Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 20 September 2016.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 20 September 2016 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair subject to the following amendment:

Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

To consider whether it is in the public to exclude the public during part of the consideration of the following agenda item which contains information “not for publication” by virtue of the appropriate category set out in the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended):-

RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of information that was ‘not for publication’ by virtue of paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) in that it contained ‘information relating to the financial or business affairs of an individual (including the Council)’, the disclosure of which would not be in the public interest and would breach Data Protection principals, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the appendix to Agenda Item 16 - ‘Write Off Of Business Rates Debt (Appendices A and B)

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 Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs) for the Reform & Governance and Communities & Housing Portfolios are presented for consideration by the Scrutiny Committee. These provide a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects during the first half of the year, with a particular focus on the second quarter (July to September) of 2016/17. It includes forecast performance data (where this is available) and projected financial data for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programmes. 

The Reports are based on the 2016/17 Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreements (PPRAs). These were considered by this Scrutiny Committee on 5 July 2016 and approved by the Executive on 19 July 2016.

In addition to the Reform and Governance Portfolio Report, the Scrutiny Committee is asked to review the Neighbourhoods and Community Safety elements of the Communities and Housing Portfolio Report, with the remainder of this being considered separately by the Adult Care Services & Housing and Environment & Economy Scrutiny Committees. To assist the Scrutiny Committee, these elements of the report have been highlighted. Whilst other information within the portfolio may provide useful context, questions relating to this information should be addressed to the appropriate Scrutiny Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to:

·         Consider the Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports;  

·         Review the progress against delivering key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 2016/17;

·         Highlight key areas of and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any performance or resource issues;

·         Highlight any significant issues or changes to be fed back to the Executive alongside the Corporate Performance and Resource Report;

·         Identify how areas of strong performance and good practice can be shared in other services.

Officer contacts: Peter Owston, Policy, Performance and Reform (CSS), peter.owston@stockport.gov.uk (474 3274) and Susan Wood, Head of Management Accounting susan.wood@stockport.go.uk (218 1032)

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted reports (copies of which had been circulated) in relation to the First Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs) for the Reform & Governance and Communities & Housing Portfolios The reports provided a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects during the first half of the year, with a particular focus on the second quarter (July to September) of 2016/17. They included forecast performance data (where this is available) and projected financial data for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programmes. 

The Reports were based on the 2016/17 Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreements (PPRAs). These had been considered by this Scrutiny Committee on 5 July 2016 and approved by the Executive on 19 July 2016.

In addition to the Reform and Governance Portfolio Report, the Scrutiny Committee was asked to review the Neighbourhoods and Community Safety elements of the Communities and Housing Portfolio Report, with the remainder of this being considered separately by the Adult Care Services & Housing and Environment & Economy Scrutiny Committees.

The Executive Councillor for Reform & Governance (Councillor David Sedgwick) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         It was noted that £369,000 had been utilised from reserves to achieve the savings for 2015/16 and 2016/17 in relation to the Solutions SK operating Model following  decisions taken which made the original £2.9m savings unachievable.

·         The Scrutiny Committee noted that the Government had committed £8 billion to build 400,000 affordable homes to rent and buy across the country and that Stockport are well positioned for any expected Stockport’s bid for funding to be would be successful.

·         The Scrutiny Committee noted that it was anticipated that the £1.2m savings within Corporate and Support Services would be achieved and an update would be included within the Quarter 3 Performance & Resources report regarding the 2016/17 Corporate and Support Services savings

·         Concern was expressed that the forecast in relation to the percentage of invoices paid for local businesses within 10 days was 73.3$% against a target of 85%. The Scrutiny Committee noted the action being taken to address this and that it is expected that there had been a significant improvement in performance will be delivered in the future as a result.

·         The Scrutiny Committee also noted that in the last quarter the percentage of telephone calls to the Contact Centre which are answered had fallen due to staff shortages and the pressures placed on the services by the EU Referendum. It was reported that these had now been addressed and it was expected that the target would be met by the end of the financial year.

·         It was noted that the Executive had identified the need to maximise business rate collection and the Executive Councillor welcomed the decision of this Scrutiny Committee to consider a Scrutiny Review on Business rate and rent collection from industrial and commercial premised owned by the Council.

