Agenda item

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council and Deputy Leader.

At its meeting on 18 August 2015, the Executive received a report which included a Medium Term Financial Forecast for the period 2016/17 to 2020/21. That report illustrated the level of resources likely to be available in 2016/17 and the resulting budget position should the previously identified level of cash limit reductions be achieved.

In response to those forecasts, and in line with its previous proposals and statements of intent, the Executive brought forward a set of proposals for 2016/17. These have been informed by the strategic framework and are designed to address the budget reduction requirement.  At the meeting on 18 August Executive Councillors agreed to present to each scrutiny committee the relevant proposals relating to each committee’s remit, including the specific detailed business cases.

The Corporate, Resource Management & Governance Scrutiny Committee is therefore receiving the following:

• Medium Term Financial Plan – Financial Landscape and Forecasts 2016/17 to 2020/21
• Investing in Stockport Executive Proposals
• Stockport Together – Integrating Health and Social Care
• New Model for Regulation and Community Safety
• Libraries
• Neighbourhood Management
• Public Realm and SSK Operating Model
• Information, Advice and Guidance
• CSS
• Digital by Design (enabler)
• Locality Working (enabler)

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to comment on:

(a)   the business cases and project updates appended to the report.

(b)   the overall approach being taken to the development of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan and Budget for 2016/17as outlined within the Executive reports,

(c)  the proposed approach to pooling Health and Social Care budgets as outlined within the specific Health and Social Care (Stockport Together) report.

Officer contact Steve Houston or Laureen Donnan on 0161 474 4000 or 0161 474 3180

The Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) relating to the Executive proposals I relation to the ‘Investing in Stockport Programme’.

At its meeting on 18 August 2015, the Executive had received a report which included a Medium Term Financial Forecast for the period 2016/17 to 2020/21. That report illustrated the level of resources likely to be available in 2016/17 and the resulting budget position should the previously identified level of cash limit reductions be achieved.

In response to those forecasts, and in line with its previous proposals and statements of intent, the Executive was now bringing forward a set of proposals for 2016/17. These had been informed by the strategic framework and were designed to address the budget reduction requirement.  At the meeting on 18 August Executive Councillors agreed to present to each scrutiny committee the relevant proposals relating to each committee’s remit, including the specific detailed business cases.

The Corporate, Resource Management & Governance Scrutiny Committee received the following:

• Medium Term Financial Plan – Financial Landscape and Forecasts 2016/17 to 2020/21
• Investing in Stockport Executive Proposals
• Stockport Together – Integrating Health and Social Care
• New Model for Regulation and Community Safety
• Libraries
• Neighbourhood Management
• Public Realm and SSK Operating Model
• Information, Advice and Guidance
• CSS
• Digital by Design (enabler)
• Locality Working (enabler)

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Sue Derbyshire) and the Deputy Executive Leader and Portfolio holder for Support and Governance (Councillor Iain Roberts) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The ‘Digital by Design’ proposals would provide an alternative means of residents accessing council services and information for those residents unable to access the Council website.

·         In relation to the proposed savings (£0.7m - £1m) in relation to the ‘Digital by Design’ proposals this would be achieved through savings in respect of current IT spend (hardware, electricity, accommodation and staffing). It was expected that there wold be additional savings across the Council in respect of ‘Business Transformation’ in future years as a result of the proposals and the project provided the platform to support further achievement of reductions in resources in the future. .

• A discussion took place in relation to the Council’s provision of independent and impartial advice currently provided by the Citizens Advice Bureau, Stockport Credit Union and as part of the Targeted Prevention Alliance.

·         It was noted that the £6m savings in Corporate and Support Services had been achieved through improved productivity and self-service rather than simply ceasing the provision of services or “cost shunting”. There have however been changes to how services are delivered.

·         The Scrutiny Committee commented upon the proposals within the CSS Business Case to identify and develop further opportunities to trade in future years and concern was expressed regarding this approach especially in relation to schools.

·         In respect of the ‘Stockport Together – Integrated Health and Social Care’ Business Case, there was a need to ensure that robust governance arrangements were in place and review the current Section 75 Agreement to improve the scrutiny arrangements. It was proposed to report progress towards the new  arrangements to scrutiny in the December cycle together with a further report to the February cycle  prior to the Executive approving the new Section 75 Agreement on 22 March 2016

RSOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the draft implementation plan in respect of the ‘Digital by Design’ Programme and the detailed response in relation to the Scrutiny Review “Understanding the accessibility of Digital Services Across the Borough” be submitted to the next meeting of this Scrutiny Committee.

(3) That an update report in relation to the Locality Working project is provided at the next meeting, in particular feedback from communities in the two pilot areas.