Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 22February & 9 May, 2011.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 22 February and 9 May 2011 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers to declare any interest which they may have in any of the items on the agenda for this meeting (including whipping declarations).

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

The following interest was declared:-

Personal Interest

To consider a report of the Service Director for Communities, Regeneration and Environment.                                                                                                      

This report provides an update on the progress of the Customer Contact – Street Lighting and Highways Business Improvement, Transformation and Efficiency (BITE) Review which was initiated by this Scrutiny Committee as part of the Customer Contact Review.

The Committee is invited to note the positive changes and progress on the review.

Officer Contact: Andrew Suggett on 0161 474 569, email: Andrew.suggett@stockport.gov.uk or Martin Rigby on 0161 474 4832, email: martin.rigby@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Environment) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) on the progress of the Customer Contact – Street Lighting and Highways Business Improvement, Transformation and Efficiency (BITE) Review which had been initiated by this Scrutiny Committee as part of the Scrutiny Review - Customer Contact. Since the last report to this Scrutiny Committee in April 2010, the areas identified for improvement in the Street Lighting and Highways review were being addressed and the improvement work will continue over the coming months.

Members referred to a recent visit to Wigan Council and asked whether this Council had investigated adopting the “Wigan model” as they had found that their intervention level was more cost effective.

RESLOVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Service Director (Environment) be requested to submit progress reports to this Scrutiny Committee on a six monthly basis.

(3) That the Executive Councillor (Transportation) be informed of this Scrutiny Committees concern over the intervention level for potholes being greater than that of Wigan Council and that this Committee would wish to see the “Wigan model” investigated further.

To consider a report of the Service Director for Communities, Regeneration and Environment.                                                                                         

This report provides an update on the work of the Stockport Partnership, including areas of achievements, performance issues, emerging priorities and risks.

The Committee is invited to note this report and to use it as a basis to direct further questions to the relevant officers.

Officer Contact: Steve Skelton on 0161 474 3174, email: steve.skelton@stockport.gov.uk

The Assistant Chief Executive (Strategy & Democracy) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out details of the work of the Stockport Partnership, including areas of achievements, performance issues, emerging priorities and risks.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the performance framework targets of the Thematic Partnerships be circulated to members of this Scrutiny Committee together with copies of the Annual Performance report produced by the Partnership Office.

To consider a report of the Service Director for Business Services.                                                                                                

Members of the Scrutiny Committee are invited to comment on the Council’s draft Human Resources Strategy.

The Committee is invited to consider the draft Strategy and agree a response to the Executive Meeting.

Officer Contact: Phil Badley on 0161 474 3110, email: phil.badley@stockport.gov.uk

The Service Director (Organisation Development) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Scrutiny Committee to comment on the Council’s draft Human Resources Strategy.

RESOLVED - (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Service Director (Organisation Development) be requested to submit a report outlining details of the HR operational business plan to a future meeting of this Scrutiny Committee.

The Service Director for Communities, Regeneration and Environment to report at the meeting.                                                                                        

The Committee are invited to note the report

Officer Contact: Steve Brown on 0161 474 3144, email: steve.brown@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Communities) reported that the National Indicators (including NI140) had been abolished. However, other more meaningful data was available through other Partner surveys and this would continue to be monitored to ensure that services within the Priority 1 Areas was high.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

(a) Reference EMD1302- Dialstone Centre and Blackstone Field Redevelopment

                                                (Executive Decision Record and report enclosed)

To consider the call in of executive decision EMD1302

(Note: The report will have a 'not for publication' appendix which will be circulated to executive councillors only)

(b) To consider any further call-in items

(a) Reference EMD1302: Completion of Development Agreement for the Dialstone Centre and Blackstone Fields, Offerton

The Scrutiny Committee was informed that the Executive at its meeting on 18 May 2011 had approved the development agreement between the Council and THi Riverside Ltd, the Council’s preferred developer, for the regeneration of the site of the Dialstone Centre, land known as Blackstone Fields and the site of the former Dial Park Primary School. The Executive had also approved the appropriation of the site of the Dialstone Centre from education purposes to planning purposes.

(Note: The financial terms and conditions of the agreement were contained in the 'not for publication' appendix to the report which had been circulated to members of the Scrutiny Committee only.)

The Chair reported that the decision of the Executive had been called in by:

(a)       Councillors Wendy Meikle, Hazel Lees and Stuart Corris; and

(b)       Councillors Philip Harding, David Wilson and McAuley

Councillors Wendy Meikle and Philip Harding outlined their respective reasons for calling in the decision.

MOVED AND SECONDED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority) the disclosure of which would not be fair and would therefore be in breach of Data Protection principles, the public be excluded from the meeting.

