Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services.

The report provides a summary of progress in delivering the Council’s priorities and budgets during the first half of 2012/13, and includes financial and performance forecasts for the full year. It is supported by ten Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs).

The revenue budget is forecasting a surplus of £3.709m, with five portfolios contributing to a cash limits surplus of £1.2m while reduced capital financing costs and a formula grant refund are contributing to a non-cash limit surplus of some £2.5m.

Three quarters of priority measures are forecast to improve or maintain performance this year, with 71% forecast to meet or exceed targets. Benchmarking information shows that Stockport continues to perform well compared to its peers, although maintaining high levels of performance will be a continuing challenge, and a performance on a number of measures is forecast to fall this year.

The Executive at its meeting on 12 November 2012 approved the recommendations in the report.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to:

·         review progress against delivering Council Plan priorities, portfolio outcomes and capital schemes alongside budget forecasts contained within the report;

·         note  the virements to the Revenue Budget set out in section 2.2 of the report;

·         note the cash limit and non-cash limit forecast outturn positions for 2012/13 as set out in sections 2.3, 2.5 and 2.6 of the report;

·         note the Retained Schools Budget and Housing Revenue Account forecast outturn positions as set out in sections 2.7 and 2.8 of the report;

·         note the contributions to/from earmarked reserves and balances as set out in section 2.9 of the report including the recommendations set out at paragraph 2.9.3 in relation to the Insurance Reserve, 2.9.5 in relation to the Bridgefield Project and at paragraph 2.9.7 in relation to the Solutions SK Limited Trading Reserve;

·         note the forecast outturn for the 2012/13 Capital Programme as set out in section 3.1 of the report

·         note the changes to the Capital Programme as set out in paragraph 3.1.5 of the report;

·         note  the resourcing of the Capital Programme as set out in section 3.4 of the report;

·         identify key areas for further investigation and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any existing or forecast issues or risks.

Officer contact: Andrea Stewart / Christine Buxton, telephone number 0161 474 3243/ 4124, email  andrea.stewart@stockport.gov.uk / Christine.buxton@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a summary of progress in delivering the Council’s priorities and budgets during the first half of 2012/13, and included financial and performance forecasts for the full year. It was supported by ten Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs).

The revenue budget was forecasting a surplus of £3.709m, with five portfolios contributing to a cash limits surplus of £1.2m while reduced capital financing costs and a formula grant refund were contributing to a non-cash limit surplus of some £2.5m.

Three quarters of priority measures were forecast to improve or maintain performance this year, with 71% forecast to meet or exceed targets. Benchmarking information showed that Stockport continued to perform well compared to its peers, although maintaining high levels of performance would be a continuing challenge, and a performance on a number of measures was forecast to fall this year.

It was reported that the Executive at its meeting on 12 November 2012 had approved the recommendations in the report.

The Executive Leader and Portfolio holder for Policy, Reform & Finance (Councillor Sue Derbyshire) and the Executive Councillor for Governance and Corporate Services (Councillor Martin Candler) attended the meeting to answer member’s questions.

RESOLVED – That

·         the virements to the Revenue Budget set out in section 2.2 of the report be noted;

·         the cash limit and non-cash limit forecast outturn positions for 2012/13 as set out in sections 2.3, 2.5 and 2.6 of the report be noted;

·         the Retained Schools Budget and Housing Revenue Account forecast outturn positions as set out in sections 2.7 and 2.8 of the report be noted;

·         the contributions to/from earmarked reserves and balances as set out in section 2.9 of the report including the recommendations set out at paragraph 2.9.3 in relation to the Insurance Reserve, 2.9.5 in relation to the Bridgefield Project and at paragraph 2.9.7 in relation to the Solutions SK Limited Trading Reserve be noted;

·         the forecast outturn for the 2012/13 Capital Programme as set out in section 3.1 of the report be noted;

·         the changes to the Capital Programme as set out in paragraph 3.1.5 of the report be noted; and

·         the resourcing of the Capital Programme as set out in section 3.4 of the report be noted.

