Issue - meetings

The purpose of this report is to seek approval for the Seascape Group Limited 5-year Strategic Plan.

Seascape Group Limited’s Strategic Plan sets out a 5 year vision for the period 2020-25 for how the Group will continue to deliver and grow its quality services, support communities and help deliver the Council’s Corporate Strategy.

The activities within Seascape Group Limited will contribute towards the Council’s key objectives in many ways but primarily by ensuring investment in the homes needed, tackling homelessness and rough sleeping, and supporting people to live safe and independent lives.

The Strategic Plan 2020-25 has been approved by the Directors of Seascape Group Limited, and those of the subsidiary companies, and sets out the growth ambitions moving forwards.  The Plan builds on the existing activities, bringing in additional expertise and capacity to help drive a step-change in delivery and generate increased financial returns for the Council as its sole shareholder.

The ambitions set out in this Plan remain current despite the context of Covid-19.  However, the impact and timing of being able to deliver this Plan will be considered in due course once the full impact of Covid-19 is understood.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)     Cabinet approves the Seascape Group Limited’s Strategic Plan 2020-25 attached in Appendix A and;

(b)     Cabinet authorises officers to change the current obligation in the Shareholder Agreement between BCP Council and Seascape Group Limited from the requirement to produce an annual plan to a longer term 5 year strategic plan, in order to facilitate planning in the medium term.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Housing

Reason

Seascape Group Limited enables the Council to trade and generate income in order to support its core services to residents through surpluses. It is a requirement of the shareholders agreement between the Council and Seascape Group Limited that Council/Cabinet approves the Strategic Plan.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'D' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet were advised that this was an ambitious plan, and that the purpose of the report was to seek approval for the Seascape Group Limited 5-year Strategic Plan which set out a 5 year vision for the period 2020-25 for how the Group will continue to deliver and grow its quality services, support communities and help deliver the Council’s Corporate Strategy.

The Portfolio Holder advised that a question had been received in respect of this item from Councillor Bartlett, the question and response have been published on the Councils website as referenced under Minute No. 163.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)      Cabinet approves the Seascape Group Limited’s Strategic Plan 2020-25 attached in Appendix A and;

(b)      Cabinet authorises officers to change the current obligation in the Shareholder Agreement between BCP Council and Seascape Group Limited from the requirement to produce an annual plan to a longer term 5 year strategic plan, in order to facilitate planning in the medium term.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Housing

(Councillors M Howell and V Slade declared local interests in this item and remained present for the discussion and voting thereon)