RESOLVED – (1) That the reports be noted

(2) The Deputy Chief Executive be requested to circulate details of the ‘Fit & Fed’ project to members of this Scrutiny Committee.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The purpose of this report is to update the Scrutiny Committee on progress year to date against the Asset Management Plan (AMP) capital programme for 2016/17, to seek approval for the revised programme of work which takes account of works removed and added in place and provide an indicative programme of work for inclusion in the 2017/18 financial year.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to provide comments to the recommendations that will be submitted to the Executive for approval at its meeting on 20 December 2016, namely:

·         Approval of the implementation of the updated Asset Management Plan Capital programme for 2016/17 and the financing thereof, and the Indicative AMP programme for 2017/18 to 2018/19, as set out in the report;

·         The application of corporate resources to fund the AMP programme 2016/2017 to 2018/2019; with the application of funding types (capital receipts (including total achieved from property rationalisation programme) and borrowing) being delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive in conjunction with the Estates Strategy Group (ESG);

·         That the Executive and this Scrutiny Committee receives annual update reports on progress.

Officer contact Murray Carr on Tel: 0161-474-3019 or by email on murray.carr@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on progress year to date against the Asset Management Plan (AMP) capital programme for 2016/17, seeking comments on the revised programme of work which took account of works removed and added in place and provided an indicative programme of work for inclusion in the 2017/18 financial year.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Executive be recommended to approve the implementation of the updated Asset Management Plan Capital programme for 2016/17 and the financing thereof, and the Indicative AMP programme for 2017/18 to 2018/19, as set out in the report.

(2) That the Executive be recommended to agree that the application of corporate resources to fund the AMP programme 2016/2017 to 2018/2019; with the application of funding types (capital receipts (including total achieved from property rationalisation programme) and borrowing) be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive in conjunction with the Estates Strategy Group (ESG).

(3) That the Deputy Chief Executive be requested to provide members of the Scrutiny Committee with details of the proposed works at North reddish Community Centre/

(4) That this Scrutiny Committee wish to receive an annual update reports on progress in relation to the Annual Investment Programme.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer.

The Annual Insurance Report provides a summary of insurance performance for the financial year April 2015 to March 2016. The report includes comparisons with 2012/13, 2013/14 and 2014/15 financial years in order to allow for a meaningful comparison of trends.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider and comment on the Annual Insurance Report 2015/16.

Officer contact John Pearsall on telephone number Tel: 0161 474 4033 or alternatively email john.pearsall@stockport.gov.uk

The Borough Treasurer submitted the Annual Insurance report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided a summary of insurance performance for the financial year April 2015 to March 2016. The report included comparisons with 2012/13, 2013/14 and 2014/15 financial years.

RESOLVED – That the Annual Insurance Report 2015/16 be noted.

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council (Policy, Finance & Devolution).

In August the Executive outlined how it will address the severe financial challenges faced by Stockport because of central Government cuts and significant local cost pressures, and set out a framework of principles that would shape engagement with residents and businesses In October the Executive received an updated Medium-Term Financial position and, in response, set out business cases for proposed changes to address the spending reduction requirement for 2017/18; a series of working papers explaining initiatives that will shape a future reform programme and address wider challenges over the medium-term, and confirmed an intention to raise Council Tax by 3.99% in 2017/18.

This report affords an opportunity to discuss the Executive’s proposed approach taken to addressing the medium-term, by reference to the published background papers and 2017/18 business cases that fall within the remit of each scrutiny committee.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the report and appendices.

Officer contact: Steve Skelton, 0161 474 3174, steve.skelton@stockport.gov.uk

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Finance & Devolution) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated)  providing an opportunity for the Scrutiny Committee to discuss the Executive’s proposed approach taken to addressing the medium-term, by reference to the published background papers and 2017/18 business cases that fall within the remit of each Scrutiny Committee.

In August the Executive outlined how it would address the severe financial challenges faced by Stockport because of central Government cuts and significant local cost pressures, and set out a framework of principles that would shape engagement with residents and businesses In October the Executive  had received an updated Medium-Term Financial position and, in response, set out business cases for proposed changes to address the spending reduction requirement for 2017/18; a series of working papers explaining initiatives that would shape a future reform programme and address wider challenges over the medium-term, and confirmed an intention to raise Council Tax by 3.99% in 2017/18.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Alexander Ganotis) and the Executive Councillor for Reform & Governance (Councillor David Sedgwick) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:

·         It was noted that the Executive Leader had attended staff briefings in relation to the Executive Savings Proposals and the Executive Councillor (Reform & Governance) had attended a number of meetings with staff and encouraged them to respond to the consultation in relation to overtime and staff travel proposals.

