Agenda and minutes

Corporate, Resource Management & Governance Scrutiny Committee - Monday, 3rd December, 2012 6.00 pm

Venue: Committee Room 2, Town Hall, Stockport. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services 

Items
No. Item

1.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 41 KB

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 22 October 2012

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting held on 22 October 2012 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

2.

Declarations of Interest

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

Minutes:

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 interests were declared:-

 

Personal Interests

 

Councillor

Interest

 

 

Stuart Corris

 

 

Andy Sorton

 

 

 

Suzanne Wyatt

Any reference to Stockport Homes as his wife was a member of the Board of Stockport Homes.

 

Agenda item 5 - “Stockport Council Tax Support and Discount Schemes” as the owner of a second property in Stockport.

 

Any references to Individual Solutions SK (ISSK) as a member of the Board of ISSK.

 

Personal & Prejudicial Interest

 

Councillor

Interest

 

 

Stuart Corris

Agenda item 14 - “Stockport Hydro – Otterspool Weir Hydro Scheme” as a shareholder. Councillor Corris left the meeting during the consideration of this item and took no part in the discussion or vote thereon.

 

Disclosable Pecuniary Interest

 

Councillor

Interest

 

 

Ben Alexander

Agenda item 14 - “Stockport Hydro – Otterspool Weir Hydro Scheme” as the Chairman of Stockport Hydro Limited and a shareholder. Councillor Alexander left the meeting during the consideration of this item and took no part in the discussion or vote thereon.

 

3.

Call-In

To consider call-in items (if any).

 

Minutes:

There were no call-in items to consider.

Councillor Philip Harding in the Chair

4.

Stockport Hydro - Otterspool Weir Hydro Scheme pdf icon PDF 33 KB

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Development).

 

Stockport Hydro is an Industrial and Provident Society for the benefit of the community.  Its scheme at Otterspool Weir is Greater Manchester's first community-owned hydro-electric project.  The hydro scheme on the River Goyt is now constructed and capable of generating electricity but there are some outstanding financial issues for which Stockport Hydro is seeking assistance from Stockport Council.

 

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the proposed loan offer to Stockport Hydro, as described under section 3.of the report.

 

Officer contact, Darren Pegram, Sustainability Manager, telephone number 0161 474 3171, email: darren.pegram@stockport.gov.uk

Minutes:

The Service Director (Place Development) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) in connection with the Otterspool Weir Hydro Scheme. The scheme was Greater Manchester’s first community-owned hydro-electric project. The hydro scheme was now constructed and capable of generating electricity but there were some outstanding financial issues for which Stockport Hydro was seeking assistance from the Council.

 

The Executive Councillor, for Sustainable Futures (Councillor Stuart Bodsworth) attended the meeting to present the report and answer member’s questions.

 

It was reported that the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee on 29 November had supported the proposed loan to Stockport Hydro and requested that an update report be submitted to the Scrutiny Committee in six months’ time and a more detailed update report in twelve months’ time.

 

RESOLVED – That the Executive Meeting be advised that this Scrutiny Committee supports the proposed loan to Stockport Hydro as detailed in the report.

Councillor Ben Alexander in the Chair

5.

Second Quarter 2012/13 Corporate Complaints pdf icon PDF 562 KB

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

 

The report provides an overview of complaints received in the 2nd quarter of 2012/13. The report covers the following complaints procedures:

 

·         Corporate Complaints.

·         Adult Social Care Complaints.

·         Children’s Social Care Complaints.

·         Stockport Homes’ complaints

·         Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) complaints.

 

The report also outlines lessons learnt as a result of complaints.

 

The Executive at its meeting on 12 November 2012 approved the recommendations in the report.

 

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to:

 

·         review performance information contained in this report, and

·         comment on the performance measures reported and suggest any additional information that might be collected in future.

 

Officer contact, Anwar Majothi, telephone number 0161 474 3182, email anwar.majothi@stockport.gov.uk

Minutes:

The Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of complaints received in the second quarter of 2012/13. The report covers the following complaints procedures:

 

·         Corporate Complaints.

·         Adult Social Care Complaints.

·         Children’s Social Care Complaints.

·         Stockport Homes’ complaints

·         Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) complaints.

