Decision details

To consider the draft Commercialisation Strategy.

1.  That the draft Commercialisation Strategy, attached at Appendix A to the report of the Head of Commercial and Economic Development, be adopted subject to the following amendments:

·  At paragraph 2 of the Strategy, amend the final section to read:

This is a fundamental shift in approach and consequently a simple, easily understood Commercialisation Strategy is required to give direction; and which links into the Medium Term Financial Strategy.  All projects and activities undertaken under the Commercialisation Strategy will therefore be evaluated against the priorities of the Medium Term Financial Strategy at paragraph 2.5 of that Strategy.

·  At paragraph 4.3 of the Strategy, the ‘Commercial Projects Development Team’, add a new bullet point to read, as the first and primary function:

To look for trading projects that prioritise capture of commercial opportunities afforded by our existing statutory and non-statutory services, so that synergy exists between our commercial and other desired outcomes.

2.  That the decision to implement a project will be made by the full Cabinet.

The Commercialisation Strategy will enable the Council to continue with ‘self-help’ measures, in the face of reduced funding.  Commercial activity is nothing new for the Council but the Strategy will consolidate its previous commercial activity (such as the commercial waste collection service; shared services; car park charging; events; etc.) and provide a framework and Strategy, with defined objectives, for these commercial projects and for the delivery of future commercial activity.

Feedback from other authorities of comparable size regarding their experience in delivering commercial projects will be circulated for Members’ information, and visits can be arranged as appropriate.

The Cabinet could have decided not to undertake a course of Commercialisation.  However, this would require additional funding to be found, at the levels specified in paragraph 3.2 of the draft Strategy, and/or result in an additional adverse impact on service delivery.