Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 12 October 2015

The Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 12 October 2015 (copies of which had been circulated) were approved as a correct record.

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

No declarations of interest were made.

To discuss the evolving role of members in relation to the Investing in Stockport Programme to ensure that Councillors have the appropriate support to fulfil their changing roles. The meeting will be facilitated by North West Employers and all Councillors have been invited to attend.

The University of Birmingham have recently been looking at the skills, values and identities of the future public service workforce and produced its findings called “The 21^st Century Public Servant”

The Twenty First Century Public Servant- Eight Lessons from the Literature published (PDF 307KB)

Under the umbrella of this work, North West Employers are now undertaking a piece of work called “21^st Century Councillor” which will consider:

·         What is the range of different roles of the 21^st century councillor?

·         What are the competencies and skills that councillors require to achieve these roles?

·         What are the support and training requirements of these roles?

The Scrutiny Review Panel - Member Development & Support will be looking in particular at:

·         Are Councillors provided with the opportunities to develop the skills needed to fully embrace the approach?  

·         Are Councillors are provided with key information to support role (e.g. ward profiles) and to allow citizen self-service?

·         Are the existing mechanisms for engagement between citizens and key council partners fit for purpose under the new arrangements?

·         Do Councillors have appropriate access to officer advice and the future role of ‘Relationship Managers’

·         Do Councillors have the “tools to do the job” on a locality basis e.g. ICT

·         Is there a community engagement lead role for Councillors to enable communities to have greater influence over how services are delivered?

·         How do we make best use of area committees within the Locality working approach?

·         The effectiveness of the current Scrutiny arrangements including the impact of GM Devolution.

·         Councillors membership of external bodies/ boards/ groups sand the legal responsibilities placed on them

·         How Councillors can be supported in relation to the Management of Information.

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

Dr Stephanie Snape from North West Employers Associate attended the meeting and made a brief presentation considering: the changing role of members and in particular:

•      Examining key national, regional & local changes which may impact on the role of members in Stockport e.g.

•      the impact of the Public Sector Reform Agenda

•      what impact is the Locality Working Model having on members?  What are the longer term implications for members?

•        what impact is Digital by Design having on members?  What are the longer term implications for members?

•        Exploring the impact of these changes on member roles e.g.

•        is the role of members changing?

•        if yes, how is it changing?  What are the main themes/trends?  What are members doing more of?  Or less of?

•        are these changes viewed positively by councillors?

•        Identifying the implications for members in terms of leadership style, skills & appropriate support e.g.

•      what impact does changing roles have on leadership styles?

•        do councillors now need to be good at different things?  What skills do they need?

•        what are the key demands for member development work?

•        what other support should the Council provide to councillors?

•        Capturing ideas to shape the Review Panel’s work & approach

Councillors were invited to discuss the evolving role of members in relation to the Investing in Stockport Programme to ensure that Councillors had the appropriate support to fulfil their changing roles.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Members acknowledged the current support they get with ICT however more support would be needed to keep up with changes to systems;

·         The powers that members have had gradually minimised as a result of central Government legislation and Greater Manchester devolution would potentially further limit their powers;

·         The Member induction could include more information and training regarding the community role members have;

·         Members had to be more proactive in engaging residents as opposed to expecting them to come to Area Committees;

·         Social media should be used as a tool to engage the public, however it shouldn’t replace other methods of engagements such as door knocking;

·         The Local Authority was reducing in size and Officers’ roles were frequently changing which meant members were often unaware of who to contact;

·         Over time the role of Councillors had remained the same in that it was about being a community champion, however the tools used to achieve the goal were constantly changing;

·         Stockport was a polarised borough and the role of a councillor varied in each area.

RESOLVED (1) – That the Leader of Oldham Council be invited to attend the next meeting of the Scrutiny Review Panel to discuss their approach to Locality Working and the changing role of their councillors.

(2) That the recommendations of the Locality Working All Member Working Group be reported to the Scrutiny Review Panel at the meeting on Wednesday 2 December 2015.

(3) That representatives of the University of Birmingham be invited to attend the Scrutiny Review Panel meeting scheduled for Wednesday 2 December 2015 in relation to the 21^st Century Councillor Research.

18 November 2015
2 December 2015

20 January 2016

RESOLVED – That the next meeting of the Scrutiny Review Panel be held on Wednesday 18 November 2015.