 

The report also outlined lessons learnt as a result of complaints.

 

It was reported that the Executive at its meeting on 12 November 2012 had approved the recommendations in the report.

 

RESOLVED – That performance in relation to complaints received in the second quarter of 2012/13 be noted.

6.

Consultation on Executive Savings Proposals pdf icon PDF 39 KB

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

 

The consultations are nearly complete and the full results will be available and submitted to the meeting of the Executive Meeting on 17 December 2012.  However, headline information on the process and initial findings will be shared with this Scrutiny Committee on 3 December 2012.

 

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider and comment on the consultation responses.

 

Officer contact: Steve Houston, Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services, telephone number 0161 474 4000, email; steve.houston@stockport.gov.uk

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) summarising the results of consultation exercises carried out on those proposals contained with the Executive’s Savings Proposal report considered by the scrutiny committees in October 2012 that related to this Scrutiny Committee’s remit.

 

In addition, the Scrutiny Committee considered an overview of findings and details of the results of the ‘Principles for Change’ consultation underpinning the savings proposals (copies of which had been circulated).

 

The Executive Leader and Portfolio holder for Policy, Reform & Finance (Councillor Sue Derbyshire) and the Executive Councillor for Governance and Corporate Services (Councillor Martin Candler) attended the meeting and summarised the individual savings proposals in respect of their portfolios as contained in the report.

 

The following issues were raised/ comments made:-

 

           The need to ensure that the feedback from the consultation improves service delivery.

           The disappointing response rate to the online Council Tax consultation compared to paper responses. It was explained that the paper questionnaires were targeted.

           Concerns that the Council had not consulted with the right people and that responses were not from the people who use the services or are directly affected. It was explained that the Council did target users of the services but received a poor response rate; however the results of the consultation were statistically valid.

           Suggestion that the online consultations were not easily located on the Council website. It was explained that posters, advertisements and letters all contained direct links to the appropriate location.

           The full cost of the consultation process was requested.

           Concerns over how the Council helped those most in need, particularly in relation to qualifying what the “exceptional circumstances” were to access the new Discretionary Fund. The needs of a large family requiring a large house was used as an example.

           Queried the differences in discount for furnished properties and un-furnished properties and the classification of furnished properties as second homes. It was explained that the legislation made these distinctions.

           Further information on the Council Tax liability for houses in multiple occupation was requested.

           Noted that further staff reductions would be required in the future and employees’ job descriptions were likely to change to reflect new roles and responsibilities.  It was suggested that the Council would not be able to deliver the same range and levels of service in the future with a reduced workforce.

           The number of employees reaching normal retirement age over the next two years was requested.

           The Scrutiny Committee noted that the report to the Executive on 17 December would include details of the redundancy costs and the grades of the employees taking voluntary redundancy.

 

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted and the comments of the Scrutiny Committee on the Executive’s Savings Proposal be forwarded to the Executive for their consideration.

 

(2) That the cost of the consultation be provided to members of this Scrutiny Committee and in particular the cost of promoting the consultation on buses.

7.

Stockport's Council Tax Support and Discount Scheme pdf icon PDF 407 KB

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

 

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the proposed changes to the existing Council Tax Discount Scheme as set out in the table at 2.2.2 of the report.

 

There will be some supplementary papers which will be published prior to the meeting, including the final reports on consultation and EIA’s.

 

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the proposed scheme which will be reported to the Executive Meeting on the 17 December 2012. 

 

Officer contact: Alison Blount, telephone number 0161 474 5107, email: alison.blount@stockport.gov.uk 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Scrutiny Committee to consider the proposed changes to the existing Council Tax Discount Scheme as set out in the table at 2.2.2 of the report.

 

In addition, the Scrutiny Committee considered additional supplementary papers (copies of which had been circulated) including the final reports on consultation and Equality Impact Assessments.

 

The Executive Leader and Portfolio holder for Policy, Reform & Finance (Councillor Sue Derbyshire) and the Executive Councillor for Governance and Corporate Services (Councillor Martin Candler) attended the meeting to answer member’s questions.