·         It was acknowledged that the Working Paper in relation to “Working with Communities” was light on detail  in relation to the establishment of a “Stockport Community Investment Fund” but it was proposed the fund would provide financial support to communities to deliver council priorities based on measurable outcomes and by early intervention, the council would benefit from future savings.

·         It was acknowledged that as part of the need to reduce overtime it maybe that staffing in some areas needed to be addressed.

·         The work being undertaken to develop proposals in relation to increasing income generation were noted and that a more detailed explanation of how this would be achieved would be included in the next Working Paper.

·         Work was underway to develop models which would more accurately forecast the net financial uplift to Council Tax and Business rates as a consequence of the Regeneration Programme in the Town Centre.

RESOLVED – That the report and appendices be noted.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive

The report presents the annual Corporate Business Continuity Plan. Business Continuity Management provides an internal framework for organisational resilience that has the capability of an effective response which safeguards key activities. The Civil Contingencies Act 2014 imposes a statutory duty on ‘Category 1 Responders’ to make robust arrangements for Business Continuity and also to put in place arrangements to make information available to the public about civil protection matters to warn, inform and advise the public in the event of an emergency.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the report and the Corporate Business Continuity Plan.

Officer Contact: Claire Grindlay on 0161 474 4191 or email: claire.grindlay@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted the Annual Corporate Business Continuity Plan (copies of which had been circulated). The Business Continuity Management provided an internal framework for organisational resilience that has the capability of an effective response which safeguards key activities. The Civil Contingencies Act 2014 imposes a statutory duty on ‘Category 1 Responders’ to make robust arrangements for Business Continuity and also to put in place arrangements to make information available to the public about civil protection matters to warn, inform and advise the public in the event of an emergency.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Alexander Ganotis) and the Executive Councillor for Reform & Governance (Councillor David Sedgwick) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

RESOLVED – That Corporate Business Continuity Plan be noted.

To consider a joint report of the Interim Provider Director; Director of Services for People (SMBC); Deputy Chief Executive (SFT); Medical Director (Pennine NHS FT); Interim Chief Executive (Viaduct)

The four Providers of Health and Social Care in Stockport have reached a milestone in the Joint commissioner led procurement process to identify the potential organisational form of a Multi-speciality Community Provider (MCP) in Stockport. The purpose of this document is to present the options that have been considered by Providers, including the relevant information required to support members of each partner provider organisation (Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, Stockport MBC, Viaduct Health and Pennine NHS Foundation Trust) in identifying a preferred option.

This document provides an overview of the strategic context in the development of a MCP in Stockport and outlines the appraisal undertaken by providers leading to a recommendation of a preferred option for the MCP form.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to consider the proposed recommendations to the Council’s Executive:-

(1) It is the recommendation of this options appraisal that the option to form A New Neighbourhood Led Accountable Care Trust should be considered by all providers for approval to progress to a Full Business Case (FBC) including  legal agreements, regulatory and financial due diligence.

(2) It is important to stress that the completion of the FBC is part of the much larger procurement and regulatory process described above, the timescales for completion of which have yet to be confirmed.  Once approved by Provider governance processes, the FBC would therefore also be subject to the final outcome of the Joint Commissioning Procurement process and would require regulatory approval by NHS England and NHS Improvement.

(3) In addition, as outlined in section 4 in relation to support services, it is recommended that Stockport MBC and Stockport NHS FT:

·                Develop a specification for a structured programme that results in an option for an integrated support services;

·                Adopt the design principles and next steps identified in section 4 above to inform this programme;

·                Focus in the first instance upon support services in Stockport Foundation Trust and Stockport MBC;

·                Adopt a public sector led arrangement either through a partnership or public to public transfer in the first instance to enable effective support services to meet critical transformation requirements in the development of the care model; and,

·                Develop a detailed report for consideration by the Stockport Together Board and appropriate organisational governance along with a proposed approach to programme investment, governance, accountability arrangements and requisite third-party support.

Officer contact: Keith Spencer / Holly Rae, 0161 474 3014, keith.spencer@stockport.gov.uk / holly.rae@stockport.gov.uk 

A joint report (copies of which had been circulated) of the Interim Provider Director; Director of Services for People (SMBC); Deputy Chief Executive (SFT); Medical Director (Pennine NHS FT); Interim Chief Executive (Viaduct) was submitted.

The four Providers of Health and Social Care in Stockport had reached a milestone in the Joint commissioner led procurement process to identify the potential organisational form of a Multi-speciality Community Provider (MCP) in Stockport. The purpose of the document was to present the options that had been considered by Providers, including the relevant information required to support members of each partner provider organisation (Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, Stockport MBC, Viaduct Health and Pennine NHS Foundation Trust) in identifying a preferred option.

