that, at any given point, there were around 65 frameworks in the Scotland Excel contract portfolio. During 2025/26 it was intended that one further framework would be developed and added to the portfolio. Since the start of 2025/26, two frameworks had been awarded with 27 frameworks remaining to be renewed before the end of December 2026. A further 11 frameworks had extension options that were available to be exercised, with two of these extensions already approved. Four other potential framework opportunities were currently being assessed.

The report advised that the current estimated forecast value of the Scotland Excel framework portfolio was approximately £2.14 billion and that overall, efficiencies created by frameworks awarded were benchmarked at 1.27% of framework value. Appendix 6 to the report set out Scotland Excel’s updated methodology for calculating efficiencies in accordance with the Scottish Government procurement benefits reporting guidance and Appendix 7 to the report detailed a summary of spend per Council across the portfolio between January and December 2024. 

DECIDED: That the progress made to date be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel relative to an update on the Operating Plan 2024/25, a copy of which was appended to the report. 

The report intimated that the new five-year Corporate Strategy, outlining the organisation’s business goals and priorities from 2023/28, had been approved at the meeting of the Joint Committee held on 9 December 2022. The Strategy was supported by annual operating plans with the operating plan covering the period from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 being approved at the meeting of the Joint Committee held on 8 December 2023.

This report presented an update on operating plan activity that had taken place between 31 January and 31 March 2025 and concluded reporting against the Operating Plan 2024/25.

DECIDED: That Scotland Excel’s performance in delivering the actions contained within the Operating Plan 2024/25 be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel relative to an update on the Risk Register maintained to monitor risks that could impact the delivery of Scotland Excel’s strategic objectives and which set out the ongoing controls and actions underway to control identified risks. A copy of the Risk Register as of April 2025 was appended to the report. 

The report intimated that the Risk Register had been developed using revised methodology set out in the Risk Strategy 2025/28 approved by the Joint Committee in December 2024. Currently there were 14 risks identified ranging in evaluation score from 6 to 16 and a summary of the key components of each risk including original and residual evaluation scores, existing controls, related actions associated with the organisational operating plan and a horizon scan of future developments expected to impact the risk landscape in the near future was detailed in the Register. 

DECIDED: That the Risk Register be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel relative to a proposal to create a Professional Development Award (PDA) in Commissioning, Procurement and Contracting for Care Services utilising the remainder of reserves as a result of surpluses generated by pension fund changes.

The report provided detail in relation to the background and development of the project together with the costs and future funding. The report advised that the PDA programme was dependent on the identification and availability of key social care commissioning resources that could support the programme. Subject to funding approval, the first step would be to identify a potential pool of resources, and once confirmed, further dialogue would be undertaken to shape the programme development and create a project plan.

DECIDED: That the project funding and drawdown from agreed reserves of £146,000 for the development of a programme and delivery of two cohorts be approved.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel advising that Forth Housing Association 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 Forth Housing Association Limited to become an associate member of Scotland Excel, with an annual membership fee of £1,410, be approved, subject to completion and signing of the agreement documentation.

DECIDED: That it be noted that the next meeting of the Executive Sub-committee would be held at 9.30 am on 20 June 2025.