 

RESOLVED – (1) That the Executive on 17 December and the Council Meeting on 20 December 2012 be recommended to approve the scheme outlined in this report as Stockport’s Discretionary Rate Discount Scheme for empty properties:

 

·         25% on properties which are unoccupied but furnished (second homes)

 

·         Retaining a 100% Council Tax discount for the first two months that a property becomes unoccupied and unfurnished reducing to 75% for the next four months and then a 25% discount for a further eighteen months. A 50% premium would apply after two years or more. 

 

·         75% reduction for the first 12 months, 25% for the next 12 months, with a 50% premium after two or more years on unoccupied properties undergoing refurbishment.

 

·         It is further recommended that the Executive approves the scheme outlined in this report as Stockport’s Council Tax Support Scheme for working age claims. Namely:

 

·         That the national default scheme be adopted with the adaptations listed in 9.3.2 to 9.3.11 of the report.

 

·         That the Council Tax band used to calculate entitlement be the equivalent of band A for all calculations unless the household is such that three or more bedrooms are required (using the national criteria defined for Local Housing Allowance payments) when band B equivalent will be used unless the property is in Band A in which case Band A will be used.

 

·         Second Adult Rebate will be abolished

 

·         Non dependant deductions will be made at either  the higher rate of £10 or the lower rate of £5 dependant on the income threshold in the default scheme unless the non-dependent is receiving IS/ JSA(IB) or equivalent rate under Universal Credit when no deduction will be made.

 

·         The savings and capital upper limit will be £8K

 

·         New claims will not be backdated. Payment will be made from the Monday following the date the claim is made

 

·         Beneficial changes in circumstances will be backdated for a maximum of 4 weeks from the date the change is reported

 

·         The minimum weekly payment of support will be £1 per week there will be no entitlement to any amount below this amount  

 

·         Earnings from self-employment will be calculated based on the calculation defined in the default scheme for the first 12 months of self- employment, after this time earnings will be calculated based on the national minimum wage based on the hours declared to HMRC for the purpose of claiming working tax credits up to a maximum of a 37 hour week. Where tax credits are not claimed then a standard 37 hour week will be used.

 

·         Any claim where the person is receiving Disabled Persons Relief on their Council Tax will be exempt from 10.2.2 and have their entitlement calculated on their actual Council Tax liability    

 

·         That a one-off discretionary allowance fund of £0.250m be created to be used in exceptional circumstances to help people adjust their circumstances to the new entitlement scheme.  

 

(2) That prior to the meeting of the Executive, the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services be requested to provide members with a clear definition of “exceptional circumstances” for the new ‘Discretionary Allowance Fund’.

 

(3) That the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services be requested to submit a report to this Committee in twelve months following the implementation of the new schemes.

8.

Consultation Report - 2013/14 Treasury Management Strategy pdf icon PDF 297 KB

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

 

This report seeks the views of the 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 2013/14, to be considered at the Executive Meeting on 18 February 2013 and the Council Meeting on 5 March 2013.

 

The Scrutiny Committee is requested give consideration to the questions as set out in the report so that the Scrutiny Committees views can be taken account of in the development of the 2013/14 Treasury Management Strategy Statement.

 

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

Minutes:

The Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) seeking the views of the 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 2013/14, to be considered at the Executive Meeting on 18 February 2013 and the Council Meeting on 5 March 2013.

 

The Executive Leader and Portfolio holder for Policy, Reform & Finance (Councillor Sue Derbyshire) attended the meeting to answer member’s questions.

 

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

 

(2) This Scrutiny Committee believe that the borrowing strategy outlined in Section 5 of the report was reasonable.

 

(3) That in the current economic climate the policy of maintaining an internally borrowed position is correct.

 

(4) That short, medium and long-term interest rates should be the benchmark levels for borrowing.

 

(5) This Scrutiny Committee believe that the Council’s current lending criteria was about right.

 

(6) That the Council was adequately controlling credit risk and the Council’s risk appetite and this approach was reasonable.

 

(7) That the approach to the selection of approved counterparties to both manage risk and optimise returns was reasonable and the pool of available investment instruments was appropriate.

 

(8) That the Council should not use non-specified investments, e.g. investments in excess of one year.

 

(9) This Scrutiny Committee are of the opinion that the overall Investment Strategy appears sound.

