Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 8 November 2011

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 8 November 2011 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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 declarations were made:

Personal Interests

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Legal & Democratic Services)

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 covers the fourth quarter of the financial year 2010/11

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to note this report.

Officer contact: Claire Naven – Data Protection and Freedom of Information Officer; telephone number 0161 474 4048; email claire.naven@stockport.gov.uk

A report of the Service Director (Legal and Democratic Services) was submitted (copies of which had been circulated) reminding the Scrutiny Committee that the Council’s Code of Practice for carrying out surveillance under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) specified that quarterly reports would be taken to this Scrutiny Committee to demonstrate to elected members that the Council was complying with its own Code of Practice when using RIPA. The report covered the fourth quarter of the financial year 2010/11.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services.

The report provides an overview of complaints, as at the 2^nd quarter (July - September) 2011/12.  A total of 177 complaints were raised against the Council in the 2^nd quarter, compared with 181 in the previous quarter. Further information is contained in the report.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to:

(i)            Review performance information contained in this report, and

(ii)          Comment on the performance measures reported and suggest any additional information that might be collected in future.

Officer Anwar Majohti, 0161 474 3182 or alternatively email anwar.majohti@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Scrutiny Committee with an overview of complaints received for the second quarter of 2011/12, including comparisons with previous quarters and lessons learnt from these complaints.

RESOLVED – That second quarter performance in relation to complaints received be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services.

The report provides an assessment of the mid-year position in delivering the Council’s priorities, budget and capital programme for 2011/12. The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the Customer Focus and Finance Portfolios, which fall within the remit of this Scrutiny Committee.

The Corporate Performance and Resource Report was approved by the Executive on 7 November 2011 and is attached to the report, along with Appendices to provide the Scrutiny Committee with an overview of any issues not covered within the remit of other Scrutiny Committees.

The information contained within these reports will help to inform the development of the 2012/13 Council Plan and Medium Term Financial Plan, which the Committee are asked to comment on elsewhere on the agenda.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:

a)    Consider the relevant portfolio reports and corporate report 

b)   Review the current and forecast levels of performance and resources.

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

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

Officer contacts Andrea Stewart, Head of Performance & Information Services andreaj.stewart@stockport.gov.uk (474 3243), Christine Buxton, Head of Financial Management christine.buxton@stockport.gov.uk (474 4124)

The Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Scrutiny Committee with an assessment of the mid-year position in delivering the Council’s priorities, budget and capital programme for 2011/12. The Scrutiny Committee was invited to consider the Customer Focus and Finance Portfolios, which fall within the remit of this Scrutiny Committee.

The Corporate Performance and Resource Report had been approved by the Executive at its meeting on 7 November 2011 and was attached to the report, along with Appendices to provide the Scrutiny Committee with an overview of any issues not covered within the remit of other Scrutiny Committees.

The information contained within the reports would help to inform the development of the 2012/13 Council Plan and Medium Term Financial Plan, which the Committee are asked to comment on elsewhere on the agenda.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The results of the Employee Health Check showed a drop in ‘satisfaction with training and development’ and ‘feeling valued’.

·         The number of people using the mobile telephone application which allowed residents to report issues to the council since it was launched.

·         Clarification was sought in relation to maintaining confidentiality as part of the ‘ Tell Us Once Service’

·         The allocation of free computer equipment to Stockport families as part of a nationally funded scheme.

·         Why the complaints target for stage two was higher than the achievement last year?

·          Clarification was sought in relation to the reduction in income generated through the bureau.

·         The ability for the council to deliver the installation of Solar Panel Programme in view of the governments ‘feed-in’ tariff.

·         In relation to the review of the utilisation of civic accommodation, when the final report would be available for councillors and (i) the number of premises which would need to close to achieve the savings identified as part of the 2012/13 budget and (ii) what measures were being taken to ensure empty buildings belonging to the council are not vandalised.

·         The relocation of the town centre police officers to Fred Perry House and the details on the commercial arrangement with the police regarding sharing accommodation at Fred Perry House.

