Issue - meetings

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

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform and Finance) (Councillor Sue Derbyshire) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) seeking approval for the draft indicative 2015/16 Council Plan.

RESOLVED – (40 for) That the Council Plan 2015/16 be approved and adopted.

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

The current Council Plan runs until the end of 2014/15, and a new high-level Plan has been developed for 2015/16 alongside the Medium Term Financial Plan.  The draft plan (Appendix 1) is presented for consideration and approval ahead of submission to the Budget Council Meeting.

The Council Plan sets the strategic operating context for the Council, informing all key policy decisions. As such, a detailed Equality Impact Assessment has been carried out, and is attached at Appendix 2.

Detailed Portfolio Performance and Resources Agreements will be made by Executive Councillors that set out the priorities, risks and resources that will contribute to these outcomes under each portfolio.  These agreements will include clear measures that allow the Council and residents to monitor both service performance and the steps taken to change the organisation so that it can continue to deliver against outcomes in the future.  Draft Portfolio Agreements are due to be considered by Scrutiny Committees in late May / early June.

The Executive is asked to approve the 2015/16 Council Plan for submission to the Budget Council Meeting.

Officer contact: Steve Skelton, 0161 474 3174, steve.skelton@stockport.gov.uk

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive to consider the draft Council Plan for 2015/16. The draft Plan had been structured around key outcomes rather than executive portfolios, and was complemented by the Investing in Stockport programme as the Council’s strategic delivery plan.

RESOLVED – That the Council Meeting be recommended to approve the 2015/16 Council Plan.

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted the draft Council Plan (copies of which had been circulated) which outlined the strategic operating context for the Council, informing all key policy decisions. The draft Plan for 2015/16 suggested changes from the approach taken in recent Council Plans. The Council Plan would be submitted for consideration to the Executive on 10 February and the Budget Council Meeting on 26 February 2015.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Sue Derbyshire) and the Deputy Executive Leader and Portfolio holder for Corporate, Customer and Community Services (Councillor Iain Roberts) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The Council Plan set out the wider ambitions of the Council over several years rather than the specific detail of what the Council would achieve during the 2015/16 financial year.

·         Clarification was provided in relation to the phrase “A safe, resilient community is one which democracy thrives and people understand the impact of their decisions on others” and “All Elected Councillors providing strong community leadership and an accountable voice for their locality”.

·         The risks associated with the ‘Locality Working’ proposals.

·         The need to review the content of the Corporate Performance and Resources Report and the Portfolio Performance and Resources reports so they were outcome based.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report and Council Plan be noted.

(2) That the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee be requested to review the content of the Corporate Performance and Resources Report and the Portfolio Performance and Resources reports so they were outcome based prior to the commencement of the 2015/16 Municipal Year.