Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 2 August 2016.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 2 August 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.

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

The following interests were declared:-

Personal Interests

Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

To consider call-in items (if any).

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The First Update Corporate Performance and Resource Report (CPRR) provides an overview of progress in delivering the Council’s Priority Outcomes and budget during the first quarter of 2016/17. It is the first report based on the new Council Plan 2016/17 and the Medium Term Financial Plan 2016/19, and also reflects the new Executive Portfolios and priorities.

Updates are included on delivery of policy priorities, alongside Reform Project updates. The report also includes forecast budget and performance data where this is available, along with an update on the refreshed Corporate Risk Register. It is supported by seven Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports which were considered by the most recent Scrutiny cycle.

The Leader’s Report highlights a number of the Council’s significant achievements over the last quarter, including significant decisions at GM level.

The Executive at its meeting on 16 August approved the recommendations in the report.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the report.

Officer contact: Steve Skelton/ Michael Cullen, 0161 474 3174 / 0161 218 1032, steve.skelton@stockport.gov.uk / Michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of progress in delivering the Council’s Priority Outcomes and budget during the first quarter of 2016/17. It was the first report based on the new Council Plan 2016/17 and the Medium Term Financial Plan 2016/19, and also reflected the new Executive Portfolios and priorities.

The report included updates on delivery of policy priorities, alongside Reform Project updates. The report also included forecast budget and performance data where this was available, along with an update on the refreshed Corporate Risk Register. It was supported by seven Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports which had been considered by the Scrutiny Committees in the last committee cycle.

The Leader’s Report highlighted a number of the Council’s significant achievements over the last quarter, including significant decisions at a Greater Manchester level.

It was reported that the Executive at its meeting on 16 August had approved the recommendations in the report.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Alex Ganotis) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions. The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was noted that although to date £300,000 of permanent savings had been identified as part of the reconfiguration of corporate and support services it was anticipated that the quarter 2 report would show a saving of 800,000 and that the £2million permanent annual reduction would be achieved.

·         A working paper summarising work to increase income generation opportunities and that this would be submitted to the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee for comment.

·         There was a need to build affordable housing within the town centre and a vision for the town centre was currently being developed which connected the current regeneration projects to each other including providing housing on the current site of Stockport College.

·         An explanation was requested as to why the Solutions SK Fleet Replacement Strategy had been brought forward from 2017/18 and the cost had increased.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Borough Treasurer be requested to write to all members of the Scrutiny Committee providing an explanation as to why the Solutions SK Fleet Replacement Strategy had been brought forward from 2017/18 and the cost had increased.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer.

The Medium Term Financial Plan Update provides two reports. The first report proposes a realignment and consolidation of the Council’s reserves and the development of a Reserves Policy which will align the reserves to the Council’s corporate and strategic priorities over the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP). The report also outlines the principles of a summer review of the Council’s MTFP considering the current key assumptions underpinning the financial forecasts and whether these are still appropriate.

The second report outlines the principles that will frame how the Executive engages with residents and businesses to inform how it proposes to address the severe financial challenges being imposed on Stockport by central Government.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the reports.

Officer contact: Michael Cullen on 0161 474 4631 or email: michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk

The Borough Treasurer submitted a two report (copies of which had been circulated) relating to the Medium Term Financial Plan. The first report proposed a realignment and consolidation of the Council’s reserves and the development of a Reserves Policy which would align the reserves to the Council’s corporate and strategic priorities over the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP). The report also outlined the principles of a summer review of the Council’s MTFP considering the current key assumptions underpinning the financial forecasts and whether these are still appropriate.

The second report outlined the principles that would frame how the Executive engaged with residents and businesses to inform how it proposed to address the severe financial challenges being imposed on Stockport by central Government.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Alex Ganotis) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions. The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The Scrutiny Committee discussed the involvement of Area Committees as part of the proposed consultation in relation to the budget proposals.

·         The development of a ‘Reserves Policy’ was welcomed and it was noted the proposed level of reserves was felt appropriate for the next two years although would be subject to annual review.

RESOLVED – That the reports be noted and the proposed Reserve Policy be endorsed.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The report provides an update on the procurement for the Multi-speciality Community Provider for health and social care.  The commissioning of this new type of organisation will enable the new models of integrated health and social care that have been developed by the Programme over the last 12 months to be most effectively implemented across the Borough.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Andrew Webb on 0161 474 3808 or email: andrew.webb@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the procurement for the Multi-speciality Community Provider for health and social care.  The commissioning of this new type of organisation would enable the new models of integrated health and social care that had been developed by the Programme over the last 12 months to be most effectively implemented across the Borough.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Alex Ganotis) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

The Scrutiny Committee requested that the report to the next Meeting of the Scrutiny Committee should include the full Options Appraisal Paper although it was noted that the full implications of the preferred option would still be being considered and therefore not included in the report.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report details a proposal for the creation of a council owned Housing Delivery Company through Stockport Homes to meet the current housing challenge in Stockport and providing employment and training opportunities for local people. 

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Andy Kippax on 0161 474 4319 or email: andy.kippax@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a proposal for the creation of a council owned Housing Delivery Company through Stockport Homes to meet the current housing challenge in Stockport and providing employment and training opportunities for local people.

The Executive Councillor for Communities & Housing (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions. The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The Scrutiny Committee noted the shortage of affordable housing in the borough and welcomed the proposals.

·         It was noted that officers were exploring how to limit ‘Right to Buy’ in relation to the proposals.

·         The Scrutiny Committee noted the potential risks involved within the proposals and the steps being taken to mitigate this.

·         Members requested that the new company’s full statement of accounts be made available to all councillors and submitted to this Scrutiny Committee as well as financial information being included within the quarterly performance reports.

·         A report would be submitted to the Scrutiny Committee in due course in relation to the proposed governance and management arrangements of the new company.

·         The intention to use local labour wherever possible was welcomed.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Governance.

The Council’s Code of Practice for carrying out surveillance under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) specifies that quarterly reports will be taken to this Scrutiny Committee to demonstrate to elected members that the Council is complying with its own Code of Practice when using RIPA. This report provides an update in relation to the first quarter of the 2016-2017 financial year.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to note the report.

Officer contact, Joy Morton, joy.morton@stockport.gov.uk or 0161 474 3219.

The Head of Legal and Democratic Governance submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update in relation to the first quarter of the 2016-2017 financial year.

The Council’s Code of Practice for carrying out surveillance under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) specifies that quarterly reports will be taken to this Scrutiny Committee to demonstrate to elected members that the Council is complying with its own Code of Practice when using RIPA.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.               

The report sets out planned agenda items for future meetings of the Committee and Forward Plan items that fall within its remit.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the information in the report and put forward any agenda items for future meetings.

Officer contact: Craig Ainsworth, Democratic Services Manager, telephone number 474 3204, email: craig.ainsworth@stockport.gov.uk.

The Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the planned items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items which fell within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.