Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance)

The 2013-15 Council Plan sets the strategic direction for the Council to support the delivery of its key priorities and outcomes.

The Council Plan, provided at Appendix 1, has been developed during a time of significant change for local authorities, and the wider public sector. Significant reductions in the levels of funding allocated to the Council mean that we have to do things differently to meet the challenges of having a much reduced budget.

In response to these on-going challenges, the Executive have discussed a suite of eight Priority Outcomes that they believe are fundamental to meeting the Council’s vision for the Borough; these are set out on page 6 of the plan, including an underpinning focus on a vibrant local democracy, transparent leadership and value for money.

The Executive is invited to

·         recommend the Council Plan to Council Meeting for approval;

·         note the timescales for developing the Council Plan performance measures.

Officer Contact: Holly Rae, 0161 474 3014, holly.rae@stockport.gov.uk

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider the draft Council Plan for 2013-15 that would set the strategic direction for the Council to support the delivery of its key priorities and outcomes. The Plan had been reconfigured to reflect the new executive portfolio arrangements.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Council Meeting be recommended to approve the Council Plan for 2013-15.

(2) That the timescales for developing the Council Plan performance measures as detailed in the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Policy, Strategy, Partnership and Transformation).

The Council Plan sets the framework of priorities that drive the organisation’s resource allocation. The Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP), including the Executive’s Budget Proposals for 2013/15 and the Capital Programme, continues to provide the resources to deliver those services and exploit those opportunities necessary to deliver a Greener, Safer and Stronger, Thriving, and Healthy Stockport. The enclosed extract from the draft plan relates to the Health & Wellbeing Executive Portfolio that falls within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the draft Council Plan.

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

The Assistant Chief Executive (Policy, Strategy, Partnership and Transformation) submitted the draft Council Plan (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the framework of priorities that drive the organisation’s resource allocation. The Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP), including the Executive’s Budget Proposals for 2013/15 and the Capital Programme, continued to provide the resources to deliver those services and exploit those opportunities necessary to deliver a Greener, Safer and Stronger, Thriving, and Healthy Stockport.

The Executive Leader and Portfolio holder for Policy, Reform & Finance (Councillor Sue Derbyshire) and the Deputy Executive Leader and Portfolio holder for Corporate, Customer and Community Services (Councillor Mark Weldon) attended the meeting to answer member’s questions.

It was reported that the Executive would consider the report at its meeting on 11 June 2013.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The risks identified in relation to delivering the actions and priorities detailed in the Plan should be circulated to all members of the Scrutiny Committee.

·         In relation to how the priorities would be delivered (Corporate, Customer and Community Services Portfolio), the Council Plan should simply refer to “Responding to the Welfare Reform Agenda” rather than refer to “the introduction of Universal Credit and localised council tax support.”

·         The Scrutiny Committee discussed the appropriateness of some of the language used in the Plan.

RESOLVED – That the draft Council Plan be noted.

To consider a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Policy, Strategy, Partnership and Transformation).

The Council Plan sets the framework of priorities that drive the organisation’s resource allocation. The Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP), including the Executive’s Budget Proposals for 2013/15 and the Capital Programme, continues to provide the resources to deliver those services and exploit those opportunities necessary to deliver a Greener, Safer and Stronger, Thriving, and Healthy Stockport. The enclosed extract from the draft plan relates to the Health & Wellbeing Executive Portfolio that falls within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the draft Council Plan.

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

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Policy, Strategy, Partnerships and Transformation) setting out the background to the development of the 2013-15 Council Plan, the draft introductory sections of the Plan and the specific section for the Health & Wellbeing portfolio.

The Executive Councillor (Health & Wellbeing) gave an overview of the priorities contained in the draft Plan, and emphasising the interdependence of the Plan’s aims with the work of the Clinical Commissioning Group.

The Chair stated that many of the issues relevant to this item had been discussed during consideration of the ‘Horizon Scanning’ item earlier in the meeting.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Health & Wellbeing Portfolio priorities contained in the draft Council Plan for 2013-15 be endorsed.

(2) That the Deputy Director of Public Health be requested to submit a report to a future meeting on the review of Public Health Contracts.