For the motion 2; against 7

MOTION NOT CARRIED

Councillor Sue Derbyshire (Executive Councillor, Finance), Paul Lawrence (Service Director – Regeneration) and Barry Khan (Service Director – Legal & Democratic Services) answered Councillor’s questions.

It was explained that the Executive at it meeting on 6 December 2010 had agreed a comprehensive scheme for the redevelopment of the Dialstone Centre site and THi Riverside had been identified as the preferred developer. At the Executive meeting on 18 May members were informed that the development agreement was now ready to be signed which provided for significantly improved community facilities (library, health facilities, and leisure centre and care home) on Blackstone Fields and housing on the Dialstone Centre site. The whole scheme would be completed within the timescales identified in the development agreement as well as making good the site of the former Dial Park Primary School.

As part of the scheme, £600,000 had been identified for the remediation works at Blackstone Fields and this would be funded jointly between the Council and the developer. If the works exceeded this amount either side had the option to withdraw from the scheme. In addition the development agreement provided for three out of the four users being secured within the timescales set out in the development agreement and the Council retaining ownership of Blackstone Fields until this requirement had been met.

The Council had acknowledged that THi Riverside was a fairly new company but were satisfied that the imposition of a financial guarantor (GB Solutions) to underwrite all of the obligations of THi Riverside would mitigate this risk.

At 7.58pm it was

RESOLVED – That the meeting be adjourned.

The meeting reconvened at 8.03pm

RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority) the disclosure of which would not be fair and would therefore be in breach of Data Protection principles, the public be excluded from the meeting to enable the Scrutiny Committee to discuss the information in the 'not for publication' appendix to the agenda.

The public were re-admitted and it was:-

RESOLVED – (7 for, 2 abstentions) That no further action be taken.

A named vote was requested in relation to the voting on this resolution and the voting was recorded as follows:-

The Councillors who voted for the resolution were:-

Councillors Ben Alexander, Peter Burns, Pam King, Syd Lloyd, Wendy Meikle, Anthony O’Neill, and Chris Walker;

The Councillors who abstained were:-

Councillors Philip Harding and David White.

To consider a joint report of the Corporate Director, Business Services and Assistant Chief Executive (Strategy & Democracy).                                                                     

This report provides an overview of the Council’s performance in delivering key corporate objectives during the fourth quarter of the financial year (January-April 2011). It is focused on areas within the remit of the Committee, highlighting key activities and significant risks, and forecasting full year performance for 2010/11.

The Committee is invited to:-

a)     Review the current levels of performance.

b)     Highlight key areas of and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any existing or forecast performance issues.

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

Officer Contacts: Paul James on  474 5430, email; paul.james@stockport.gov.uk/Peter Owston, Tel: 474 3274, email: peter.owston@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Corporate & Support Services and the Assistant Chief Executive (Strategy & Democracy) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Scrutiny Committee with a summary of progress in delivering the Council's priority outcomes during the fourth and final quarter of 2010/11 and highlighting existing and emerging trends and risks for the current financial year. 

It was reported that a new approach to reporting performance was being proposed that would be based around an intelligence-led format, allowing a spotlight on identified risks along with an overall summary of progress against local priorities.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Corporate Director for Corporate & Support Services be requested to submit a report to the September meeting of this Scrutiny Committee ion relation to Freedom of Information Requests

(3)  That the Corporate Director for Corporate & Support Services be requested to circulate the Customer Charter to all members of the Council

(4) That the Corporate Director for Corporate & Support Services be requested to circulate a list of National Indicators which were being deleted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director, Business Services.                   

This report provides an update on the 2010/11 revenue budget position in the fourth quarter of 2010/11.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the report.

Officer contact: Christine Buxton Tel: 474 4124, email: christine.buxton@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Corporate & Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Scrutiny Committee on the forecast for the 2010/11 revenue outturn position.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted

To consider a report of the Chief Executive.                                                     

This report provides

The Committee is invited to:

a)                 Review performance information contained in this report, and

b)                 Comment on the performance measures reported and suggest any additional information thatmight be collected in future.

Officer Contact: Anwar Majothi on 0161 474 3182, email: anwar.majothi@stockport.gov.uk

The Assistant Chief Executive (Strategy and Democracy) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of corporate complaints, as at the 4th quarter (January – March) 2010/11. The report also provides a summary for the year of complaints received in 2010/11 with the complaints received in 2009/10.

Members of the Scrutiny Committee welcomed the revised format of the report.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted. 

(2) That the report and future reports be circulated to all Councillors.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager

The report sets out planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting, Forward Plan items that fall within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee and progress with resolutions made by the Scrutiny Committee at previous meetings.

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

Officer contact:  Craig Ainsworth, Tel: 474 3204, email: craig.ainsworth@stockport.gov.uk

The Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out planned agenda items for the Committee’s next meeting, Forward Plan items which fell within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee and progress with resolutions made by the Scrutiny Committee at previous meetings.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.