Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed all attendees to the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillors Paula O’Rourke, Mark Bradshaw, Carole Johnson and Estella Tincknell.  

Councillor Jerome Thomas substituted for Councillor Paula O’Rourke

To note any declarations of interest from the Councillors.  They are asked to indicate the relevant agenda item, the nature of the interest and in particular whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest.

Any declarations of interest made at the meeting which is not on the register of interests should be notified to the Monitoring Officer for inclusion.

Councillor Tom Brook declared that he is a Non-Executive Director of Bristol Waste Company.

Councillor Geoff Gollop declared that he is an observer on the Bristol Shareholder Group.

-        7^th January 19 – to follow

-        11^th March 19 - attached

The minutes from the meetings on the 17^th January 2019 and the 11^th March 2019 were confirmed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes from the meetings on 7th January 2019 and 11th March 19 be approved as a correct record.

To note any announcements from the Chair

The Chair acknowledged that there had been some issues with the circulation of papers for the meeting, including late availability, and confirmed those matters had been raised with senior officers. 

The Deputy Monitor Officer reminded Members of the requirements around exempt materials.

Up to 30 minutes is allowed for this item

Any member of the public or Councillor may participate in Public Forum.  The detailed arrangements for so doing are set out in the Public Information Sheet at the back of this agenda.  Public Forum items should be emailed to democratic.services@bristol.gov.uk and please note that the following deadlines will apply in relation to this meeting:-

Questions - Written questions must be received 3 clear working days prior to the meeting.  For this meeting, this means that your question(s) must be received in this office at the latest by 5 pm on Tuesday 26th March 19.

Petitions and Statements - Petitions and statements must be received on the working day prior to the meeting.  For this meeting this means that your submission must be received in this office at the latest by 12.00 noon onFriday 29th March 19.

The following public forum was received and a copy placed in the minute book;

QUESTION

STATEMENTS

RESOLVED:

That the public forum business be noted

To follow

Officers presented a report detailing the proposal to set up a City Leap Energy Partnership. This report was followed directly with a presentation for item 8. The discussion which followed can be found under item 8.

To follow

The Officer presented a report outlining the 2019/20 – 2023/24 business plan for Bristol Energy. This directly followed a City Leap presentation. The discussion for both presentations was as follows:

• In response to a query, Members were advised that OSMB, Cabinet Members and the Shareholder Group had all been given access to the same information in relation to Bristol Energy (BE) and City Leap.
• The Social Value benefits of BE were discussed by the Commission.  While there were a number of Social Value benefits listed, the Commission suggested the priority should be to tackle fuel poverty in Bristol.
• Members queried the customer base for BE (88% were from outside the city) and were advised that the intention was to increase the overall numbers nationwide so that more funding would be available to support local projects.
• Officers confirmed that the Social Value benefits had been calculated and ratified by the Social Value Portal.
• The Commission acknowledged that there could be tension between the priorities of a commercial organisation and a local authority, but were assured that the business plans of both organisations aligned.
• It was acknowledged that there had been some issues with the structure and governance around BE which had recently been resolved. 
• Members asked for additional information regarding the funding for BE and were advised that all details had been included in the report to Full Council on 26^th February 19.

• Commission Members expressed concern that BE was not currently profitable and that the addition of new customers could worsen matters. In response, they were advised that the situation would improve as the company expanded.  Also, that a number of efficiency projects would be undertaken.

• A Commission Member stated that the BE business plan was unjustifiably optimistic and raised concerns about the implications of the pre-election period on future funding.  Assurance was provided that the Shareholder Group were relatively comfortable with the figures projected.
• The overarching view of the Commission was that City Leap was an exciting idea with lots of potential but there were concerns about its relationship with BE.

RESOLVED;

That Members refer their comments to Cabinet on 2^nd April 2019

Members were presented with a report on the 2019/20 business plan for Bristol Holding Ltd. (and the proposed governance structure and delegation of functions it includes). The discussion which followed can be found under item 10.

Members received a presentation on the proposals for the future ownership of Bristol Is Open and the business plan for the period 2019/20. This presentation directly followed item 9. The discussion for both presentations was as follows;

• Officers confirmed that the BIO partnership between Bristol University and the Council would mutually cease to enable the Council to focus more on service delivery.
• Some concern was expressed about the governance structure of the Holding Company, particularly regarding the role and responsibilities of the Executive Chair, but officers confirmed this option had been selected after careful consideration. 
• Members were positive about the work that BIO was undertaking but were not wholly confident that the Council would be in a position to invest the necessary funding to make the project a success.

RESOLVED;

That Members refer their comments to Cabinet on 2nd April 2019

Updates to be provided verbally or in writing as appropriate.

There were no Chairs’ updates.

To note the work programme.

There was no discussion of this item.

There was no discussion of this item.

Minutes from the meeting on 23^rd January 19 attached.  The minutes from the subsequent meeting on 27^th February 19 are not yet available.

There was no discussion of this item.

That under s.100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it (they) involve(s) the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph(s) *insert paragraph here* (respectively) of Part 1 of schedule 12A of the Act.

That under s.100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded

from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it

(they) involve(s) the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in

paragraph(s) 3 (respectively) of Part 1 of schedule 12A of the Act.

RESOLVED;

That the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting.