Issue - meetings

The report provides a further update on our strategic approach in responding to the review of the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP). This follows on from the report presented at the Cabinet meeting on the 28 September 2022  and scrutiny committees during October and January. In particular it includes our final change proposals within the appendix following consultation and scrutiny comment ahead of the Budget Council meeting in February.

The Cabinet is recommended to:

(1) Note the development of proposals and the feedback received from the engagement and consultation to date.

(2) Approve the proposals for inclusion within the budget papers for Budget Council.

The Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources (Councillor Malcolm Allan) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a further update on the strategic approach in responding to the review of the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) and detailing the final change proposals following consultation and scrutiny comment ahead of the Budget Council meeting in February.

RESOLVED – (1) That the development of proposals and the feedback received from the engagement and consultation to date be noted.

(2) That approval be given to the proposals for inclusion within the budget papers for Budget Council.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health.

Within this report and appendix we provide a further update on our strategic approach in responding to the review of the medium-term financial plan. This follows on from the report presented at the Cabinet meeting on the 28th September 2022 and scrutiny committees during October. In particular it includes updated proposals within the appendix for scrutiny comment ahead of budget council in February.

The report outlines the budget proposals being considered by the Cabinet to address financial and demand challenges, enable longer term transformation, and ensure the delivery of shared strategic partnership ambitions.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Holly Rae on 0161 474 3014 or email: holly.rae@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the strategic approach in responding to the review of the medium-term financial plan. This followed on from the report presented at the Cabinet meeting on 28 September 2022 and scrutiny committees during October. In particular, it included updated proposals within the appendix for scrutiny comment ahead of the Budget Council Meeting in February.

The report outlined the budget proposals being considered by the Cabinet to address financial and demand challenges, enable longer term transformation, and ensure the delivery of shared strategic partnership ambitions.

The Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care (Councillor Keith Holloway) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         In relation to supporting carers to look after their own health and wellbeing and to care effectively and safely, it was queried whether this included unpaid family carers and how this offer was going to be delivered.

·         In response, it was confirmed that unpaid family carers were a focus of the support offer and arrangements were in place for a carers assessment to guarantee services were able to identify the needs of an unpaid family carer to ensure that they were able to continue to provide those caring responsibilities. The council acknowledged the crucial role of family carers in supporting residents to remain safely and securely in their own homes. Work was underway to understand and develop the support offer to informal carers, particularly around supporting them to access the right information and advice including accessing non-means tested benefits such as attendance allowance.

·         Welcomed the partnership work with the voluntary and community sector to support unpaid carers.

·         Requested that a level of detail in relation to young carers be given as part of the update on the carers review.

·         Welcomed the recharge to Greater Manchester Integrated Care for in house learning disability clients.

·         In relation to the out of area placement review, it was queried how taking a proactive approach and providing more of appropriate care locally in the long term sat alongside this proposal.

·         In response, it was stated that the short term strategy was aimed to reduce costs and improve outcomes and longer term strategy was focussed on creating the environment. It was acknowledged that one of the main issues in adult social care nationally was the lack of suitable housing in local areas. In Stockport there was a shortage in a range of accommodation which had been identified and formed part of future plans which included both a housing and support offer for individuals once placed. The strategy included a long term plan to build a holistic offer for a range of accommodation across Stockport with a mix of tenures and considerations around stimulating the local market and opportunities for individuals to manage their own support. It was noted that there was a number of Stockport residents who were funded to live out of area which had been identified through their reviews as an opportunity to improve the quality of their care by providing it within the borough.

·         It was queried how many children fulfilling a caring role had been identified by the council and how they were supported.

·         In response, it was stated that there was a young carers support service in Stockport through Signpost for Carers which had been operating for a number of years and provided enjoyable opportunities for children and young people away from their caring responsibilities. Based on the 2011 census data it was estimated that there were around 32,000 unpaid carers across Stockport and approximately 2,114 of those were under 25 years old. It was noted that more accurate, up to date data would be available through the 2021 census.

·         In relation to the demand management element of the proposed savings, it was acknowledged that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Economy & Regeneration.

The report and appendix provides a further update on the council’s strategic approach in responding to the review of the medium-term financial plan. This follows on from the report presented at the Cabinet meeting on the 28 September 2022, and scrutiny committees during October 2022. In particular, it includes updated proposals within the appendix for scrutiny comment ahead of budget council in February.

The report outlines the budget proposals being considered by the Cabinet to address financial and demand challenges, enable longer term transformation, and ensure the delivery of shared strategic partnership ambitions.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Holly Rae 0161 474 3014 | holly.rae@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Director of Development and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided a further update on the council’s strategic approach in responding to the review of the medium-term financial plan.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration (Councillor Colin MacAlister) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:

·         The report outlined the budget proposals being considered by Cabinet to address financial and demand challenges, enable longer term transformation, and ensure the delivery of shared strategic partnership ambitions. In particular, it included updated proposals within the appendix for comment ahead of budget council scheduled to be held on 23 February 2023.

