Agenda item

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration

The First Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRR) for the Supporting Places and Thriving Economy Portfolios are presented for consideration by the Committee. These provide an early update on progress in delivering the portfolio priority outcomes through the Investing in Stockport programme and other key projects during the first quarter of 2015/16. They include forecast performance data (where this is available) and projected data for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programme.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to:-

(a) consider the First Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports,

(b) review the progress against delivering key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 20215/16.

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

(d) highlight any significant issues or changes to be fed back to the Executive alongside the Corporate Performance and Resource Report; and

(e) identify how areas of strong performance and good practice can be shared in other services.

Officer Contacts Joe Conmee/Michael Cullen on 0161 474 5396/4361 or email: joseph.conmee@stockport.gov.uk/michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the First Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports for the Supporting Places, and Thriving Economy Portfolios. The report provided an early update on progress in delivering the portfolio priority outcomes through the Investing in Stockport programme and other key projects during the first quarter of 2015/16. They included forecasted performance data (where this was available) and projected data for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programme.

The Executive Councillor (Supporting Place) (Councillor Martin Candler) and the Executive Councillor (Thriving Economy) (Councillor Patrick McAuley) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

Supporting Places

·         With regard to performance indicator SP.07, the reduction in the percentage of household waste sent for reuse, recycling or composting was highlighted. Nevertheless, the Council remained the best performing local authority area in the North West and Members requested a copy of the national league tables for recycling rates. An awareness raising scheme funded by the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority would target 8,000 properties across Stockport in order to understand perceived barriers to recycling amongst residents.

·         Officers were thanked for their highly commended work at the Better Regulation Delivery Office Primary Authority Awards in Birmingham in recognition of the extensive work carried out with Dace Motor company.

·         The Corporate Director confirmed that that the assessment training and training in the safe use of machinery for representatives of Friends of Parks Groups was not a replacement for the provision of direct services. The Council was grateful for the contribution made by volunteers to the maintenance and upkeep of the Borough’s parks.

·         A Member enquired when the review jointly commissioned by the Council and Solutions SK to appraise the strategic future of Solutions SK would be submitted to the Executive. The review would explore the ability to reduce the costs of current service provision by at least the equivalent of the ‘profit’ element that was a feature of the current ‘cost plus’ arrangement (approximately £0.8m) from 2016/17 onwards. For 2015/16 the desired impact on the client budget could be achieved by freeing up and contributing a proportion of the earmarked reserve established to support the delivery of the SSK recovery plan.

·         The financial pressures faced by the Car Parking Service, of which the majority related to the Merseyway Car Park operation, were highlighted.

·         A Member was provided with more details regarding the 3,000 products seized at a premise suspected of selling Legal Highs or Nitrous Oxide. Ongoing education was being provided to advise people of the dangers of the products.

·         A business case would be prepared with regard to using LED technology in street lights. A Member suggested that repairs to street lights and the carriageway could be carried out at the same time.

·         Discussions were ongoing with the Highways Agency with regard to completing the cycleway on Manchester Road, Cheadle.

Thriving Economy

·         The Council employed two Employment and Skills Advisers so the 34 people who they had helped move into work was a good outcome.

·         Six apprentices were currently employed in connection with the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief road scheme.

·         Overall footfall to the Market area had fallen by 6% compared to the same period last year. Whilst footfall to specialist markets on Sundays and the second hand market on Tuesdays had held up well, footfall continued to decline in the market on Fridays. It was proposed that a report be submitted to the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee on proposals for the Market Place and Underbanks area.

·         Gate lines at both ends of the underpass at Stockport Railway Station were being introduced by Virgin Trains on 18 August 2015 and a further meeting would be held with Councillors and Officers towards the end of September in order to discuss the scheme.

·         A Member asked for clarification on the Gateway Facelifting item in the Capital Programme and what the £64,000 was intended to be used for.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That Members of the Scrutiny Committee be provided with the most recent information regarding recycling rates from all the local authorities in the country.