The document provided an overview of the strategic context in the development of a MCP in Stockport and outlines the appraisal undertaken by providers leading to a recommendation of a preferred option for the MCP form.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Alexander Ganotis) and the Executive Councillor for Reform & Governance (Councillor David Sedgwick) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:

·         The governance arrangements for the new Neighbourhood Led Accountable Care Trust to ensure it was accountable was critical to its success.

·         The Scrutiny Committee noted the challenge of bringing together different accountancy practices together to the satisfaction of the External Auditors.

·         The Equality Impact Assessment (Appendix 1 to the Options Appraisal of Organisational Form) needed to reference the impact of the proposals on disabled staff.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Executive be recommended to approve option 2, to form A New Neighbourhood Led Accountable Care Trust subject to consideration and approval by all providers to progress to a Full Business Case (FBC) including  legal agreements, regulatory and financial due diligence.

(2)          That this Scrutiny Committee agree that It is important that the completion of the FBC is part of the much larger procurement and regulatory process described in the report and note that the timescales for completion of have yet to be confirmed.  Once approved by Provider governance processes, the FBC should also be subject to the final outcome of the Joint Commissioning Procurement process and be subject to regulatory approval by NHS England and NHS Improvement.

(3)          That this Scrutiny Committee note that as outlined in section 4 of the report in relation to support services, it is recommended that Stockport Council and Stockport NHS FT:

·         Develop a specification for a structured programme that results in an option for an integrated support services;

·         Adopt the design principles and next steps identified in section 4 above to inform this programme;

·         Focus in the first instance upon support services in Stockport Foundation Trust and Stockport MBC;

·         Adopt a public sector led arrangement either through a partnership or public to public transfer in the first instance to enable effective support services to meet critical transformation requirements in the development of the care model; and,

·         Develop a detailed report for consideration by the Stockport Together Board and appropriate organisational governance along with a proposed approach to programme investment, governance, accountability arrangements and requisite third-party support.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer.

This report provides the Executive with a mid-year review of the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy Statement (TMSS) and Annual Investment Strategy (AIS for 2016/17.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to recommend the following to the Council meeting:

·         Note the report and the treasury activity in the first half of the financial year,

·         Note the revised interest rate forecasts for PWLB rates over the short and medium term, which will drive the Council’s long-term borrowing strategies going forward and also those for the UK Bank Rate, which have reduced budgeted investment earnings rates for 2016/17 and future years.

Officer contact Lorna Soufian on Tel: 0161 474 4026 or by email on lorna.soufian@stockport.gov.uk

The Borough Treasurer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Scrutiny Committee with a mid-year review of the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy Statement (TMSS) and Annual Investment Strategy (AIS for 2016/17.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Alexander Ganotis) and the Executive Councillor for Reform & Governance (Councillor David Sedgwick) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

RESOLVED – That the Council meeting be recommended to:

·         Note the report and the treasury activity in the first half of the financial year,

·         Note the revised interest rate forecasts for PWLB rates over the short and medium term, which will drive the Council’s long-term borrowing strategies going forward and also those for the UK Bank Rate, which have reduced budgeted investment earnings rates for 2016/17 and future years.

To consider a report of the Monitoring Officer.

The Labour Group has requested a review based on a continued assumption that there will be five Scrutiny Committees and eight Executive Portfolios (i) how scrutiny arrangements can more adequately reflect other internal structures, including the existing Council directorates and Executive portfolios and (ii) how to be as agile as possible in scrutinising the large number of cross-cutting projects which are currently underway (e.g. Public Safety and Protection, Health and Social Care, Digital by Design).

The report had been considered by the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee and the Constitution Working Party and their comments are included in the report.

The Corporate, Resource Management and Governance Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the proposal set out above and make any comments.

Officer contact Craig Ainsworth on telephone number Tel: 0161474 3204 or alternatively email craig.ainsworth@stockport.gov.uk

The Monitoring Officer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) relating to a review of how the scrutiny arrangements could more adequately reflect other internal structures, including the existing Council directorates and Executive portfolios and how they could be more agile in scrutinising the large number of cross-cutting projects which are currently underway (e.g. Public Safety and Protection, Health and Social Care, Digital by Design).

It was reported that the proposals had been considered by the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee and the Constitution Working Party and their comments were included in the report.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Alexander Ganotis) and the Executive Councillor for Reform & Governance (Councillor David Sedgwick) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

RESOLVED – That the Council Meeting be recommended to approve the proposed Constitutional changes.

