Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration.

The Third Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Report (PPRR) for the Economy and Regeneration Portfolio is presented for consideration by the Committee. This report is shorter, and more data-driven, providing highlights and exceptions reflecting progress in delivering the portfolio priorities and budgets since the Mid-Year report. It includes forecast performance and financial data for the Portfolio, where new data is available, along with an update on the portfolio savings programme.

The report is based on the 2018/19 Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreement. This was considered by the Scrutiny Committee on 5 July 2018 and approved by the Cabinet on 17 July 2018.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

·         Consider the Third Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Report;  

·         Comment on the new approach and format as outlined in the report;

·         Review the progress against delivering key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 2018/19;

·         Highlight key areas of and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any performance or resource issues;

·         Highlight any significant issues or changes to be fed back to the Cabinet alongside the Corporate Performance and Resource Report;

·         Identify how areas of strong performance and good practice can be shared in other services.

Officer contact: Alan Lawson on 0161 474 5397 or email: alan.lawson@stockport.gov.uk / Kora Yohannan on 0161 474 4032 or email: kora.yohannan@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the third update Portfolio and Performance Report for the Economy and Regeneration Portfolio, providing highlights and exceptions reflecting progress in delivering the portfolio priorities and budgets since the Mid-Year Report. The report included forecast performance and financial data for the Portfolio, where new data was available, along with an update on the portfolio savings programme.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:

·         With regard to Performance Indicator E&R 1.1 regarding the number of breaches of planning control discovered as a % of complaints received, it was reported that the number of breaches were reducing but was still higher than they should be.

·         With regard to Performance Indicator E&R 1.8 regarding the number of full time equivalent jobs created in relation to floor space let or sold to new occupiers, the target appeared under-estimated as a result of the substantial developments at Stockport Exchange, Aurora and Redrock. As there were no new targets until the next phase of Stockport Exchange, it was suggested that the target would need to be revised downwards in the future.

·         A Member requested whether the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework allocation in High Lane was sustainable or not and requested information on the site selection criteria.

·         The report needed to emphasise to a greater extent that Stockport was one of the best borough’s in which to undertake business.

·         Reference was made to the Council’s bid for funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to develop digital arts spaces, primarily in the Market and Underbanks area, and more details were requested on the successful bids.

·         The pothole fund programme was ‘live’ on the Council’s website as required by the funding.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.