There were no conflicts of interest intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting.

There was submitted the Minute of the special meeting of this Group held on 3 February 2025.

DECIDED: That the Minute be approved.

Under reference to item 2 of the Minute of the special meeting of this Group held on 3 February 2025, there was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel providing an update on key developments within Scotland Excel, since the meeting of the CEOMG held on 2 December 2024, and the key strategic activities and outputs delivered by each team within the corporate structure.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.

Paul Manning provided an update on the work being undertaken in connection with the review of local government shared services and advised that following receipt of information from partner organisations, the review group would develop recommendations and an action plan to take matters forward.

The group discussed a range of matters, including submission of a report to COSLA on the work undertaken by of Scotland Excel with partners; consideration of further opportunities in procurement and the business case for this; the expanded remit of Scotland Excel following the work being undertaken on local government shared services review; the strategic commissioning space and what the picture is in other areas of the UK. It was agreed that the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel would submit an update report to the next meeting of the Group.

DECIDED: That the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel submit an update report to the next meeting of the Group.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel relative to the proposed approach to Scotland Excel’s engagement with SOLACE.

The report intimated that Scotland Excel had regular engagement with SOLACE since its inception in 2008, generally on an ad-hoc basis, but that there was no agreed position on what items of business should be presented or when. 

The report proposed (i) that an annual performance update be submitted to SOLACE in November or December which would also include a request to agree the CEOMG members for the next calendar year and (ii) that a member of the CEOMG sponsor the annual update at the SOLACE meeting. 

DECIDED:

(a) That the standardisation of engagement between Scotland Excel and SOLACE be supported;

(b) That Alan Russell sponsor Scotland Excel papers at SOLACE branch meetings; and

(c) That it be noted that the Chair of SOLACE would be consulted on this proposal, if agreed.

There was submitted a presentation by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel providing an update on the work of the Savings Team. 

The presentation provided information in relation to Phase 1 of the Procurement Cards Project; the cluster agreement arrangements; the missed opportunity for councils; Phase 2 of the Procurement Cards Project; the finance projects the savings team were involved in; and the next steps.

Following discussion on a range of matters, including engagement with Directors of Finance and Chief Executives reinforcing the savings to be made by participating in the project with the only requirement being signing up to the cluster agreement, Alan Russell agreed to write to the Chief Executives to encourage greater participating.
 
DECIDED: 

(a) That the presentation be noted; and

(b) That it be noted that Alan Russell would write to the Chief Executives to encourage greater participation.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel providing an update on planned standing agenda items following discussions at the meeting of the CEOMG held on 2 December 2024.

Table 1 of the report detailed the timetable for the proposed standing agendas items which would be considered by the CEOMG and noted that there would be other matters submitted where strategic input and/or direction would be requested from the group. Further, that the key themes emerging from SOLACE would be tabled for discussion as and when it was appropriate and relevant; and that where Scotland Excel had an interest in any published consultations, the planned approach would be presented to the group for input.

The group discussed a range of matters including providing quarterly contract delivery performance information in the Chief Executive’s reports to this group; organising two evening sessions per year for Chief Executives focussing on the work of Scotland Excel; commercialisation and how Councils could receive further income and the commercial training provided to Councils by Scotland Excel; provision of a register of savings opportunities; sharing information with all Councils and learning from this; and standing items on agendas in relation to the commercialisation agenda and the strategic direction of Scotland Excel. It was agreed that the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel take the comments on board and recirculate the schedule to members of the group.

DECIDED: That the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel update the schedule and recirculate this to members of the group.

DECIDED: That it be noted that the next meeting of the CEOMG would be held at 10.00 am on 2 June 2025.