Agenda item

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

Policy priorities for 2019/20 were set out within the Council Plan, which was adopted at the Budget Council Meeting in February. These priorities are articulated within the Portfolio Agreements, which form the basis for regular in-year reporting. Portfolio and Corporate Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs and CPRRs) will assess progress against key objectives, priorities, outcomes and budgets, enabling Scrutiny Committees to hold the Cabinet to account and for the Cabinet to identify current and future risks to delivery.

This report presents the draft 2019/20 Agreements for the new Resources, Commissioning & Governance and Citizen Focus & Engagement Portfolios for consideration and comment by the Committee.

Following agreement with Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee on 17 June, it is being recommended to the Council Meeting on 4 July that the new Inclusive Neighbourhoods Portfolio reports into the Communities and Housing Scrutiny Committee. Pending this decision, the draft Agreement for Inclusive Neighbourhoods is included with the agenda for information, as it includes some areas formerly within the remit of CRMG Scrutiny.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to review and comment on the draft Portfolio Agreements.

Officer Contact: Susan Wood / Peter Owston / Alan Lawson, 0161 218 1032 / 474 3274 / 5397, susan.wood@stockport.gov.uk / peter.owston@stockport.gov.uk / alan.lawson@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Scrutiny Committee to consider the draft portfolio agreements for 2019/20 for the Resources, Commissioning & Governance and the Citizen Focus & Engagement portfolios. The draft Portfolio Agreements had been developed to articulate the Cabinet’s priorities as set out in the 2019/20 Council Plan and Medium Term Financial Plan and would provide the basis of the quarterly Portfolio Performance and Resource Monitoring Reports.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Elise Wilson), Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance (Councillor Tom McGee) and the Cabinet Member for Citizen Focus & Engagement (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The Chair reminded the Committee that the Council Meeting on 4 July 2019 had approved changes to the remits of scrutiny committees and allocated the responsibility of scrutinising the Inclusive Neighbourhoods portfolio to the Communities & Housing Scrutiny Committee, and as such the agreement contained in the agenda for this meeting need not be considered. She further confirmed that a Constitution Working Party would soon be convened to consider how to ensure that scrutiny committee remits could be more responsive to changes in cabinet portfolios.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:

Resources, Commissioning & Governance Portfolio

·         Clarification was sought on why there had been a change in the target to separate housing benefit and Council Tax Support claims processing and to extend the target deadline from 12 days to 15 days. In response it was stated that this had extended due to the likely impact of Universal Credit and it was hoped to reduce the target time in the future. This was due to the fact that in future Council Tax support claims were dependent on decision taken by others on Universal Credit, whereas Housing Benefit claims remained within the control of the Council.

·         It was queried whether, in the judgement of the Cabinet Member, it was acceptable for a Council Tax Support claim to be processed in 3 week. In response the Cabinet Member said it was not, but caveated that by reiterating that processing depended on processes not within the Council’s control, but he gave an assurance that he would ensure the Council could do all it could as quickly as possible.

Citizen Focus & Engagement

·         Comment was sought on what the vision and aim of the portfolio holder was for the role, and what data had informed its creation. In response the Cabinet Member highlighted a number of key issues for the role in the coming year, including the recent appointment of a new Service Director; ensuring consultations were as engaging and inclusive as possible; increasing the scope and range of online payments; enhancing cultural services, and making the most of the Council’s libraries. The portfolio had been created to mirror the themes of the Cabinet’s overarching MTFP strategy.

·         It was commented that the portfolio had a strong digital focus and assurance was sought that actions were being undertaken to ensure residents were not being left behind. In response it was stated that the one of the key aims of expanding the Council’s digital offer was to release capacity to assist those who might struggle with an online offer. It was important to demonstrate the value of self-service online to those residents who could go digital. Digital inclusion was a theme across a range of other transformation activity and the other portfolios and was reflective of the changing role of local government.

·         Assurance was sought that the £2m shortfall in the portfolio budget could be met from projected income. In response it was confirmed that the efficiencies generated by the Digital by Design programme and income from the Events & Registration service would be sufficient to cover the portfolio budget.

·         Concern was expressed that some of the targets in the portfolio were not sufficiently ambitious. In response it was stated that all the targets were realistic and based on previous outturn positions, but they would be checked to ensure accuracy.

General

·         Given the portfolios had more a more cross-cutting basis, further information was sought on how it was envisaged to provide appropriate accountability. In response it was stated that the agreements were designed to ensure all councillors were aware of where specific accountability rested for specific service areas, but that given the future challenges facing the Council it was important to address these collectively and collaboratively. There was a role for the Scrutiny Coordination Committee to work with the Cabinet to resolve any issues that may arise.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.