Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration.

The report provides a detailed overview of performance which relates to this Scrutiny Committee. The information is provided in the form of the final update Portfolio Performance and Resources Reports for the Economic Development & Regeneration and Communities & Sustainability Portfolios. These provide an update on progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, budgets and capital programmes during 2013/14, and include performance and financial projections for the year.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

·       Consider the final update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports;

·       Review the progress against priorities, performance and budgets for 2013/14;

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

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

Officer contacts: Gill Lawton/Michael Cullen on 0161 474 3686/4631 or e mail: gill.lawton@stockport.gov.uk/michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a detailed overview of performance which related to this Scrutiny Committee. The information was provided in the form of the final update Portfolio Performance and Resources Reports for the Communities and Sustainability, and Economic Development and Regeneration portfolios. These provided an update on progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, budgets and capital programmes during 2013/2014, and included performance and financial projections for the year.

The Executive Councillor (Communities and Sustainability) (Councillor Stuart Bodsworth) and Executive Councillor (Economic Development and Regeneration) (Councillor Iain Roberts) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The completion of the first phase of a face-lifting scheme for 85 properties in the Belmont Street area of Heaton Norris was welcomed.

·         Members congratulated Life Leisure Avondale in being named the best rehabilitation facility of the year at the National Fitness Awards. The facility was the first of its kind in the North West dedicated to rehabilitation and health improvement.

·         There had been significant investments in the borough in this quarter, including Wilkinsons Furniture, UK Point of Sale and European Glass.

·         It was noted that the Christmas lights switch on event had attracted the highest recorded footfall compared to previous years.

·         Staircase House had been awarded the prestigious Sandford Award for excellence in heritage education and the Hat Works museum had received positive media coverage.

·         The new Aldi store had opened in Offerton earlier in the day and had been well received by local people.

·         A Member asked for figures on usage of the new car park at Stockport Exchange. It was reported that these would be circulated to Members when they were available.

·         It was noted that the Greater Manchester Road Activity Permit Scheme (GMRAPS) had a ‘red’ risk rating.

·         A Member praised the work of Blue Orchid which was delivering the Government funded New Enterprise Allowance programme (for people on Job Seekers’ Allowance) which had achieved 38 new starts during the quarter. The current agreement with Blue Orchid which expired later this year had been extended.

·         A Member highlighted that the number of visitors to Stockport’s museums was not reaching its target.

·         Members requested that an update report on the Portas Pilot be submitted to the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration be requested to submit an update report on the Portas Pilot to the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The final update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRR) for the Children and Young People and Lifelong Learning and Achievement Portfolios are presented for consideration by the Scrutiny Committee. The reports provide an update on progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, budgets and capital programmes during 2013/14, and include performance and financial projections for the year. The reports also include a progress report and updated risk assessment of the portfolio savings programmes. 

The Scrutiny Committee are requested to consider and comment on the reports.

Officer Contact: Michael Henry on Tel: 474 3830 or email: michael.henry@stockport.gov.uk

a) Children and Young People

The Executive Councillor (Children and Young People) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on performance of the portfolio in the third quarter 2013/2014. 

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         An application to secure early access to the Family Nurse Partnership scheme had been successful.

·         During Q3, the Reddish Group of Children’s Centres were inspected by Ofsted under the new Children’s Centres Inspection framework and they had received the grade ‘requires improvement’. An action plan had already been established to address the findings from the inspection.

·         Councillors requested further detailed reports in respect to (a) Hospital admissions as a result of unintentional or deliberate injury and (b) the 0-25 Transformation Programme.

·         Alcohol misuse remains a major issue in Stockport across all ages.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

b) Lifelong Learning and Achievement

The Executive Councillor (Lifelong Learning and Achievement) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on performance of the portfolio in the third quarter 2013/2014. 

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         From September 2014, every child in reception, Year 1 and Year 2 will be entitled to a free school meal. The government has made £150m of capital funding available for improving school kitchens and dining facilities and Stockport’s share is £0.812m.

