Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting held 14 November 2022.

The minutes of the meeting held  14 November 2022 were approved and signed.

To agree a minor amendment to the FFL Articles of Association.

Agreed to:

·       approve the change of date in relation to the requirement for FFL to provide the final audited accounts to the Council from 31 July to reflect the requirement of The Accounts and Audit (Amendment) Regulations 2022. The current requirements of the Regulations will result in the final audited accounts being submitted by FFL to the Council by 30 September in each financial year until the 2027/28 accounts have been completed;

·       that the date that the FFL is required to submit final audited accounts to the Council should continue to reflect the requirements outline in The Accounts and Audit (Amendment) Regulations 2022 both now and in the future;

·       delegate to the S151 Officer or such other official as appropriate the responsibility to mirror the amended final audited accounts submission date in the FFL Articles of Association to reflect the requirements of The Accounts and Audit (Amendment) Regulations 2022 and any other relevant documents which contain this information.

Members considered the updated Articles of Association report presented by Anna Goodall.

Members asked questions, made comments and received responses as follows:

·       Councillor Boden stated that members are being asked to delegate the responsibility to make the amendments on the account submission date to the Section 151 Officer, however, the Section 151 Officer in that capacity only acts for the Council or for the shareholder and not for the company and, therefore, he asked officers to clarify whether that is appropriate or whether it should be for somebody else within the company to do that. Anna Goodall responded that consideration had been given to that issue given the fact that the Section 151 Officer is a Council Officer and has a Fenland District Council focus rather than a Fenland Future Limited (FFL) focus. She stated that the Articles of Association was initially written by legal professionals on behalf of FFL and was delegated to FFL, however, she agreed with Councillor Boden that further consideration should be given to the point he has raised with regards to who hold the responsibility for that amendment.

·       Councillor Boden stated that he would, therefore, amend the recommendation in order that it stated that the Section 151 Officer or such other official as is appropriate.

AGREED to

·        approve the change of date in relation to the requirement for FFL to provide the final audited accounts to the Council from 31 July to reflect the requirements of The Accounts and Audit (Amendment) Regulations 2022. The current requirements of the Regulations will result in the final audited accounts being submitted by FFL to the Council by 30 September in each financial year until the 2027/28 accounts have been completed;

·       that the date that FFL is required to submit final audited accounts to the Council should continue to reflect the requirements outlined in The Accounts and Audit (Amendment) Regulations 2022 both now and in the future.

·       delegate to the S151 Officer or such other official as appropriate, the responsibility to mirror the amended final audited accounts submission date in the FFL Articles of Association to reflect the requirements of The Accounts and Audit (Amendment) Regulations 2022 and any other relevant documents which contain this information.

To update the Investment Board on the position with current live opportunities (verbal update)

Councillor Boden advised members that a written update would be provided to them as soon as possible.

To receive and note the updated FFL Business Plan

The appendices to this report comprise exempt information – to exclude the public (including the press) from a meeting of a committee it is necessary for the following proposition to be moved and adopted: “that the public be excluded from the meeting for items which would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraphs 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) as indicated.”

Agreed to:

·       note the report;

·       endorse the adoption of the revised FFL Business Plan (April 23 to March 26); and

·       receive further reports on the progress of FFL projects against the approved Business Plan in accordance with the approved Articles of Association for FFL.

Members considered the Fenland Future Limited Business Plan report presented by Adam Broadway.

Members asked questions, made comments and received responses as follows.

·         Councillor Boden expressed the view that everything appears to be very clear and straightforward and he is very pleased with the work which has been undertaken so far.

AGREED to:

·         note the report;

·         endorse the adoption of the revised FFL Business Plan (April 23 to March 26); and

·         receive further reports on the progress of FFL projects against the approved Business Plan in accordance with the approved Articles of Association for FFL.

To provide an update on the current schemes in progress and to agree the next steps.

The appendix to this report comprises exempt information – to exclude the public (including the press) from a meeting of a committee it is necessary for the following proposition to be moved and adopted: “that the public be excluded from the meeting for items which would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraphs 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) as indicated.”

Agreed to note the report and receive further reports on the progress of the projects.

Members considered the Fenland Future Limited Scheme update including land transfers report presented by Adam Broadway.

Members asked questions, made comments and received responses as follows:

·       Councillor Boden stated that the report is very clear, and he looks forward to the future work and progress in the new municipal year.

AGREED to note the report and receive further reports on the progress of the projects.