Issue - meetings

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

In a report to the Council Meeting on 5 March 2013 the Executive finalised its budget proposals for 2013/14, which had been agreed at its own meeting on 18 February 2013. In response to the medium term financial forecasts prepared by the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services, the Executive has developed an approach to meeting the very significant financial challenges which face the Council over the next few years. This includes a process, timescale, a set of guiding principles and, in particular, a package of proposals to reduce forecast spending levels for 2013/14 and 2014/15.

Agreed by the Council Meeting, the Executive’s budget proposals included a series of budget reductions which amount to £11.984m over the next two years, including £4.473m to be delivered in 2013/14. Taken alongside the budget reductions and savings that were agreed by the Executive in December 2012 (£9.894m in 2013/14, £15.564m by 2014/15) this brings the total savings identified for delivery in 2013/14 and 2014/15 to £27.548m, of which £14.367m is to be achieved in 2013/14.

The report focuses on the measures put forward in the March report. The propositions have been subject to consultation during the last three months, including with scrutiny committees, and this report includes the results of those consultations. Final proposals are now presented for approval. The report then considers the resulting position in relation to the MTFP to 2014/15 and outlines the further work to be undertaken to update the Council’s financial plans.

The Executive is recommended to:

·         note the results of the various consultation exercises undertaken in relation to the savings proposals put forward in February and agree the changes that are proposed in response to the consultation;

·         agree the savings proposals for implementation as set out in the report and listed in Appendix Two;

·         ask the Chief Executive and Corporate / Service Directors, in consultation with the relevant Executive Councillors, to implement the delivery of those proposals; and

·         continue with the steps necessary to agree an updated Medium Term Financial Plan to 2014/15

Officer contact: Steve Houston, 0161 474 4000, steve.houston@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider the results of consultation exercises undertaken on a range of proposals for budget savings for 2013/14, following the agreement of the budget proposals by the Council Meeting on 5 March 2013. Some of the proposals in the report had been revised in light of the consultation responses and the Executive were now being invited to agree the final savings proposals.

The Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services) highlighted the high volume of responses received to the consultation process and paid tribute to the work of officers in undertaking these consultation and thanked the public who had responded.

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) reported that further petitions had been received since publication of the report in relation to the proposals for the parks service. She stated that there were many services provided by the Council to vulnerable people, many of which were unseen, and that given the scale of the challenge facing the Council’s finances that it was right that all services be considered as part of the Council’s transformation programme.

RESOLVED - That

•           the results of the various consultation exercises undertaken in relation to the savings proposals put forward in February 2013 be noted and the changes that are proposed in response to the consultation as detailed in the report be agreed;

•           the savings proposals for implementation as set out in the report and listed in Appendix Two, and the addendum to the report be agreed;

•           the Chief Executive and Corporate / Service Directors, in consultation with the relevant Executive Councillors, be requested to implement the delivery of those proposals; and

•           the steps necessary to agree an updated Medium Term Financial Plan to 2014/15 continue to be taken.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The report summarises the consultation process carried out in relation to the savings proposals agreed for consultation by the Executive on 18 February 2013.

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

Officer Contact: Donna Sager on Tel: 474 3928 or email: donna.sager@stockport.gov.uk

A joint report (copies of which had been circulated)of the Executive Councillors (Children & Young People) and (Lifelong Learning & Achievement) was submitted summarising the consultation process carried out in relation to the savings proposals agreed for consultation by the Executive on 18 February 2013.

The following comments were made/issues raised: -

·         Councillors stressed the need to ensure that any changes to the structure of the Contact Centre should not have a detrimental impact on the Supporting Families Pathway Work Programme and Advice and other proposals should also be considered in relation to the postcodes of the responses.

·         Further clarification was sought in respect to the future potential of whether the Play Development Team could be maintained as a social enterprise and the process involved.

·         Councillors requested that a report be submitted to a future meeting in respect to zero hour based contracting.

·         It was suggested that schools should be encouraged to look at the possibility of using Pupil Premium money for the funding of play development.

·         Councillors acknowledged the benefits associated with the Disability Short Breaks Service and enquired about funding.

·         Councillors expressed concern that around 30% of children starting school were not ready and had not reached the expected levels of the Early Years Foundation Stage profile. They noted however that Stockport was doing well when compared to other Association of Greater Manchester Authorities and that work was on-going to reduce this figure further.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted and the Executive Councillors be requested to take into account the comments of the Scrutiny Committee.

(2) That the Corporate Director for Services to People be requested to submit a report to a future meeting on zero hour based contracts.

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

The report sets out the background to the Medium Term Financial Plan that had informed the recent decision on the 2013/14 budget. The report also details the proposed savings in relation to the Corporate, Customer and Community Services (CCCS) portfolio is provided at Appendix 1. All of the proposed savings were included in the Council’s budget for 2013/14, suitably risk assessed. An initial opportunity was provided for the Committee to scrutinise the relevant savings proposals at its meeting on 11 March 2013.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to provide any further comment on the proposal which the Executive Leader and Portfolio holder for Policy, Reform & Finance and the Executive Councillor for Governance and Corporate Services will consider prior to the Executive meeting of the 16 July 2013.

Officer contact Peter Owston, Telephone number 0161 474 3274, email peter.owston@stockport.gov.uk.

The Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the background to the Medium Term Financial Plan that had informed the recent decision on the 2013/14 budget. The report also detailed the proposed savings in relation to the Corporate, Customer and Community Services (CCCS) portfolio as set out at Appendix 1 to the report. All of the proposed savings were included in the Council’s budget for 2013/14, suitably risk assessed.

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 comments of Scrutiny Committees on 16 July 2013 when it received an update report in relation to the Executive Savings Proposals.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         To date there had been no compulsory redundancies as part of the Corporate and Support Services Review.

·         In view of the savings to be achieved through the Corporate and Support Services Review, there was a need to manage expectations and achieve a clear view around priorities across the Council involving a joined up approach to service delivery.

·         The results of the public consultation should be published on the Council’s website and in the ‘Review’ so that residents are aware of the outcome.

·         The need to ensure that residents continue to be able to contact the council by telephone or face-to-face and these methods should be publicised widely.

·         The need to invest in technology including the Council website.

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

To consider a report of the Director of Public Health.

The report sets out the background to the Medium Term Financial Plan that had informed the recent decision on the 2013/14 budget. The report also detailed the proposed savings that fell within the remit of the Health & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, namely Integration of Public Health.

Heath Scrutiny members are asked to provide any further comment on the proposal which the Executive Councillor (Health and Wellbeing) will consider prior to the   Executive meeting of the 16 July 2013.

Officer contact: Donna Sager on Donna Sager, 474 3928, donna.sager@stockport.gov.uk

The Service Director (Strategy & Performance)/ Deputy Director of Public Health submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the background to the Medium Term Financial Plan that had informed the recent decision on the 2013/14 budget, and detailing the proposed savings that fell within the remit of the Committee, namely Integration of Public Health.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the Scrutiny Committee reiterates its previous resolution that the proposals in respect of Integration of Public Health be supported.