Issue - meetings

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

The Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs) for the Support and Governance, and Safe and Resilient Communities Portfolios are presented for consideration by the Scrutiny Committee. These provide a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priority outcomes through the Investing in Stockport programme and other key projects during the first half of 2015/16, with updates on key activity during the second quarter. They include forecast performance data (where this is available) and projected financial data for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programme. 

Scrutiny Committee is asked to:

·         Consider the Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports;  

·         Review the progress against delivering key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 2015/16;

·         Review the Community Safety, Neighbourhood Management and Libraries elements of the Safe and Resilient Communities Portfolio Report, with the education elements of this being considered separately by the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Committee

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

·         Highlight any significant issues or changes to be fed back to the Executive alongside the Corporate Performance and Resource Report;

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

Officer contacts: Peter Owston, Policy, Performance and Reform (CSS), peter.owston@stockport.gov.uk (474 3274)

Susan Wood, Strategic Accountant (CSS) susan.wood@stockport.go.uk (218 1032)

The Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Scrutiny Committee with the Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs) for the Support and Governance, and Safe and Resilient Communities Portfolios for consideration by the Scrutiny Committee. They provided a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priority outcomes through the Investing in Stockport programme and other key projects during the first half of 2015/16, with updates on key activity during the second quarter. They included forecast performance data (where this was available) and projected financial data for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programme.

The Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs) for the Support and Governance, and Safe and Resilient Communities Portfolios are presented for consideration by the Scrutiny Committee. These provide a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priority outcomes through the Investing in Stockport programme and other key projects during the first half of 2015/16, with updates on key activity during the second quarter. They include forecast performance data (where this is available) and projected financial data for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programme. 

The Deputy Executive Leader and Portfolio holder for Support & Governance (Councillor Iain Roberts) and the Executive Councillor for Safe & Resilient Communities (Councillor Shan Alexander) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was noted that there was an intention to expand traded services in the future to generate additional income.

·         A number of apprentices had now been appointed to respond to a high level of staff turnover within the Benefits Service and there had been an impact on the Contact Centre as a result of the vacant posts.

·         It was noted that the retention of staff remained a challenge mainly due to the Public Sector pay restraint and it was suggested that the loss of experienced staff should be identified as a ‘Corporate Risk’ as well as a review of temporary contracts.

·         The Scrutiny Committee discussed the implications in respect of the retention of Business Rates and the potential impact on the current ’pooling’ arrangements across AGMA.

·         The Council’s approach to Consultations and in particular the consultations being undertaken by independent consultants to support the Library & information service review.

·         The Scrutiny Committee noted that the Locality Working Project was not intended to replace Neighbourhood Management but instead to create links to better support the Priority areas.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Deputy Chief Executive be requested to include the Council’s Sickness Absence Policy within the Mid-Year Sickness Absence Report scheduled to be considered at the next meeting of this Scrutiny Committee.

(3) That the Deputy Chief Executive be requested to provide details to members of this Scrutiny Committee in relation to the expenditure of £719,000 to support new initiatives in workforce development.

(4) That the format and content of future Portfolio Performance and Resources Reports be reviewed to ensure that only information relevant to this Scrutiny Committee is included.