·         The quality of educational provision in Stockport continues to improve – a recently published Ofsted regional report for the North West commends Stockport for showing considerable improvement in recent years.

·         Persistent absence and fixed term exclusion rate for pupils in Stockport schools have reduced in 2012/2013.

·         The revenue out-turn forecast for the Portfolio is a surplus of £0.702m for 2013/2014.

·         The use of pupil premium money by schools to accelerate the progress of those pupils who are in receipt of it.

The Chair informed Councillors that this would be the last meeting at which Richard Bates, Service Director (Education) would be in attendance prior to his retirement. On behalf of the Committee he thanked Richard for his support and hard work and wished him the very best for the future.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) explaining that the Council continues to make strong progress despite a number of challenges. A number of difficult but necessary reforms were being implemented in a positive and effective manner, often in close partnership with other agencies.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted

The Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer and Community Services) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the final portfolio update report. The report provided a final update on progress in delivering portfolio objectives and budgets to the end of 2013. There had been little change to the revenue cash limit budgets in the last quarter and the portfolio savings programme remained on track. The Executive Councillor had a high level of confidence that the £5.4m of savings for 2013/2014 would be delivered.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Councillors discussed the creation and integration of the new Strategic Property Partnership noting that all staff who wished to be transferred had now done so.

·         The Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services provided an update in respect to the Review of Corporate and Support Services and the impact that the review and implementation of the new structure had on performance levels.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the Council Plan Measures for 2013/2014 for consideration.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a joint report of the Corporate Directors for People and Place Management and Regeneration.

The report provides a detailed overview of performance which relates to the Adult Care Services and Housing Scrutiny Committee.

The information is provided in the form of the Quarter 3 2013/14 Portfolio Performance and Resources Reports for each of the Portfolios having functions within the remit of the Adults Care Services and Housing Scrutiny Committee namely: Adult Care Services and Communities and Sustainability.

The Communities and Sustainability report includes the housing functions which fall within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

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: Peter Owston on 474 3274 or email: peter.owston@stockport.gov.uk

The Service Director (Adult Social Care) and the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a joint report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a detailed overview of performance which related to the Adult Care Services and Housing Scrutiny Committee.

Information was provided in the form of the Quarter Three 2013/14 Portfolio Performance and Resources Reports for each of the Portfolios having functions within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee namely, Adult Care Services and the housing element of the Communities and Sustainability portfolio.

The Executive Councillors for Communities and Sustainability (Councillor Stuart Bodsworth) and Adult Care Services (Councillor Keith Holloway) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

Adult Care Services

·         The reablement service was in a period of transition from a focus on assisting people being discharged from hospital to providing additional help and support with end of life care.

·         It was commented that the reablement service was failing to achieve its savings target.  In response it was stated that reablement had been seen as a way of reducing the care management budget by putting in place short term intensive interventions as a means of preventing longer term needs.  It was now apparent that there needed to be wider involvement from a range of services.

·         Twenty residential beds were block purchased to support the work of the Enhanced Rapid Response Service, and occupancy rates for these were monitored on a daily basis to ensure the best management of this facility.  It was requested that the costs associated with this block purchase be circulated to members of the Scrutiny Committee.

·         It was noted that satisfaction rates of carers with social services was 76.4% which provided an implied dissatisfaction rate of 23.4%.  The single biggest area of complaint related to the reliability of providers and whether they were courteous.

Communities and Sustainability (Housing)

·         There was considerable pressure on the Disabled Facilities Grant such that a number of ‘low priority’ referrals had been placed on a waiting list, and further that the Council was not anticipating the receipt of an additional one-off payment and only a nominal increase in the level of Grant itself.