To consider a joint report of the Service Directors (Strategy & Performance) and (Adult Social Care)

The purpose of this report is to provide a detailed overview of the performance relating to the Health Scrutiny Committee. As in previous reporting cycles, the individual Portfolio Performance and Resources Reports for the Health & Wellbeing and Adult Care Services Portfolio are enclosed.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

·         Review the current levels of performance;

·         Highlight key areas of, and responsibility for, taking forward corrective action to address any existing or forecast performance issues;

·         Identify how areas of strong performance and good practice can be shared in other services.

Officer contact: Katy Forde, 07527 387232, katy.forde@stockport.gov.uk

The Service Director (Transformation & Commissioning) submitted the Portfolio Performance and Resources Reports (copies of which had been circulated) for the second quarter of 2012/13 for the Adult Care Services and Health & Wellbeing portfolios.

Executive Councillor (Health & Wellbeing) attended the meeting to answer questions from councillors.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Service Director (Transformation & Commissioning) be requested to submit a report to the March 2013 meeting on the work of the Council in promoting healthy weight, and in particular comparing the work of the Council to the good practice recommended by the LGIU report on Obesity.

To consider a joint report of the Service Directors (Adult Social Care) and (Place Development).

The purpose of this report is to provide a detailed overview of performance which relates to the Adults and Communities Scrutiny Committee.

The information is provided in the form of the Quarter 1 2012/13 Portfolio Performance and Resources Reports for each of the Portfolios having functions within the remit of the Adults and Communities Scrutiny Committee namely: Adult Care Services, Health and Wellbeing and Supporting Communities.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

(1)  Review the current levels of performance.

(2)  Highlight key areas of, and responsibility for, taking forward corrective action to address any existing or forecast performance issues.

(3)  Identify how areas of strong performance and good practice can be shared in other services.

Officer contact: Doug Holland on 474 2976 or email: doug.holland@stockport.gov.uk

The Service Director (Adult Social Care) and representatives of the Service Director (Place Development) submitted a joint report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a detailed overview of performance which related to the Adults and Communities Scrutiny Committee.

Information was provided in the form of the Quarter Two 2012/13 Portfolio Performance and Resources Reports for each of the Portfolios having functions within the remit of the Adults and Communities Scrutiny Committee namely: Adult Care Services, Health and Wellbeing and Supporting Communities.

The Executive Councillors for Adult Care Services (Councillor Daniel Hawthorne) and Supporting Communities (Councillor Mark Weldon) attended the meeting to answer Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Clarification was sought in relation to the actions that were being taken to improve the quality and effectiveness of the Reablement Service.  In response it was stated that discussions were ongoing with staff in relation to a number of developments at Individual Solutions SK and that a further report would be submitted to a future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee in relation to this matter.

·         The significant reduction in the level of sickness absence observed at Individual Solutions SK since the Quarter One Performance Report was welcomed.

·         In respect of the Payment by Recovery/ Results project, it was commented that there had been examples in the past of patients being discharged from services too early and the hope was expressed that the increase in discharges observed since the commencement of the project would not see a resultant increase in the occurrence of this problem.

·         The indicative results from the case-finding pilot undertaken in Brinnington were requested.  In response, it was stated that a report would be submitted to the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee in relation to this matter.

·         Marple had been selected for a ‘locality based integrated working pilot’ as it was the biggest single sender of older people to Stepping Hill Hospital and was home to a number of larger nursing homes.  The evidence had shown that by working proactively in this area with GPs and nursing homes there was the potential to reduce demand on acute hospital admissions and improve the health outcomes for those older people.

·         The ‘My Care My Choice’ online care marketplace was well used, however it was acknowledged that traditional interactions with service users would remain important, particularly for those who were unable or not equipped to use web-based services.

·         A discussion took place around Portfolio Outcome 4 which related to the provision of housing and the failure to meet the targets within this Outcome.  In response, it was stated that the Outcome should be framed in the context of the difficult housing market and that there had been a significant improvement in the number of homes that were being provided.

·         Further information was requested in relation to the current status of the bidding process for the site of the former Fir Tree Primary School.

