In the absence of the Chair, the Panel AGREED that Councillor James Fry should assume the role of Chair for the meeting.

Councillor Nigel Chapman tendered his apologies.

None

Recommendation: that the open and confidential notes of the meeting held on 15 March 2021 be approved.

The record of the meeting of 15 March 2021 was AGREED.

Announcements and verbal updates on matter relevant to the agenda items or to the operation of the Panel from the Chair; Scrutiny Officer; Monitoring Officer or her deputy; or with the Chair’s permission from other officers in attendance.

None

There were no comments or recommendations made to the SJVG from the Companies Scrutiny Panel’s meeting on 15 March 2021.

None

Items to be considered in private - matters exempt from publication

If the Panel wishes to exclude the press and the public from the meeting during consideration of any of the items on the exempt from publication part of the agenda or at any other point in the meeting, it will be necessary for the Panel to pass a resolution to that effect in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 4(2)(b) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 on the grounds that their presence could involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in specific paragraphs of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. .

The Panel may maintain the exemption if and so long as, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

The Panel resolved to move into private session on the grounds that the presence of the public would likely involve the disclosure of exempt information in accordance with paragraph 3, Part 1, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

To consider reports to the Shareholder and Joint Venture Group meetings on 27 July 2021 and on 28 July 2021 (reports are open/ fully exempt as shown on that meeting’s agenda: reports packs to follow).

Minutes of the consideration of the relevant Shareholder and Joint Venture Group reports are detailed below.

The Panel considered the confidential report in private session and NOTED the report.

Simon Howick, Managing Director, Gregor Budde, Finance Director, Lindsay Cane, Company Secretary were present at the meeting for the duration of this item to answer questions.

The Panel discussed the exempt report in private session and agreed to NOTE the report.

Michelle Thomas, Interim Housing Company Managing Director, Jane Winfield, Housing Company Director, Kerry Kiriacou, Housing Company Chair, and David Watt, Finance Analyst joined the meeting to present the report to the Panel. Helen Horne also attended as an invited guest.

The Panel discussed the exempt appendix in private session and agreed to NOTE the report.

Jane Winfield and Stephen Clarke, City Council representatives on Barton Oxford LLP were present to introduce the report and to answer questions.

The Panel discussed the confidential report in private session and NOTED it.

Tom Bridgman, City Council representative on the OxWED board presented the report. Councillor Alex Hollingsworth, Cabinet member for Planning and Housing Delivery also provided responses to questions.

Dates and future operation of the Panel to be agreed.

Recent changes agreed by Cabinet, Scrutiny and Council concerning the governance of the Council’s companies were reported to the Panel. Executive meetings, in the form of the Shareholder and Joint Venture Group, were moving to a four-monthly cycle, but with two meetings. Panel members were invited to attend these meetings and contribute in a non-voting capacity. The Companies Scrutiny Panel would continue without officers (except for the Scrutiny Officer) to discuss what would be brought up at Shareholder and Joint Venture Group meetings.

This information was NOTED.