 

(10) This Scrutiny Committee believe that the Council’s current MRP strategy is sufficiently prudent.

9.

Mid-Year Treasury Management Strategy and Performance Review 2012/13 pdf icon PDF 302 KB

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

 

This report provides the Scrutiny Committee with a mid-year review of the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy for 2012/13 approved by Council on 23 February 2012 and has been prepared in accordance with the CIPFA Code of Practice for Treasury Management in the Public Services.

 

The report provides an economic update for the first six months of 2012/13 and details how this impacts upon the interest rate predictions and outlook provided in the initial strategy.  An overview is provided of more recent forecasts and developments in the financial markets and how these are affecting the Councils investment portfolio and borrowing strategies for the current financial year.   A review is provided of the Council’s capital expenditure prudential indicators and compliance with Treasury and Prudential Limits for 2012/13.

 

There are no key changes required to the treasury management and capital strategies for 2012/13, which continue to be relevant and effective.

 

The Executive at its meeting on 12 November 2012 approved the recommendations in the report.

 

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to recommend that the Council Meeting receive the report in line with best practice guidelines and note the treasury activity for the first half of the financial year.

 

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

Minutes:

The Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services 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 and Annual Investment Strategy for 2012/13 approved by Council on 23 February 2012 and has been prepared in accordance with the CIPFA Code of Practice for Treasury Management in the Public Services.

 

The report provided an economic update for the first six months of 2012/13 and details how this impacts upon the interest rate predictions and outlook provided in the initial strategy.  An overview was provided of more recent forecasts and developments in the financial markets and how these were affecting the Councils investment portfolio and borrowing strategies for the current financial year.   A review was provided of the Council’s capital expenditure prudential indicators and compliance with Treasury and Prudential Limits for 2012/13.

 

There were no key changes required to the treasury management and capital strategies for 2012/13, which continued to be relevant and effective.

 

It was reported that the Executive at its meeting on 12 November 2012 had approved the recommendations in the report.

 

The Executive Leader and Portfolio holder for Policy, Reform & Finance (Councillor Sue Derbyshire) attended the meeting to answer member’s questions.

 

RESOLVED – That mid-year performance of the Treasury Management function in 2012/13 be noted and the Council Meeting be recommended to receive the report in line with best practice guidelines.

10.

Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Rent Strategy 2012 - 2017 pdf icon PDF 17 KB

To consider a joint report of the Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services, Service Director (Place Development) and the Chief Executive of Stockport Homes,.

 

The report details a future a draft rent strategy for the years 2012 – 2017, in order to frame the annual rent increases following on from the thirty year business plan and asset management plan approved in February 2012 for the Housing Revenue Account.

 

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to consider the draft strategy and express their views as part of the consultation process.

 

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A joint report (copies of which had been circulated) of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services, Service Director (Place Development) and the Chief Executive of Stockport Homes was submitted detailing a future a draft rent strategy for the years 2012 – 2017, in order to frame the annual rent increases following on from the thirty year business plan and asset management plan approved in February 2012 for the Housing Revenue Account.

 

It was reported that the Adults and Communities Scrutiny Committee on 26 November had noted the report.

 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

11.

Corporate Performance and Resources - Mid-Year Report 2012/13 pdf icon PDF 36 KB

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

 

The report provides a summary of progress in delivering the Council’s priorities and budgets during the first half of 2012/13, and includes financial and performance forecasts for the full year. It is supported by ten Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs).

 

The revenue budget is forecasting a surplus of £3.709m, with five portfolios contributing to a cash limits surplus of £1.2m while reduced capital financing costs and a formula grant refund are contributing to a non-cash limit surplus of some £2.5m.

 

Three quarters of priority measures are forecast to improve or maintain performance this year, with 71% forecast to meet or exceed targets. Benchmarking information shows that Stockport continues to perform well compared to its peers, although maintaining high levels of performance will be a continuing challenge, and a performance on a number of measures is forecast to fall this year.

 

The Executive at its meeting on 12 November 2012 approved the recommendations in the report.