·         The Scrutiny Committee noted that two additional Welfare Rights Officers had been appointed, and Members requested additional information on the impact that these appointments had made on the waiting times for appeal representation resulting from the migration of people from Incapacity Benefit to the Employment Support Allowance.

·         The work to address the number of empty properties in the Borough was encouraging.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a joint report of the Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) and the Executive Councillor (Governance & Corporate Services)

This report provides a summary of progress in delivering the Council’s priorities and budgets during the first half of 2012/13, and includes financial and performance forecasts for the full year. It is supported by ten Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs).

The revenue budget is forecasting a surplus of £3.709m, with five portfolios contributing to a cash limits surplus of £1.2m while reduced capital financing costs and a formula grant refund are contributing to a non-cash limit surplus of some £2.5m.

Three quarters of priority measures are forecast to improve or maintain performance this year, with 71% forecast to meet or exceed targets. Benchmarking information shows that Stockport continues to perform well compared to its peers, although maintaining high levels of performance will be a continuing challenge, and a performance on a number of measures is forecast to fall this year.

Portfolio Reports will be considered by the next cycle of Scrutiny Committees, and are published alongside the Corporate Report in order to provide supporting information. These can be found at http://democracy.stockport.gov.uk/mgIssueHistoryHome.aspx?IId=11490

The Executive is asked to:

·         review progress against delivering Council Plan priorities, portfolio outcomes and capital schemes alongside budget forecasts contained within the report;

·         approve the virements to the Revenue Budget set out in section 2.2 of the report;

·         note the cash limit and non-cash limit forecast outturn positions for 2012/13 as set out in sections 2.3, 2.5 and 2.6 of the report;

·         note the Retained Schools Budget and Housing Revenue Account forecast outturn positions as set out in sections 2.7 and 2.8 of the report;

·         note and approve the contributions to/from earmarked reserves and balances as set out in section 2.9 of the report including the recommendations set out at paragraph 2.9.3 in relation to the Insurance Reserve, 2.9.5 in relation to the Bridgefield Project and at paragraph 2.9.7 in relation to the Solutions SK Limited Trading Reserve;

·         note the forecast outturn for the 2012/13 Capital Programme as set out in section 3.1 of the report

·         approve the changes to the Capital Programme as set out in paragraph 3.1.5 of the report;

·         approve the resourcing of the Capital Programme as set out in section 3.4 of the report;

·         identify key areas for further investigation and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any existing or forecast issues or risks.

Officer contact: Andrea Stewart / Christine Buxton, 0161 474 3243/ 4124, andrea.stewart@stockport.gov.uk / Christine.buxton@stockport.gov.uk

A joint report of the Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) and the Executive Councillor (Governance & Corporate Services) was submitted (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider the mid-year position in delivering the Council’s priorities, revenue budget and capital programme for 2012/13 and highlighting progress on implementing key strategic projects and managing corporate risks.

The forecast at midyear was a surplus of £3.709m on the revenue budget. Performance against priority measures was forecast to improve or maintain performance over the year. Benchmarking information indicated Stockport was performing well in comparison to its peers.

RESOLVED – That

·         the virements to the Revenue Budget set out in section 2.2 of the report be approved;

·         the cash limit and non-cash limit forecast outturn positions for 2012/13 as set out in sections 2.3, 2.5 and 2.6 of the report be noted;

·         the Retained Schools Budget and Housing Revenue Account forecast outturn positions as set out in sections 2.7 and 2.8 of the report be noted;

·         the contributions to/from earmarked reserves and balances as set out in section 2.9 of the report including the recommendations set out at paragraph 2.9.3 in relation to the Insurance Reserve, 2.9.5 in relation to the Bridgefield Project and at paragraph 2.9.7 in relation to the Solutions SK Limited Trading Reserve be noted and approved;

·         the forecast outturn for the 2012/13 Capital Programme as set out in section 3.1 of the report be noted;

·         the changes to the Capital Programme as set out in paragraph 3.1.5 of the report be approved; and

·         the resourcing of the Capital Programme as set out in section 3.4 of the report be approved.