To consider a report of the Monitoring Officer.

The Stockport, Trafford and Rochdale (STAR) Joint Committee met on the 20th July 2016 and received a report of the Director of STAR procurement setting out the proposed amendments to the harmonised Contract Procedure Rules (CPR) currently adopted by each Council. The STAR Joint Committee endorsed the revised CPRs and commended that each Council must now approve the revised CPRs and incorporates the revised CPRs into their Constitution. The Constitution Working Party at its meeting held on 20 October 2016, recommended that the revisions to the Contract Procedure Rules be adopted by the Council Meeting for inclusion in the Council’s Constitution.

The STAR Joint Committee report and resolution are set out in Schedule 1.

The Corporate, Resource Management and Governance Scrutiny Committee is invited to note the agreement of Trafford & Rochdale to the revised CPRs and agree that the revisions shall be recommended for adoption by the Council Meeting as part of the Council’s Constitution.

Officer contact Celia Tierney by email celia.tierney@stockport.gov.uk

The Monitoring Officer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) explaining that the Stockport, Trafford and Rochdale (STAR) Joint Committee had met on the 20 July 2016 and received a report of the Director of STAR procurement setting out the proposed amendments to the harmonised Contract Procedure Rules (CPR) currently adopted by each Council. The STAR Joint Committee had endorsed the revised CPRs and commended that each Council must now approve the revised CPRs and incorporates the revised CPRs into their Constitution.

It was reported that the Constitution Working Party at its meeting held on 20 October 2016 had recommended that the revisions to the Contract Procedure Rules be adopted by the Council Meeting for inclusion in the Council’s Constitution.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Alexander Ganotis) and the Executive Councillor for Reform & Governance (Councillor David Sedgwick) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

RESOLVED – That the Council Meeting be recommended to approve the proposed Constitutional changes.

To consider a report of the Monitoring Officer.

The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the changes to the Council’s Constitution which are required as a result of an agreement under Section 75 of the National Health Service Act 2006 and to review the roles of the Health and Care Integrated Commissioning Board (HCICB) and Health and Well Being Board (as requested by the Leader)

The Constitution Working Party, at its meeting held on 20 October 2016, recommended that the Council meeting approves the changes to the Constitution, as set out in Schedule 1 to the report.

The Corporate, Resource Management and Governance Scrutiny Committee is recommended to note the content of this report and recommend that constitutional changes set out in this report and in Schedule 1 are incorporated into the Council’s Constitution.

Officer contact Celia Tierney by email celia.tierney@stockport.gov.uk

The Monitoring Officer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the changes to the Council’s Constitution which are required as a result of an agreement under Section 75 of the National Health Service Act 2006 and to review the roles of the Health and Care Integrated Commissioning Board (HCICB) and Health and Well Being Board (as requested by the Leader)

It was reported that the Constitution Working Party, at its meeting held on 20 October 2016, recommended that the Council meeting approves the changes to the Constitution, as set out in Schedule 1 to the report.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Alexander Ganotis) and the Executive Councillor for Reform & Governance (Councillor David Sedgwick) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

RESOLVED – That the Council Meeting be recommended to approve the proposed Constitutional changes.

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.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer.

To consider a proposal to write off the debt in respect of Company A , amounting to £361,107.20 for office premises in Stockport. The debt in question is in respect of Business Rates for office premises in Hazel Grove.  The assessment on which the account was based was originally part of a larger property.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to note that it is proposed that the Business Rates debt of £367,107.20 is written off as irrecoverable.  All available methods have been considered and it is clear that the limited company that owes the debt has no assets that could be liquidated to obtain payment.

Officer contact Alison Blount   on Tel: 0161 474 5107 or by email on alison.blount@stockport.gov.uk

The Borough Treasurer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Scrutiny Committee to consider a proposal to write off the debt in respect of Company A, amounting to £361,107.20 for office premises in Stockport. The debt in question is in respect of Business Rates for office premises in Hazel Grove.  The assessment on which the account was based was originally part of a larger property.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Alexander Ganotis) and the Executive Councillor for Reform & Governance (Councillor David Sedgwick) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

RESOLVED – (1) That this Scrutiny Committee support the Business Rates debt of £367,107.20 being written off as irrecoverable and note that all available methods had been considered and it is clear that the limited company that owes the debt has no assets that could be liquidated to obtain payment.

(2) That the changes in working practices to ensure that similar situations are dealt with much quicker was noted.