·         The report was previously presented at the Cabinet meeting 28 September 2022 and Scrutiny Committee meetings during October 2022. It was noted that changes to the proposals since the last report had not varied significantly, however more detail had been included in relation to areas of savings.

·         In relation to a changing and/ or reduction in workforce, it was expected that current workloads would be absorbed by departments as far as possible, and therefore equality impact would be kept to a minimum.

·         It was requested that an update on the council’s digital strategy in relation to the portfolio and broader digital aims for the borough be brought to a future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee for member’s consideration.

·         Concerns were raised as to the news of the government’s latest round of levelling-up spending, following the rejection of Stockport’s bids for funding in supporting the reduction of regional inequality.

·         Concerns were also raised as to the low-level of responses on the budget options consultation. Further information as to benchmarks for what a ‘good’ level of response was to similar consultations was requested, and would be circulated to members via email in due course. It was suggested that engaging households directly could be a useful exercise for next year’s consultation to increase response levels. Members also requested that the relevant Scrutiny Committee be recommended to consider the public consultation and response in further depth, and that information on phase two of the consultation be included as part of the work.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Assistant Director for Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer be requested to make arrangements for an item to be programmed onto the agenda for a future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee on the council’s digital strategy in relation to the portfolio and broader digital aims for the borough.

(3) That the relevant Scrutiny Committee be recommended to consider the public consultation and response in further depth, and that information on phase two of the consultation be included as part of the work.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources.

Within this report and appendix it provides a further update on the strategic approach in responding to the review of the medium-term financial plan. This follows on from the report presented at the Cabinet meeting on the 28^th September 2022 and scrutiny committees during October. In particular it includes updated proposals within the appendix for scrutiny comment ahead of budget council in February.

The report outlines the budget proposals being considered by the Cabinet to address financial and demand challenges, enable longer term transformation, and ensure the delivery of shared strategic partnership ambitions.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Holly Rae on 0161 474 3014 or email: holly.rae@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Executive Director for People and Integration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the strategic approach in responding to the review of the medium-term financial plan. This followed on from the report presented at the Cabinet meeting on 28 September 2022 and Scrutiny Committees during October. In particular, it included updated proposals within the appendix for scrutiny comment ahead of the Budget Council Meeting in February.

The report outlined the budget proposals being considered by the Cabinet to address financial and demand challenges, enable longer term transformation, and ensure the delivery of shared strategic partnership ambitions.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education (Councillor Wendy Meikle) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was noted that the current forecasting showed an increase in the number of Looked After Children and queried why this was being predicted.

·         In response, it was stated that there was a number of complex reasons why the number of children entering into local authority care had increased, in part relating to pandemic, the cost of living crisis and the impact that it had on families. It was noted that there had been an increase in the complexity of need in children. Whilst there was a range of services to support parents and aimed to prevent children entering care, there was occasions where children required intervention. Although the rate of children entering care had decreased, the number of children leaving care and returning home had not. It was stated that plans to focus on moving children back into family placements where it was appropriate to do so, and less costly placements formed part of the business programme over the next year.

·         Members requested assurances that the council was confident that they were able to provide adequate resources in relation to the provisions for Looked After Children.

·         In response, it was noted that services were confident that resourcing was in place to meet demand and need, demonstrated over the last 12 months through the external inspection process, Ofsted inspections and internal quality assurance processes. Whilst there were challenges in the system, services worked hard to make sure that the challenges did not impact on the quality of the care that children receive.

·         Requested additional information around the introduction of new regulatory requirements for 16/17 year old providers.

·         In response, it was stated that the new regulatory requirements related to a change in legislation which required that 16/17 year old providers were regulated and work was ongoing with the commissioning team and across Greater Manchester to ensure the timeline for those changes were met. It was noted that no children in Stockport were placed in unregulated settings.

·         Concerns were raised in relation to the lack of detail surrounding the early help proposals and the impact of the potential removal of 20 posts.

·         In response, Members were informed around the timeline that the proposals were due to be considered at Cabinet on 23 February 2023 and, if agreed, the service would produce a more detailed business case including a consultation with those affected. Colleagues and services across Stockport Family were aware of the current plans and a future report would be provided to Scrutiny in due course with further details. It was acknowledged that there were challenges around the savings proposals and budgets, however the services were focussed on ensuring that savings were delivered in a way that did not impact on the quality or delivery of services to families. 

·         It was queried whether if an increase in Council Tax was agreed, would this avoid the need to implement the early help proposals.

·         In response, it was stated that the budget proposals were created from the position of a 0% Council Tax increase and in response to the £0.9m saving that was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources.

Within this report and appendix it provides a further update on the strategic approach in responding to the review of the medium-term financial plan. This follows on from the report presented at the Cabinet meeting on the 28th September 2022 and scrutiny committees during October. In particular it includes updated proposals within the appendix for scrutiny comment ahead of budget council in February.

