Agenda and minutes

Councillors and Officers to declare any interests which they have in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

Councillors were invited to declare any interests which they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The report sets out the Scrutiny Review Panel Procedure Rules and suggests that the Panel should adopt them for the purpose of conducting the review.

The Panel are requested to formally adopt the Scrutiny Review Panel Rules for the purpose of conducting the review.

Officer Contact: Craig Ainsworth on 0161 474 3204 or email:craig.ainsworth@stockport.gov.uk

The Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Panel to formally adopt the Scrutiny Review Panel Procedure Rules for this review.

RESOLVED – That the Scrutiny Review Procedure Rules be adopted for this review

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The Panel are requested to consider the draft scope and proposed dates of future meetings.

Officer Contact: Craig Ainsworth on 0161 474 3204 or email:craig.ainsworth@stockport.gov.uk

The Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which aimed to assist the Panel to scope the review and determine the areas which they wish to explore and scrutinise how scrutiny in Stockport interacts with scrutiny at AGMA/ GMCA level.

RESOLVED – That the scope be agreed as follows:

·         The relationship between Stockport Council and AGMA/ GMCA in relation to the scrutiny of issues being considered by AGMA/ GMCA and how the new AGMA/ GMCA Scrutiny Committees will operate including how decisions can be ‘called-in’ including how the difficulties independent Councillors face in taking an active role in scrutiny at this level.

·         How councillors who are not members of the Cabinet can scrutinise decisions to be taken by the Cabinet Leader at meetings of AGMA/ GMCA (pre-scrutiny) and how this might be accommodated within the business plan and potential changes to Stockport’s scrutiny arrangements and resource implications.

·         Understand why reports are often marked ‘to follow’ on the agendas for meetings of AGMA and GMCA and the difficulties this presents in this Council being able to scrutinise reports/ issues prior to consideration by AGMA/ GMCA.

·         Consider the implications of there being no scrutiny arrangements in place at an AGMA/ GMCA level since the Greater Manchester Mayoral Elections on 4 May 2017.

·         The nomination process to the AGMA/ GMCA Scrutiny Committees.

The Democratic Services Manager reported that the Centre for Public Scrutiny had suggested the Panel visit the London Assembly

RESOLVED – That the Democratic Services Manager be requested to make arrangements for the Panel to visit to the London Assembly on 7 December 2017 to observe a meeting of the London Assembly Plenary Session and the Environment Committee and meet representatives from each of the Political Parties represented on the Assembly and relevant support staff.

RSOLVED – That the Democratic Services Manager be requested to make arrangements for the Panel to meet on the following dates and invite evidence from those suggested in the report:

·         Monday 16 October – Evidence from The Mayor of Greater Manchester, The Head of Governance and Scrutiny and Monitoring Officer (GMCA)

·         Monday 4 December – Visit to a comparable body

·         Monday 8 January – Evidence from the Leader of the Council, Statutory Scrutiny Officer and Monitoring Officer (Stockport Council)

·         Monday 26 February – Consideration of Draft Report

·         Monday 19 March – Approve Final Report and Recommendations

·         Tuesday 10 April – Consideration by CRM&G

·         Tuesday 24 April – Consideration by Cabinet

 (NOTE) – Consideration of a disability access for future Scrutiny Review Meetings