 

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to:

 

·         review progress against delivering Council Plan priorities, portfolio outcomes and capital schemes alongside budget forecasts contained within the report;

 

·         note  the virements to the Revenue Budget set out in section 2.2 of the report;

 

·         note the cash limit and non-cash limit forecast outturn positions for 2012/13 as set out in sections 2.3, 2.5 and 2.6 of the report;

 

·         note the Retained Schools Budget and Housing Revenue Account forecast outturn positions as set out in sections 2.7 and 2.8 of the report;

 

·         note the contributions to/from earmarked reserves and balances as set out in section 2.9 of the report including the recommendations set out at paragraph 2.9.3 in relation to the Insurance Reserve, 2.9.5 in relation to the Bridgefield Project and at paragraph 2.9.7 in relation to the Solutions SK Limited Trading Reserve;

 

·         note the forecast outturn for the 2012/13 Capital Programme as set out in section 3.1 of the report

 

·         note the changes to the Capital Programme as set out in paragraph 3.1.5 of the report;

 

·         note  the resourcing of the Capital Programme as set out in section 3.4 of the report;

 

·         identify key areas for further investigation and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any existing or forecast issues or risks.

 

Officer contact: Andrea Stewart / Christine Buxton, telephone number 0161 474 3243/ 4124, email  andrea.stewart@stockport.gov.uk / Christine.buxton@stockport.gov.uk

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a summary of progress in delivering the Council’s priorities and budgets during the first half of 2012/13, and included financial and performance forecasts for the full year. It was supported by ten Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs).

 

The revenue budget was forecasting a surplus of £3.709m, with five portfolios contributing to a cash limits surplus of £1.2m while reduced capital financing costs and a formula grant refund were contributing to a non-cash limit surplus of some £2.5m.

 

Three quarters of priority measures were forecast to improve or maintain performance this year, with 71% forecast to meet or exceed targets. Benchmarking information showed that Stockport continued to perform well compared to its peers, although maintaining high levels of performance would be a continuing challenge, and a performance on a number of measures was forecast to fall this year.

 

It was reported that the Executive at its meeting on 12 November 2012 had approved the recommendations in the report.

 

The Executive Leader and Portfolio holder for Policy, Reform & Finance (Councillor Sue Derbyshire) and the Executive Councillor for Governance and Corporate Services (Councillor Martin Candler) attended the meeting to answer member’s questions.

 

RESOLVED – That

 

·         the virements to the Revenue Budget set out in section 2.2 of the report be noted;

·         the cash limit and non-cash limit forecast outturn positions for 2012/13 as set out in sections 2.3, 2.5 and 2.6 of the report be noted;

·         the Retained Schools Budget and Housing Revenue Account forecast outturn positions as set out in sections 2.7 and 2.8 of the report be noted;

·         the contributions to/from earmarked reserves and balances as set out in section 2.9 of the report including the recommendations set out at paragraph 2.9.3 in relation to the Insurance Reserve, 2.9.5 in relation to the Bridgefield Project and at paragraph 2.9.7 in relation to the Solutions SK Limited Trading Reserve be noted;

·         the forecast outturn for the 2012/13 Capital Programme as set out in section 3.1 of the report be noted;

·         the changes to the Capital Programme as set out in paragraph 3.1.5 of the report be noted; and

·         the resourcing of the Capital Programme as set out in section 3.4 of the report be noted.

 

12.

Portfolio Performance and Resources Mid-Year Report 2012/13 pdf icon PDF 33 KB

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

 

The purpose of this report is to provide a detailed overview of performance which relates to the Corporate, Resource Management and Governance Scrutiny Committee.

 

The information is provided in the form of the Quarter 1 2012/13 Portfolio Performance and Resources Reports for the Policy, Reform & Finance and Governance and Corporate Services Portfolios.

 

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

 

·         Review the current levels of performance.

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

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

 

Officer contact:Peter Owston, Performance and Information Team (CSS) peter.owston@stockport.gov.uk (474 3274) Susan Wood, Strategic Accountant (CSS/OCE) susan.wood@stockport.go.uk (218 1032)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a detailed overview of performance which related to this Scrutiny Committee.

 

The information was provided in the form of the mid year 2012/13 Portfolio Performance and Resources Reports for the Policy, Reform & Finance and Governance and Corporate Services Portfolios.

 

The Executive Leader and Portfolio holder for Policy, Reform & Finance (Councillor Sue Derbyshire) and the Executive Councillor for Governance and Corporate Services (Councillor Martin Candler) attended the meeting to answer member’s questions.

