Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 13 June 2016.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 13 June 2016 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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

No declarations of interest were made.

To consider call-in items (if any).

There were no call-in items to consider.

The Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) regarding a review to consider how scrutiny arrangements can more adequately reflect other internal structures, including the existing Council directorates and Executive portfolios.

The Committee whilst acknowledging that the proposals were an improvement expressed concern regarding the potential workloads of the “Communities & Housing Scrutiny Committee” and “Health & Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee” but welcomed the proposal for a single Scrutiny Committee to have responsibility for ‘Adult Social Care’ and ‘Health’.

RESOLVED – That this Committee would support the following changes to be implemented from the 2017-18 municipal year

Corporate, Resource Management and Governance Scrutiny Committee

    Portfolio’s – Leader of the Council/ Reform and Governance

Covering - Policy and Performance.   Public Service Reform and Partnership.  AGMA and Combined Authority. Council Budget. Corporate & Support Services.  Revenues & Benefits.  Contact Centre.  Elections.  STaR Procurement. Digital Transformation. Libraries. Council Communications. Investing In Communities. Information Advice and Guidance.

    Economy & Regeneration Scrutiny Committee

    Portfolio – Economy and Regeneration

Covering - Economic Development & Regeneration. Markets.  Planning.  Building Control. Economic Growth. Transport Strategy. Museums & Arts. Employer Engagement. Apprenticeships. Inward Investment.

    Children & Families Scrutiny Committee

    Portfolio’s – Children and Family Services/ Education

Covering - Fostering & Adoption.  Children’s Social Work Teams.  Foster Care & Residential Placements.  Services for Young People.  Children with a Disability. Children’s Centres. Early Intervention Services. Safeguarding. Youth Offending. School Improvement.  School Organisation & Governance.  School Admissions.  School Capital.  Home to School Transport & Travel Passes.  Early Years.  Community Grants.  14-19 Services. SEN Support Services & Psychology. Adult Education.

    Health & Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee

    Portfolio’s – Health/ Adult Social Care

Covering - Stockport Together/Health and Social Care Integration. Public Health.  Health & Wellbeing. Learning Disability Services. Older People’s Services. Young Adults Services.  Supporting People.  Main Grants.  Social Fund.

    Communities & Housing Scrutiny Committee

    Portfolio – Communities & Housing

Covering - Waste Collection.  Street Cleaning.  Highways Maintenance.  Parks & Open Spaces.  Parking.  Street Lighting. Cemeteries & Crematoria. Public Safety & Protection.  Neighbourhood Management. Leisure Facilities.  Strategic Housing. Traffic Services.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The report details the Scrutiny Review topics proposed by Scrutiny Committees for 2016/2017.

The Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee are invited to consider the proposed topics and make recommendations to the Council Meeting in relation to the Scrutiny Work Programme for 2016/17.

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

The Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing details of the Scrutiny Review topics proposed by Scrutiny Committees for 2016/2017.

Councillor Oliver Johnstone reported that the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee had given provisional agreement to undertaking a Scrutiny Review on 'A Refresh on the previous Mills Strategy 2005', but had requested that the Adult Care Services and Housing Scrutiny Committee consider whether it would wish to undertake a joint review with it on this topic. Councillor Holloway welcomed the suggestion and agreed to recommend this suggestion to the next meeting of the Adult Social Care & Housing Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – That the Council Meeting be recommended to approve the proposed Annual Scrutiny Work Programme for 2016/17 proposing the following Scrutiny Review topics:

Health & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee

One of the following:

•           Community Pharmacy provision – integration and maximisation

•           Reaching ‘Hard to reach’ Groups

•           Veteran and Armed Services health needs

•           Tackling Health Inequalities

•           Employer engagement and workforce health

•           Diabetes

Adult Social Care & Housing Scrutiny Committee

Joint Review with the Environment & Economy Scrutiny Committee - 'A Refresh on the previous Mills Strategy 2005' (subject to approval by that Committee)

Corporate, Resource Management & Governance Scrutiny Committee

“The Council’s Approach to Consultation”

“Business rate and rent collection from industrial and commercial premises owned by the Council” (subject to there be sufficient time to undertake a second Review)

Children & Young People Scrutiny Committee

“Improving Children’s Mental Health”

Environment & Economy Scrutiny Committee

Joint Review with the Adult Social Care & Health Scrutiny Committee 'A Refresh on the previous Mills Strategy 2005' (subject to the agreement of the Adult Social Care & Health Scrutiny Committee.

This item has been included on the agenda at the request of Councillor Oliver Johnstone.

The Democratic Services Manager reported that this item had been included on the agenda at the request of Councillor Oliver Johnstone.

Councillor Johnstone explained that he felt the Portfolio Performance reports could be improved to include trend information for previous years and an explanation regarding ‘tolerance levels’ and the start of the year rather than explanations being given at the end of the year if targets had been missed.

There was a feeling that where targets had been reduced due a reduction in resources, the scrutiny committee had not sufficient explanation as to the proposed reduction against the reduction in resources and therefore it was difficult to see if the reduction was justified.

It was suggested that it would be helpful for a meeting to take place at the start of each Municipal Year between Scrutiny Chairs and Executive Councillors to discuss the Portfolio Agreements and the proposed measures and targets for the that year.

RESOLVED – That this Committee would wish to see future Performance Reports include trend information for previous years and an explanation regarding ‘tolerance levels’ which had been agreed.

(2) That this Committee would welcome a meeting to take place at the start of each Municipal Year between Scrutiny Chairs and Executive Councillors to discuss the Portfolio Agreements and the proposed measures and targets for the that year.