Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 15 April 2019.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 15 April 2019 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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

The following interest was declared:-

Personal Interest

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider a joint report of the Deputy Chief Executive and the Chair of the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee.

The report outlines the work undertaken by Scrutiny Committees during the 2018/2019 municipal year and looks to the challenges and opportunities in the forthcoming year.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider and comment on the report prior to its submission to the Council Meeting.

Officer Contact: Stephen Fox on Tel: 0161 474 3206 or email:stephen.fox@stockport.gov.uk

A joint report (copies of which had been circulated) of the Chair of the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee and Deputy Chief Executive was submitted outlining the work undertaken by Scrutiny Committees during the 2018/2019 municipal year and commenting on challenges and opportunities for Scrutiny Committees in the forthcoming year.

RESOLVED – That the report be approved for submission to the Council Meeting.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The report presents for comments suggestions for Scrutiny Review topic selection in 2019/2020 and for scrutiny work programming building on the recommendations of the Undertaking Scrutiny in Stockport Review undertaken by the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee in 2018/2019.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the report prior to its submission to the Scrutiny Committees in the July cycle.

Officer Contact: Stephen Fox on Tel: 0161 474 3206 or email: stephen.fox@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) presenting for comment a proposal for Scrutiny Review topic selection and detailing options and recommendation following the ‘Undertaking Scrutiny in Stockport’ Review recently undertaken by the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee.

RESOLVED- That the report be approved and that it be circulated to all Scrutiny Committees for consideration to the July cycle.

This item has been placed on the agenda at the requesting of Councillor Lisa Smart

A representative of the Democratic Services Officer reported that this item had been placed on the agenda at the request of Councillor Lisa Smart.

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) suggesting possible reporting arrangements to Scrutiny Committees taking into consideration Directorate responsibilities and mapped against the new Cabinet Portfolios and the 2019/20 Council Plan priorities.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be presented to the Council Meeting for approval with a recommendation that the Inclusive Neighbourhoods portfolio report to the Communities and Housing Scrutiny Committee.

(2) That the Strategic Head of Service (Legal, Democratic Services and Estate & Asset Management) be requested to give consideration as to how, in future years, reporting to Scrutiny Committees by Cabinet Portfolio holders is agreed and that a report be submitted to the Council Meeting  to approve any required changes to the Council Constitution.

This item has been placed on the agenda at the request of Councillor Lisa Smart.

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive reported that this item had been place on the agenda at the request of Councillor Lisa Smart.

Councillor Smart explained that one of the recommendations made following the ‘Undertaking Scrutiny in Stockport’ scrutiny review by the Committee last year had been to explore how the Committee could make better use of its meeting and to look to better programme work. With that in mind she made a number of suggestions for possible inclusion in the work programme as follows:-

·         A meeting with the Chief Executive

·         A meeting with the Leader

·         Update on the implementation of the recommendations of the ‘Undertaking Scrutiny in Stockport’ scrutiny review.’

·         Update on the process for agreeing which Cabinet Portfolio holders report to which Scrutiny Committees in future years and any associated Constitutional changes.

·         A discussion on good overview and scrutiny practice and how the role of the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee can be further developed.

RESOLVED – That the Deputy Chief Executive be requested to submit a suggested programme of work for approval to a future meeting of the Committee incorporating the suggestions detailed above.