 

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

 

(2) That the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services be requested to submit a report to a future meeting of this Scrutiny Committee in relation to the Welfare Reform agenda.

 

(3) That where appropriate, the report should include data as well as percentages and that the next report should specifically include the reduction in property costs (occupancy, operational and management) per square metre.

13.

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000: Overview of requests made to Stockport Council during 2012 pdf icon PDF 206 KB

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

 

The report provides an overview of:

 

§   the numbers of requests received by the Council and comparisons at a regional level

§   requests by directorate

§   sources and types of information requested

§   how requests have been dealt with (outcomes and timeliness)

§   impact of requests on the Council

 

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:

 

·         Note the report

·         Request officers to continue to monitor information in relation to the trends relating to FOI request to inform service improvement

 

Officer contact: Simon Oldfield – Data Protection & Freedom of Information Officer and RIPA Coordinator on simon.oldfield@stockport.gov.uk or 0161 474 4048 or Andrea Stewart – Head of Performance and Information Services on andreaj.stewart@stockport.gov.uk or 0161 474 3243.

Minutes:

The Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of:

 

·         the numbers of requests received by the Council and comparisons at a regional level

·         requests by directorate

·         sources and types of information requested

·         how requests have been dealt with (outcomes and timeliness)

·         impact of requests on the Council

 

The Executive Councillor for Governance and Corporate Services (Councillor Martin Candler) attended the meeting to answer member’s questions.

 

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

 

(2) That officers be requested to continue to monitor information in relation to the trends relating to FOI request to inform service improvement.

 

(3) That future reports should include the number of individuals compared with multiple ‘requestors’.

14.

Employee Survey 2012 pdf icon PDF 58 KB

To consider a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Communications)

 

The report provides the Scrutiny Committee with information on the corporate results of the Employee Survey 2012 and subsequent action planning.

 

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to:

 

·         consider the results of the survey

·         To comment on the process for sharing the results and identifying areas for action

Officer contact, Janine Watson, Assistant Chief Executive (Communications), telephone number 0161 474 3060, email: janine.watson@stockport.gov.uk

Minutes:

The Assistant Chief Executive (Communications) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Scrutiny Committee with information on the corporate results of the Employee Survey 2012 and subsequent action planning.

 

The Executive Councillor for Governance and Corporate Services (Councillor Martin Candler) attended the meeting to answer member’s questions.

 

RESOLVED – (1) That the results of the survey together with the process for sharing the results and identifying areas for action be noted.

 

(2) That the Assistant Chief Executive (Communications) be requested to reconsider the use of the word “behaviours” within the ‘Draft Communications Plan (Appendix two to the report).

15.

Council Meeting Procedure Rules pdf icon PDF 44 KB

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager

 

This report will be considered by the Constitution Working Party on 28 November 2012 in order consider issues previously identified by the Working Party in relation to the Council Meeting Procedure Rules, namely Public and Member Question Time, the ability to question other Council bodies, Motions of No Confidence and Social Media. In addition, the Working Party will be invited to consider other issues raised in relation to amendments and presentations. The recommendations of the Working Party will be reported to the Scrutiny Committee.

 

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider any changes to the Council Meeting Procedure Rules proposed by the Constitution Working Party.

 

Officer Contact: Craig Ainsworth on 0161 474 3204 or e mail: craig.ainsworth@stockport.gov.uk

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Scrutiny Committee to consider issues previously identified by the Constitution Working Party in relation to the Council Meeting Procedure Rules, namely Public and Member Question Time, the ability to question other Council bodies, Motions of No Confidence and social media. In addition, the Scrutiny Committee was invited to consider other issues raised by Members in relation to amendments and presentations.

 

The Constitution Working Party on 28 November had considered each of these issues and made recommendations (copies of which were circulated) which would also be considered by the Executive on 17 December and Council Meeting on 20 December 2012.

 

RESOLVED – That the recommendations of the Constitution Working Party be endorsed.

 

16.

Agenda Planning pdf icon PDF 28 KB

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.               

 

The report sets out planned agenda items for the next meeting 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

 

Minutes:

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

 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted