Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance)

At the meeting of full Council on the 22nd January a report of the Chief Executive was considered which set out the proposed mechanism for the appointment of the Interim Mayor for Greater Manchester and sought approval to delegate to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Group Leaders, the task of responding to consultation on the draft Parliamentary Order for the creation of the Mayoral post

This report sets out the response to the Greater Manchester consultation exercise submitted by the Chief Executive in line with this delegation (Appendix A).

This report further seeks endorsement of the draft response to the consultation exercise undertaken by the Department for Communities and Local Government in respect of the Draft Order to give effect to transitional measures. The deadline for submission is the 13th February 2015.

The draft response is attached at Appendix B along with the Consultation Document issued by DCLG and the draft Greater Manchester Combined Authority (Amendment) Order 2015.

Executive are asked to:

(i)    Note the response prepared by the Chief Executive, in consultation with Group Leaders, in respect of the Greater Manchester Consultation Paper

(ii)   Approve the submission of the draft response to the Department for Communities and Local Government consultation on the order to amend the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Order.

Officer contact: Eamonn Boylan, 0161 474 3001

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive to consider the response submitted on behalf of the Council to the Greater Manchester consultation on the draft Parliamentary Order that would allow for the appointment of an Interim Mayor for Greater Manchester. The report also sought endorsement of the draft response to the consultation undertaken by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

RESOLVED – That in relation to the Greater Manchester Agreement on Devolution to the Combined Authority and the transition to a directly elected Mayor:

·           the response prepared by the Chief Executive, in consultation with Group Leaders, in respect of the Greater Manchester Consultation Paper be noted; and

·           approval be given to the submission of the draft response to the Department for Communities and Local Government consultation on the Order to amend the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Order.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive.

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the proposals relating to the appointment process for the Interim Mayor as part of the wider Greater Manchester Devolution Agreement.

RESOLVED – That authority be delegated to the Chief Executive to respond on behalf of the Council to the ‘Proposal to amend the constitution of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’ consultation paper and draft Order in consultation with the Group Leaders.

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance)

This report sets out the implications for Stockport of the recent Agreement with Government to devolve functional and fiscal responsibilities alongside a staged approach to GM governance arrangements.  The report outlines the importance of the Investing in Stockport Strategy (IIS) and its role in shaping GM priorities, the proposed Governance arrangements, and the relationship between the Borough, GMCA and a GM Mayor. The report highlights those areas where there will be further opportunities for devolution in the future. It concludes with the resource implications for the next stages of the work to develop the necessary policy and legislative framework for devolution.

The Executive is recommended:

·         To endorse the principles which have guided Greater Manchester’s approach to devolution and governance changes, as set out in the attached report to the GMCA.

·         To note the wide ranging views of Members at the Council meeting on 27th November 2014 including:

·         The need for the Combined Authority to increase its transparency and accountability, including consideration of the desire of some Members for direct election to the Mayoral Cabinet.

·         The need for greater rigours in the processes of scrutiny of the Combined Authority and the Mayor.

·         The Willingness of Council Members to accept the creation of the post of Mayor of Greater Manchester, albeit reluctantly and on the basis that it proves the sole means of achieving delivery of the proposed devolved powers.

·         To support the proposed changes in governance including an Appointed Mayor as the 11th Member of the GMCA as a transition to a Directly Elected Mayor for Greater Manchester provided that this is the only means by which agreement on the devolution of the powers contained in the agreement can be reached.

·         To note the balance between new powers to be vested in the CA as well as new powers to be vested in the directly elected Mayor who will be the Chair of GMCA and accountable to the Cabinet of Leaders in the exercise of those powers; and the  Mayor and the Cabinet being subject of scrutiny by the GMCA Pool.

·         To agree that the proposed governance arrangements reflect the circumstances within Greater Manchester which has a long track record of collaboration amongst the local authorities and with business.

·         To remind the Government and the range of local stakeholders that Stockport and Greater Manchester will remain fully committed to greater fiscal devolution and to working with other UK City Regions and London in particular to make the case for this over the coming months.

·         To recommend that the GMCA conclude its statutory review of the Governance arrangements as soon as possible to enable a final scheme to be submitted to the Secretary of State as a pre-requisite to the changes being made to the Statutory Orders to give effect to the transitional arrangements.

·         To call upon the GMCA to ensure that this review encompasses the need to ensure that the transparency and accountability of Leaders, acting on behalf of the CA, is improved and that formal scrutiny arrangements are reviewed and strengthened.

·         To delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader and Group Leaders to respond formally to the GMCA consultation on devolution in the terms set out in this report; and to finalise on behalf of Stockport, the Council’s response to the final terms of the Governance arrangements including the terms of the Statutory Order.

Officer contact: Eamonn Boylan, 0161 474 3001, Eamonn.boylan@stockport.gov.uk

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the background and implication for Stockport of the recent Agreement with Government to devolve functional and fiscal responsibilities alongside a staged approach to changes to Greater Manchester governance arrangements. The report had been shaped by the debate at the Council Meeting on 27 November 2014 and the key themes to emerge from that meeting had been summarised in the report.

