Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest. 

The minutes of the meeting held on 14 November 2023 were confirmed as a correct record. 

Janet Scholes, the Director of Property presented the report as Council client’s quarterly review of the joint ventures, Concertus Derbyshire Limited (CDL), Vertas Derbyshire Limited (VDL), and Develop Review. Members would also receive a receive a quarterly performance update from Concertus and Vertas at the meeting on their activities.

Since the last meeting of the Committee, Julian Gould, Director of Highways had been appointed onto the Joint Venture Board.

CDL had circulated their company accounts to members of the Committee following the last meeting. A new scale of fees had been negotiated and agreed, which reflected the different levels of complexity and scale of projects more accurately.

The relationship between CDL and the service client was more direct and streamlined. This would remove some of the pressure of expectation on Property Services to continue ‘managing’ the relationship between CDL projects and programmes and the service area and allow Property Services to focus on strategic planning of the asset base. The Service Asset Management Plans would be used to inform discussions and avoid duplication of effort.

VDL had circulated their company accounts to members of the Committee following the last meeting. There was an obvious tension between the Council’s strategic objective to reduce the size of its estate to an affordable level and the impact this had on VDL. Greater efficiencies through Corporate Landlord and consistent, centralised Property decisions based on SLAs would develop over time.

The customer helpline was proving to be a very positive tool and had eased the communications issues. It was also noted that there had been a noticeable reduction in complaints and concerns being routed through Property.

Develop Renew currently had an option agreement over only one asset which was Cavendish Road and all marketing activity had been paused. No further assets had been put through the Partnership since and there were no updates.

RESOLVED that the Committee notes the report of the Director of Property and the presentations on the activities of Concertus Derbyshire Limited and Vertas Derbyshire Limited.

Matthew Self and Tom Marshall, on behalf of Concertus delivered a presentation outlining key aspects of the work that they had been carrying out over the past six months.

Karen Burrowes on behalf of Vertas delivered a presentation outlining key aspects of the work that they had been carrying out over the past six months.

       The meeting finished at 10.34