·         What was the financial value of the 95.4% forecast for Business Rate Collection?

·         The need to develop meaningful performance indicators in relation to the Finance and Customer Focus Portfolios once the Council Plan had been agreed.

·         The expected deficit in relation to the Property Investment Estate income target.

·         The average time taken to process new or changes to Housing Benefit/ Council Tax Benefit claims from the point at which we receive all of the information and why the 2011/12 target of 21 days for processing benefits was significantly higher than last year’s achievement of 13.5 days?

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services be requested to confirm:

(i)            The number of people using the mobile telephone application which allowed residents to report issues to the council since it was launched.

(ii)          What was the financial value of the 95.4% forecast for Business Rate Collection?

(iii)         Why the complaints target for stage two was higher than the achievement last year?

(iv)         In relation to the review of the utilisation of civic accommodation, when the final report would be available for councillors and the number of premises which would need to close to achieve the savings identified as part of the 2012/13 budget.

(v)          The commercial arrangement with the police regarding sharing accommodation at Fred Perry House.

(vi)         The expected deficit in relation to the Property Investment Estate income target.

(vii)        Why the 2011/12 target of 21 days for processing benefits was significantly higher than last year’s achievement of 13.5 days?

To consider a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Policy, Strategy, Partnerships & Transformation) (To follow)

The report sets out the Draft Portfolio Priorities in relation to the Finance and Customer Focus portfolios to be included within the Council Plan for 2012/13

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the draft portfolio priorities

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

The Assistant Chief Executive (Policy, Strategy, Partnerships & Transformation) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the Draft Portfolio Priorities in relation to the Finance and Customer Focus portfolios to be included within the Council Plan for 2012/13

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Policy, Strategy, Partnerships & Transformation) (To follow)

To consider the Draft Stockport Council Plan for 2012/13

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the 2012-13 Draft Stockport Council Plan

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

The Assistant Chief Executive (Policy, Strategy, Partnerships & Transformation) submitted the Draft Stockport Council Plan for 2012/13 (copies of which had been circulated for the Scrutiny Committees to comment on.

RESOLVED – That the 2012-13 Draft Stockport Council Plan be noted.

A joint report (copies of which had been circulated) of the Chief Executive and Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services was submitted summarising the results of the consultation relating to the portfolios under the remit of this Scrutiny Committee.

The Chair reported that the Executive Savings Proposals which would be considered by the Executive on 16 December would be exempt from call-in and therefore it was important that any comments this Scrutiny Committee were forwarded to the Executive for consideration on 16 December as there would not be a further opportunity to comment on the proposals.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted and that any comments on the proposals be forwarded to the Democratic Services Manager by 15 December 2011.

(2) That the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services be requested to provide a summary of those leaving the Council through Voluntary Redundancy  broken down by grade.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Policy, Strategy, Partnerships & Transformation) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) summarising the results of the consultation process on the Executive Savings Proposals.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and that any comments on the proposals be forwarded to the Democratic Services Manager by 15 December 2011.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services.

The report seeks the views of this Scrutiny Committee on the development of the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy Statement (TMSS), Annual Investment Strategy (AIS) and Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy for 2012/13, prior to consideration by the Executive on 6 February 2012 and the Council Meeting on 23 February 2012.

The Scrutiny Committee are invited to comment on the questions in the report to enable these to be taken account of in the development of the 2012/13 Treasury Management Strategy Statement.

Officer contact: Lorna Salvage, 0161 474 4026, lorna.salvage@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) seeking the views of this Scrutiny Committee on the development of the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy Statement (TMSS), Annual Investment Strategy (AIS) and Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy for 2012/13, prior to consideration by the Executive on 6 February 2012 and the Council Meeting on 23 February 2012.

RESOLVED - That the report be noted and that any comments on the proposed strategy be forwarded to the Head of Financial Management (Christine Buxton) by Friday 16 December 2011

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.               

The report sets out planned agenda items for the next two meetings of the Scrutiny 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, 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.