RESOLVED - That

·         the principles which had guided Greater Manchester’s approach to devolution and governance changes, as set out in the report, be endorsed;

·         the wide ranging views of Councillors at the Council Meeting on 27 November 2014 be noted, including:

-       the need for the Combined Authority to increase its transparency and accountability, including consideration of the desire of some Members for direct election to the Mayoral Cabinet;

-       the need for greater rigours in the processes of scrutiny of the Combined Authority and the Mayor;

-       the willingness of Council Members to accept the creation of the post of Mayor of Greater Manchester, albeit reluctantly and on the basis that it proves the sole means of achieving delivery of the proposed devolved powers;

-       the need to re-emphasise the core principle that devolution is a means of drawing power from Government to Greater Manchester, not of drawing power to Greater Manchester from the districts;

·         the proposed changes in governance be supported, including an Appointed Mayor as the 11th Member of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) as a transition to a Directly Elected Mayor for Greater Manchester provided that this was the only means by which agreement on the devolution of the powers contained in the agreement could be reached;

·         the balance between new powers to be vested in the Combined Authority as well as new powers to be vested in the directly elected Mayor who will be the Chair of GMCA and accountable to the Cabinet of Leaders in the exercise of those powers; and the Mayor and the Cabinet being subject of scrutiny by the GMCA Pool, be noted;

·         that the proposed governance arrangements to reflect the circumstances within Greater Manchester which had a long track record of collaboration amongst the local authorities and with business be agreed;

·         the Government and the range of local stakeholders be reminded that Stockport and Greater Manchester will remain fully committed to greater fiscal devolution and to working with other UK City Regions and London in particular to make the case for this over the coming months;

·         the GMCA be recommended to conclude its statutory review of the Governance arrangements as soon as possible to enable a final scheme to be submitted to the Secretary of State as a pre-requisite to the changes being made to the Statutory Orders to give effect to the transitional arrangements;

·         the GMCA be called upon to ensure that this review encompasses the need to ensure that the transparency and accountability of Leaders, acting on behalf of the Combined Authority, was improved and that formal scrutiny arrangements were reviewed and strengthened;

·         authority be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council and Group Leaders to respond formally to the GMCA consultation on devolution in the terms set out in this report; and to finalise on behalf of Stockport, the Council’s response to the final terms of the Governance arrangements including the terms of the Statutory Order.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive.

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform and Finance) (Councillor Sue Derbyshire) submitted a report (copies of which had bene circulated) setting out the background and implication for Stockport of the recent Agreement with Government to devolve functional and fiscal responsibilities alongside a staged approach to changes to Greater Manchester governance arrangements.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         There was general agreement that the proposed powers devolved to Greater Manchester were to be welcomed and that they would help to deliver key benefits for Stockport and for Greater Manchester as a whole.

·         While the creation of the position of an elected Mayor for Greater Manchester is clearly a key condition for Government agreement to the devolution of the range of powers set out, such a position is not a high priority for Stockport citizens and will be seen as an additional layer of political governance and bureaucracy.

·         There was a reluctant acceptance of the creation of the position of elected Mayor provided it was clear that this is an essential and unavoidable requirement for achieving the devolution of the full range of powers set out in the Agreement on a permanent basis.

·         Regardless of the position of the elected Mayor, there was a need for much greater transparency in the governance of the Combined Authority than is perceived to exist at present. In particular Members were concerned about:-

(i)            The accountability of Leaders in exercising their roles at GM level both collectively and in respect of portfolio responsibilities. One view was that there would be greater transparency and Greater Manchester-wide accountability through the creation of a directly elected Cabinet to support the Mayor rather than through continued reliance on the Leaders of Councils to undertake portfolio responsibilities as at present.

(ii)           The lack of an open and democratic process for the creation of the post of Appointed Mayor/CA Leader in 2015. Members queried whether more accountability and public engagement might be secured through conducting a referendum or through a direct election of the interim Mayor rather than by appointment by Leaders.

(iii)         That there was an urgent need to review arrangements for Scrutiny at the GM level and, in particular, to enable Scrutiny of key decisions prior to them being made by the Combined Authority. Such arrangements will be crucial to enabling effective scrutiny of an Executive Mayor but they were needed in any event to improve transparency and accountability now.

(iv)         The changing role of a Leader of the Council, whether their focus will ultimately be at a local or regional level, and what an increasing regional role will mean for the existing structure of the Council

·         There was a clear need for greater clarity about the constitutional position of the Mayor, including the system of voting and term of office.

RESOLVED - That the Chief Executive be requested to prepare a report, in consultation with Group Leaders, comprehensively summarising the range of views expressed at this Council Meeting for consideration at the Executive on 16 December 2014 and that the Executive should take into account such comments in formally responding on behalf of the Council to the consultation on GM Devolution.