Councillor JG Jarvis declared a non-pecuniary interest as the Council's representative on the Hereford Futures Ltd board as Lead Director.

The Committee were provided with an update on the governance and oversight arrangements of Hereford Futures Ltd.

Arising from the Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 12 October 2012 the Committee requested a further report on the governance and oversight of the company and in particular a response to a number of specific questions.  The agenda report provided a degree of background to the governance of the company and its four task groups.  It also set out the five questions together with responses.

The Economic Development Manager reported that the company is led by a highly experienced Chairman (Mr Ted Wilmot), Chief Executive and board of non-executive directors.  Hereford Futures manages projects through a series of Task Groups, listed in the agenda report, each being chaired by a non-executive director and supported by a senior Council officer.

Referring to Question 2 (target tracking) the Economic Development Manager reported that progress with projects is reported to the relevant task group who then evaluate progress against targets. Examples of the types of outputs to be measured were included in the agenda report.  Inputs e.g. footfall statistics, are commissioned when required, which may have cost implications, or obtained from existing sources e.g. from within the Council or via the web.

Responding further to Question 4 concerning the treatment of confidential information, the Chairman of Hereford Futures, Mr T Wilmot, appreciated that the public may have concerns regarding the use of public finance, however, Hereford Futures also acted as broker in a number of contracts involving private companies.  In this context the release of information would go against contractual conditions.  He would, however, suggest to the board that where possible a wider range of information should be made available via the website or information bulletins.  This may mean that some information would be redacted. 

A Member referred to the Council’s response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by a member of the public concerning information held by the Council on Hereford Futures.  The response inferred that, within the FOI terms, the Council did not hold information on Hereford Futures.  The Member questioned this as the Council had a number of representatives on the Board.  The Leader of the Council outlined his process for dealing with agendas/minutes and the Acting Chief Executive undertook to discuss the matter further with the Member.

Mr P Clasby, Hereford Futures Ltd, confirmed that while the majority Hereford Futures finance was public, the company was not wholly owned by the Council and was answerable to shareholders.

The Committee noted that latest Member briefing had been issued just prior to Christmas.

On questioning the governance of the Gateway Committee, referred to in the report, the Committee were informed that the work of Hereford Futures was set and agreed through the Hereford Gateway Committee which had been established by the Council and the former AWM, now Homes & Communities Agency, to represent the views and objectives of the respective organisations working in partnership to achieve the Council’s vision for sustainable growth and prosperity.  The Committee normally met twice per year.

Returning to the availability of information the Committee welcomed Mr T Wilmot’s earlier undertaking, however, it was suggested that Hereford Futures Ltd should consider establishing, a protocol governing the provision of information, including who in the organisation should be responsible for deciding on the status of information and any necessary redaction. As the confidentiality criteria for a public company and the Council differ, Hereford Futures may wish to consult with the Council’s Monitoring Officer.

RESOLVED: That

1.      The Committee welcomes the intention by Hereford Futures Ltd to increase the range of information made publicly available: and

2.      It is suggested that Hereford Futures Ltd, in consultation with the Council’s Monitoring Officer, draw up a protocol to govern the redaction of confidential information from public information.