·         The target of 67 units of additional accommodation for older people or vulnerable households had been missed, although it was noted that 55 properties were expected to completed in April 2014 in addition to the 15 that had already been completed by March 2014.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Service Director (Adult Social Care) be requested to submit a report to the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee detailing the current position with regard to the administration of the Disabled Facilities Grant including the position of those referrals which had been categorised as low priority.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The third quarter Portfolio Performance and Resource Report (PPRR) for the Health and Wellbeing Portfolio is presented for consideration by the Committee. This provides an update on progress in delivering the portfolio priorities and budgets during 2013/14, and includes performance and financial projections for the year.

Scrutiny Committee is asked to:

·         consider the third quarter Portfolio Performance and Resource Report;  

·         review the progress against priorities, performance and budgets for 2013/14;

·         highlight key areas of and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any performance or resource issues.

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

Officer contact: Mike Harradine/ Simon Finch, 0161 474 4680/ 4019, mike.harradine@stockport.gov  / simon.finch@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Director of Public Health submitted a report of the Corporate Director for People (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the delivery of portfolio priorities, budgets and capital programmes for the Health & Wellbeing Portfolio during the third quarter of 2013/14.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Director of Public Health be requested to submit a report to the next meeting with further detail on excess winter deaths.

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

This item consists of two reports. The first of these is the Corporate Performance and Resource Report (CPRR), which provides an overview of progress towards delivering the Council’s Priority Outcomes and budget during 2013/14, based on the Council Plan 2013/15 and the Medium Term Financial Plan 2013/17. It is supported by seven Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs), which are circulated as background papers to this report, and will be considered in detail at the next cycle of Scrutiny Committees.

The second report is the Leader’s Report, which outlines progress in developing the Investing in Stockport programme across the Council and Stockport Partnership, along with some of the specific projects which will help invest in growth, public service reform and organisational change. It also highlights some of the key decisions at a Greater Manchester level which will have a positive impact on Stockport.

The Executive is asked to:

a)     Review progress against delivering Council Plan priorities, portfolio outcomes and capital schemes alongside budget outturns contained within the report;

b)     Approve the virements to the Revenue Budget set out in section 2.2.3;

c)     Note the cash limit and non-cash limit forecast positions for 2013/14 as set out in sections 2.3 and 2.6;

d)     Note the review and risk assessment of the budget savings programme set out in section 2.4;

e)     Note the Retained Schools Budget and Housing Revenue Account forecast positions as set out in sections 2.7 and 2.8;

f)      Approve the contributions to/from earmarked reserves and balances as set out in section 2.9 and note the resulting reserves and balances positions;

g)     Note the latest position for the 2013/14 Capital Programme as set out in section 3.1;

h)     Approve the changes to the Capital Programme as set out in 3.1.5;

i)       Approve the resourcing of the Capital Programme as set out in section 3.4;

j)       Note the treasury review and activity during the third quarter;

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

Officer contact: Christine Buxton / Peter Owston 474 4124/ 3274, Christine.buxton@stockport.gov.uk / peter.owston@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Executive Meeting with an update on progress in delivering the Council’s Priority Outcomes and budgeting at the end of the third quarter of 2013/14.

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) submitted a ‘Leader’s Report’ for the same quarter (copies of which had been circulated) providing a strategic overview of Council activity as well as highlighting significant AGMA and Combined Authority activity.

Executive councillors highlighted key issues and achievements within their portfolios.

RESOLVED – That

·        the Corporate Performance and Resources Report – Final Update 2013/14 and the Leader’s Report be noted;

·        the virements to the Revenue Budget as set out in section 2.2.3 of the report be approved;

·        the cash limit and non-cash limit forecast positions for 2013/14 as set out in sections 2.3 and 2.6 of the report be approved;

·        the review and risk assessment of the budget savings programme set out in section 2.4 of the report be noted;

·        the Retained Schools Budget and Housing Revenue Account forecast 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 be approved and the resulting reserves and balances positions be noted;

·        the latest position for the 2013/14 Capital Programme as set out in section 3.1 of the report be noted;

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

·        the resourcing of the Capital Programme as set out in section 3.4 of the report be approved; and,

·        the treasury review and activity during the third quarter be noted.