Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held 4 October 2017

The minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 4 October 2017 were approved as a correct record.

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 evidence from Julie Connor (Head of Governance & Scrutiny, GMCA and Susan Ford, Statutory Scrutiny Officer, GMCA in relation to:

·         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.

A representative from the Greater Manchester Governance & Scrutiny Service presented the Panel with details of the arrangements for AGMA/GMCA.

The following issues were discussed:-

·         Stockport Council was the only hung Council in the Greater Manchester.

·         The representative from the Greater Manchester Governance & Scrutiny Service discussed the challenges for political leaders from GMCA trying to encourage the membership by female members.

·         The representative from the Greater Manchester Governance & Scrutiny Service addressed the ways in which scrutiny at GMCA level followed different legislations in comparison to Scrutiny in local authority.

RESOLVED – That the comments be noted.

The Democratic Services Manager to report at the meeting.

Members of the Panel were invited to express their interest in their attendance for the visit to the London Assembly.

RESOLVED – That the proposed visit to the London Assembly be approved and the Democratic Services Manager be requested to make arrangements.