The report outlines the budget proposals being considered by the Cabinet to address financial and demand challenges, enable longer term transformation, and ensure the delivery of shared strategic partnership ambitions.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Holly Rae on 0161 474 3014 or email: holly.rae@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided a further update on the council’s strategic approach in responding to the review of the medium-term financial plan.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources (Councillor Malcolm Allan) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:

·         The report outlined the budget proposals being considered by Cabinet to address financial and demand challenges, enable longer term transformation, and ensure the delivery of shared strategic partnership ambitions. In particular, it included updated proposals within the appendix for comment ahead of budget council scheduled to be held on 23 February 2023.

·         The report was previously presented at the Cabinet meeting 28 September 2022 and Scrutiny Committee meetings during October 2022. It was noted that changes to the proposals since the last report had not varied significantly, however more detail had been included in relation to areas of savings.

·         It was noted that identified savings to be made were £4.3m.

·         Concerns were raised over the low level of response to the budget options consultation. The importance of engaging the people of Stockport in the work that the council wanted to do on their behalf was stressed. It was suggested that the language used in the consultation be made more accessible, and that engaging community groups and organisations directly could be a useful exercise to increase response levels.

·         In relation to a changing and/ or reduction in workforce, members were advised that changes were taking place across the board and did not focus on one or two departments. It was note that there would be no staffing reductions in the Adult Social Care department.

·         Members were advised that changes in the national landscape and external factors, for instance, the national leadership crisis, fuel prices and the cost of living crisis, had affected the budget.

·         It was confirmed that the Cabinet agenda would be published on Monday 23 January 2023 and taxation would form a part of those reports.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Members for Communities & Housing; Highways, Parks & Leisure Services; and Climate Change & Environment.

Within this report and appendix we provide a further update on our strategic approach in responding to the review of the medium-term financial plan. This follows on from the report presented at the Cabinet meeting on the 28th September 2022 and scrutiny committees during October. In particular it includes updated proposals within the appendix for scrutiny comment ahead of budget council in February.

The report outlines the budget proposals being considered by the Cabinet to address financial and demand challenges, enable longer term transformation, and ensure the delivery of shared strategic partnership ambitions.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Holly Rae on 0161 474 3014 or email: holly.rae@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Place Management submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the strategic approach in responding to the review of the medium-term financial plan. This followed on from the report presented at the Cabinet meeting on 28 September 2022 and scrutiny committees during October. In particular, it included updated proposals within the appendix for scrutiny comment ahead of the Budget Council Meeting in February.

The report outlined the budget proposals being considered by the Cabinet to address financial and demand challenges, enable longer term transformation, and ensure the delivery of shared strategic partnership ambitions.

The Cabinet Members for Climate Change and Environment (Councillor Mark Roberts); Communities & Housing (Councillor Helen Foster-Grime); and Highways, Parks and Leisure Services (Councillor Grace Baynham) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The removal of proposals relating to library services from the medium term financial plan was welcomed.

·         Further information was requested in relation to the ‘review of spend’ in museums services.  It was noted that this had been agreed past of last year’s budget and was a target for the forthcoming year.

·         It was noted that there were proposals for further targeted investment in Woodbank Park as part of a programme of investment in play equipment across Stockport.

·         In response to queries in relation to the proposed increase in charges for replacement bins, it was stated that work was taking place to finesse the waste collection service through the implementation of new technology. 

·         Concern was expressed that residents had complained that bins were not being left outside the properties they had been collected from which resulted in some of the requests for new or replacement bins. In response, it was stated that this was not a widespread problem reported to the council, and residents were encouraged to mark their bins to ensure that they were easy to identify.

·         It was commented that access to the assisted bin collection service was though online forms and many of the residents who would require such a service my not necessarily have the means or the skills to register for the service.

·         The council was investigating the development of district heat networks to assist with reducing the carbon footprint of the civic estate,

·         There was a high degree of confidence that the increase in charges levied for registrars services associated with marriages would achieve the savings target.

·         A discussion took place in relation to the proposed increase in car parking charges and it was noted that the charges were increasing by inflation since the last time each charge was reviewed.  In some locations, charges had historically been set to discourage long-term parking, particularly in district centres where it was considered important to facilitate parking associated with the use of facilities in the locality.

·         Further information was requested on the breakdown of income generated through parking by duration of stay.

·         It was noted that the response to the public consultation on the budget had not been significant and it was suggested that this might infer that there was a not a high level of opposition to the proposals in the report.  In response, it was stated that it could equally be suggested that residents may not consider there to be value in responding to consultations in the light of the response of the council to overwhelming opposition voiced in consultations in the past.

·         It was suggested that alternative options for leisure facilities at Bramhall High School should be considered, including the potential for the school to assume control of the facility.

·         An assurance was given that all responses to consultations would be considered and appropriate weight given to them.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.