Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council.

The Annual Corporate Performance and Resource Report (CPRR) for 2022/23 provides a summary of progress in delivering the council’s priority outcomes up to 31 March 2023, with a particular focus on the final quarter of 2022/23 (January to March 2023).

The report reflects the 2022/23 Council Plan, MTFP and portfolio priorities. It includes:

·         An overview of corporate delivery and performance (including brief highlights from the seven individual Portfolio Reports).

·         A detailed financial update, including, the outturn position on revenue and capital.

The Cabinet is recommended to:

(1) Review progress against delivering council priorities and capital schemes alongside budget outturns contained within the report.

(2) Note the key achievements and other issues this quarter in each of the councils seven priorities set out in the Overview of Corporate Delivery and Performance.

(3) Note the Cash Limit and Non-Cash Limit outturn positions for 2022/23 as set out in section 2.3 and 2.6.

(4) Note the update to the council’s positive investments as set out in section 2.4.

(5) Note the update on the council’s Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF) investments plan set out in section 2.5.

(7) Note the Dedicated Schools Grant, Housing Revenue Account and Collection Fund outturn positions as set out in sections 2.7, 2.8, and 2.9.

(8) Note the appropriations to/from reserves and balances during the period as set out in section 2.10 and note the resulting reserves and balances position as of 31 March 2023.

(9) Note the outturn position for the 2022/23 Capital Programme as set out in section 3.1.

(10) Note the adjustments of capital schemes during the quarter as set out in section 3.2.

(11) Approve the resourcing of the capital programme as set out in section 3.3.

(12) Approve the 2022/23 prudential indicators as set out in section 3.4, and

(13) Identify key areas for further investigation and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any existing or outturn issues or risks.

Officer contact: Alan Lawson on 07890 563587 or email: alan.lawson@stockport.gov.uk or Jonathan Davies on 0161 218 1025 or email: jonathan.davies@stockport.gov.uk

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Mark Hunter) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the Corporate Performance and Resources Year-End Quarter 4 Report for 2022/23 and a summary of the progress in delivering the council’s priority outcomes up to 31 March 2023 with a particular focus on the final quarter of 2022/23 (January to March 2023).

RESOLVED – (1) That progress against delivering council priorities and capital schemes alongside budget outturns contained within the report be reviewed and noted.

(2) That the key achievements and other issues this quarter in each of the councils seven priorities set out in the Overview of Corporate Delivery and Performance be noted.

(3) That the Cash Limit and Non-Cash Limit outturn positions for 2022/23 as set out in section 2.3 and 2.6 be noted.

(4) That the update to the council’s positive investments as set out in section 2.4 be noted.

(5) That the update on the council’s Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF) investments plan set out in section 2.5 be noted.

(6) That the Dedicated Schools Grant, Housing Revenue Account and Collection Fund outturn positions as set out in sections 2.7, 2.8, and 2.9 be noted.

(7) That the appropriations to/from reserves and balances during the period as set out in section 2.10 and note the resulting reserves and balances position as of 31 March 2023 be noted.

(8) That the outturn position for the 2022/23 Capital Programme as set out in section 3.1 be noted.

(9) That the adjustments of capital schemes during the quarter as set out in section 3.2 be noted.

(10) That the resourcing of the capital programme as set out in section 3.3 be approved.

(11) That the 2022/23 prudential indicators as set out in section 3.4 be approved.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive and the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services).

The Annual Corporate Performance and Resource Report (CPRR) for 2022/23 provides a summary of progress in delivering the council’s priority outcomes up to 31 March 2023, with a particular focus on the final quarter of 2022/23 (January to March 2023).

The report reflects the 2022/23 Council Plan, MTFP and Portfolio priorities. It includes:

·       An overview of corporate delivery and performance (including brief highlights from the seven individual Portfolio Reports).

·       A detailed financial update, including, the outturn position on revenue and capital.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:

1)    Review progress against delivering council priorities and capital schemes alongside budget outturns contained within the report.

2)    Note the key achievements and other issues this quarter in each of the councils seven priorities set out in the Overview of Corporate Delivery and Performance.

3)    Note the Cash Limit and Non -Cash Limit outturn positions for 2022/23 as set out in section 2.3 and 2.6.

4)    Note the update to the council’s positive investments as set out in section 2.4.

5)    Note the update on the council’s Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF) investments plan set out in section 2.5.

6)    Note the Dedicated Schools Grant, Housing Revenue Account and Collection Fund outturn positions as set out in sections 2.7, 2.8, and 2.9.

7)    Note the appropriations to/from reserves and balances during the period as set out in section 2.10 and note the resulting reserves and balances position as of 31 March 2023.

8)    Note the outturn position for the 2022/23 Capital Programme as set out in section 3.1.

9)    Note the adjustments of capital schemes during the quarter as set out in section 3.2.

10)Approve the resourcing of the capital programme as set out in section 3.3.

11) Approve the 2022/23 prudential indicators as set out in section 3.4, and l) Identify key areas for further investigation and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any existing or outturn issues or risks.

Officer contact: Alan Lawson at alan.lawson@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Chief Executive and the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a summary of progress in delivering the council’s priority outcomes up to 31 March 2023, with a particular focus on the final quarter of 2022/23 (January to March 2023).

The following comments were made/ issues raised:

·         Members queried the vacancy numbers for the council and in response it was reported there were 2,900 job roles across the council and that it always carried vacancies, some of which were difficult to fill. Two recruitment fairs had recently taken place, one at the Town Hall and one in Brinnington which had proven to be successful in providing roles to local residents and filling vacancies.

·         In relation to fly tipping, it was reported that, whilst there had been a number of successful prosecutions, the figure was not felt to be sufficiently high and a council target was to ensure offenders were prosecuted.

·         Members queried the SEND transport budget for those claiming transport to school and those with a disability car and whether there might be a doubling of provision.

·         In response to a query about the rising cost of borrowing, it was reported that, going forward, many of this Committee’s meetings will be dedicated to reviewing the treasury management and strategy. The Local Authority can only borrow for capital purposes. The cost of borrowing for Local Authorities has increased significantly. The current strategy is to borrow short-term and wait for long-term rates to reduce.

·         Members queried how the differences between cash limits and non-cash limits worked, whether the non-cash limit budgets were ring-fenced and how much discretion the treasury had over those budget heads to cover deficiencies in the year.

·         In response it was reported that non-cash limits were made up of the less controllable elements of the Council’s spending such as the waste disposal levy, transport levy and debt management costs. Where there were unallocated contingency budgets there was an element of flexibility.

·         It was reported that explanatory papers would be put to the Committee during the course of the municipal year on topics such as the Collection Fund.

·         Members noted the budgetary challenges referred to in the report, including pressures on housing, education, especially those with special educational needs, the young and looked after residents as well as that on health and social care.

·         The Council was doing what it could to assist hard-pressed residents, noting that the Borough has many areas of deprivation. It was reported that the balance between protecting front-line services and delivering a council tax that people can afford to pay had become more difficult over the years.

·         Members queried the figures contained in the report relating to reserves.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.