Decision

The Finance and Legal Portfolio Holder has decided to approve the Annual Business Plans for four companies with Council shareholdings.

Analysis

outcome: The Council approved the 2025-2026 Annual Business Plans for the four companies.

summary: The decision involves approving the Annual Business Plans for four companies in which the Council has shareholdings.

topline: The Finance and Legal Portfolio Holder has decided to approve the Annual Business Plans for four companies with Council shareholdings.

reason_contentious: This issue may be contentious as it involves financial decisions and governance controls that could impact the services provided by the companies.

affected_stakeholders: ["Council", "Brio Leisure", "Cheshire West Recycling", "Avenue Services", "Edsential", "Sanctuary Housing", "Wirral Council"]

contentiousness_score: 6

political_party_relevance: There are no mentions or implications of political parties or political influence on the decision.

URL: https://cmttpublic.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1993

Decision Maker: Finance and Legal Portfolio Holder

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: 1)            The Council has material shareholdings in four companies that provide services to the Council, or on its behalf. As part of its governance controls, the Council retains a number of powers which allow it to ensure these companies continue to operate in ways that support its wider strategies and objectives. 2)            One of the key controls is the requirement for each company to produce an Annual Business Plan (ABP) and for this to be approved by the Council as shareholder. 3)            This report seeks Council shareholder approval for the ABP for each council company for 2025-2026. The Council’s Shareholding Arrangements for those companies is summarised below:   Company Shareholding arrangement Brio Leisure Wholly owned by Council Cheshire West Recycling Wholly owned by Council Avenue Services Joint shareholding with Sanctuary Housing. The Council’s shareholding is 49% Edsential Joint shareholding with Wirral Council. The Council’s shareholding is 50%  

Content: 1)            The Council has material shareholdings in four companies that provide services to the Council, or on its behalf. As part of its governance controls, the Council retains a number of powers which allow it to ensure these companies continue to operate in ways that support its wider strategies and objectives. 2)            One of the key controls is the requirement for each company to produce an Annual Business Plan (ABP) and for this to be approved by the Council as shareholder. 3)            This report seeks Council shareholder approval for the ABP for each council company for 2025-2026. The Council’s Shareholding Arrangements for those companies is summarised below:   Company Shareholding arrangement Brio Leisure Wholly owned by Council Cheshire West Recycling Wholly owned by Council Avenue Services Joint shareholding with Sanctuary Housing. The Council’s shareholding is 49% Edsential Joint shareholding with Wirral Council. The Council’s shareholding is 50%   That the 2025-2026 Annual Business Plans of the following Council Companies be approved:   ·         Cheshire West and Chester Leisure CIC (trading as Brio Leisure) ·         Cheshire West Recycling Limited (CWR) ·         Avenue Services (NW) Limited ·         Edsential CIC The proposals set out in the Business Plans help to ensure that the companies’ strategic plans remain aligned to the Council’s core priorities. The plans could be rejected and the companies asked to put forward alternate proposals. This should only be considered if there are valid reasons to reject the plans that the company could then factor into any re-submission.

Date of Decision: August 13, 2025