Agenda item

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

The report summarises the responses to the consultation processes carried out in relation to the savings proposals agreed for consultation by the Executive relating to the Communities and Sustainability, and Economic Development and Regeneration Portfolios.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Claire Grindlay on 0161 474 4191 or e mail: claire.grindlay@stockport.gov.uk

The Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the proposed savings in relation to the Communities and Sustainability, and Economic Development and Regeneration Portfolios and the responses to the consultation detailed in Appendices 1, 2 and 3 to the report.

The Executive Councillor (Communities and Sustainability) (Councillor Stuart Bodsworth) and Executive Councillor (Economic Development and Regeneration) (Councillor Iain Roberts) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

Councillor Bodsworth reiterated that he had announced at the Council Meeting held on 27 June 2013 that he would be recommending to the Executive Meeting on 16 July 2013 that the savings target for the Parks and Open Spaces Budget for 2014/15 be reduced from £1 million to between £500,000 and £550,000.

It was reported that the Executive would consider the comments of the Scrutiny Committees on 16 July 2013 when it would receive an update report in relation to the Executive Savings Proposals.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

            Parks and Open Spaces Budget Saving.

• Members welcomed the announcement from the Executive Councillor (Communities and Sustainability) that the savings target for the Parks and Open Spaces budget would be reduced from £1million to between £500,000 and £550,000 for 2014/15.

• In response to Members’ questions, the Executive Councillor (Communities and Sustainability) advised that he could not clarify at this moment in time whether the savings target for the Parks and Open Spaces budget would be reduced to £500,000 or £550,000. The details of the revised proposal were still being examined. The proposed reduction in the savings target was a response to the views expressed by members of the public. Consultation had taken place a long time in advance of when the proposed savings would come into effect (April 2014).
• Concern was expressed about the proposed move from having many trained horticulturalists to more general multi-tasking staff.
• A Member expressed concern about the amount of money spent on the parks and open spaces consultation.
• The Council should be working with the Friends of Parks Groups, involved them earlier in the consultation process and investing where it could in the borough’s parks.
• The Committee considered the response to the consultation from the Director of Public Health and acknowledged the broad benefits to public health and community cohesion from parks and open spaces, and the benefits to people’s health and wellbeing. There were ‘added value’ benefits to the borough from its parks.
• Members expressed appreciation for the work carried by the volunteers from the Friends of Parks Groups and the benefits of bidding for additional funds for the parks through the Friends of Parks Groups. The Executive Councillor (Communities and Sustainability) confirmed that Council Officers would continue to support Friends of Parks Groups in making bids for funding.
• Members extolled the virtues of the borough’s parks, including the Green Flags previously awarded to a number of the parks and the borough’s success in the National Britain in Bloom Competition in 2005.
• The Executive Councillor (Communities and Sustainability) offered to works with the Friends of Parks Groups and consider suggestions for the parks and open spaces in the context of the financial situation facing the Council.
• The use of ‘Section 106’ monies from development applications was highlighted as a possible means of replacing play equipment in the borough’s parks.

Trading Standards Consumer Advice Budget Saving

• The greater number of responses to the consultation received from staff employed in the Trading Standards Consumer Advice section was highlighted compared to staff employed in the Parks and Open Spaces section.
• Clarification was sought and provided on the work carried out by the Citizens Advice Bureaux’ Consumer Services and the National Consumer Advice Line.

Leisure Centres Financial Performance Budget Saving.

• Concern was expressed that Life Leisure had advised the Council that they would not be able to find the £160,000 saving required for 2013/14 without compromising existing service standards and because of the increased competition from budget gyms.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the above comments be reported to the Executive for consideration.