Councillor Jack Cruickshanks (Angus Council) and Councillor Walter Brogan (South Lanarkshire 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 June 2025.

In relation to item 4(b) - Contract for Approval: Supply and Delivery of Education and Office Furniture - members were advised that following approval of the recommendations, Appendix 2 of the report required to be amended to recommend an additional bidder for award to lot 4. This bidder was eligible for award for the lot based on the scoring achieved on the related supplies lot (lot 1) and associated requirements set out in the June report. During standstill it became clear that the bidder’s offer for inclusion in lot 4 was omitted in error and the revised Appendix 2 correctly reflected the evaluation outcome, with the relative placings for lot 4 bidders adjusted from the original report circulated to members. The changes affected 6 bidders overall, being the other lot 4 participants, whose placings had been adjusted and were highlighted in an updated Appendix 2 which would be circulated to members following the meeting

DECIDED: 

(a) That the Minute be approved; and

(b) That the update in relation to item 4(b) – Contract for Approval: Supply and Delivery of Education and Office Furniture – be noted and that the updated Appendix 2 for lot 4 be approved.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel relative to the Chief Executive’s update report submitted to the meeting of the Scotland Excel Chief Executive Officers Management Group (CEOMG) held on 11 August 2025, a copy of which was appended to the report. 

DECIDED: That the report be noted.

There was submitted a joint revenue budget monitoring report by the Treasurer and the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel for the period 1 April to 27 June 2025. 

The report advised that at the end of period 03 of the financial year 2025/26, Scotland Excel was projecting a £0.033 million overspend in its core activities and a decrease of £1.713 million in project reserves. 

DECIDED: 

(a) That the report be noted; and

(b) That the budgeted drawdown detailed in paragraph 3.2 of the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel providing an update on the SOLACE review of partner organisations led by Paul Manning, Chief Executive of South Lanarkshire Council. A copy of the report presented to SOLACE on 27 June 2025 was appended to the report.

DECIDED:

(a) That the outcome of the report, which stated that all partners were in alignment with SOLACE Reform objectives and that there was no significant overlap in the digital landscape be noted; and

(b) That the summary of recommendations detailed in section 5 of the report be noted.

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 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 1.31% 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 April 2024 and March 2025.

In relation to the new Care Homes for Adult framework, the report stated that this framework had been approved by the Executive Sub-committee on 25 April 2025. It was noted that at the April meeting, authority had been delegated to the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel, or the Director of Strategic Procurement & Commissioning in the Chief Executive’s absence, following satisfactory completion of PTN, to approve the recommendations set out in Appendix 2 to the report and establish the flexible framework agreement on that basis, reporting back to the Executive Sub-committee at the earliest opportunity thereafter.

DECIDED: That the progress made to date and the update in relation to the new Care Homes for Adult framework be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel relative to an update on the Operating Plan 2025/26, 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 2025 to 31 March 2026 being approved at the meeting of the Joint Committee held on 6 December 2024.

This report presented an update on operating plan activity that had taken place between 1 April and 30 June 2025.

DECIDED: That Scotland Excel’s performance in delivering the actions contained within the Operating Plan 2025/26 be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel providing an overview of measures contained within The Scottish Government’s Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill; highlighting areas where Scotland Excel could contribute to the call for views and seeking feedback from Members in relation to the proposed response to the consultation, which formed Appendix 1 to the report.

The report provided detail in relation to the Bill, the call for views and the questions in relation to procurement and commissioning that Scotland Excel were responding to.

DECIDED: That the draft response, which formed Appendix 1 to the report, be amended following feedback from Members and submitted as Scotland Excel’s response to the call for views.

DECIDED: That it be noted that the next meeting of the Executive Sub-committee would be held at 9.30 am on 19 September 2025.