Issue - meetings

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

The Final Update 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 an update on key activity during the third quarter of the year, with a summary of progress in delivering portfolio priority outcomes through the Investing in Stockport programme and other key projects since the mid-year report. They include forecast performance data (where this is available) and projected financial data for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programmes.

In addition to the Support and Governance Portfolio Report, the Scrutiny Committee is asked to 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.

The report will be considered by the Executive at its meeting on 16 February 2016.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to:

·         Consider the Final Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports;  

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

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

The Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Final Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs) for the Support and Governance, and Safe and Resilient Communities Portfolios.

These provided an update on key activity during the third quarter of the year, with a summary of progress in delivering portfolio priority outcomes through the Investing in Stockport programme and other key projects since the mid-year report. The report included forecast performance data (where this was available) and projected financial data for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programmes.

It was reported that the report would be considered by the Executive at its meeting on 16 February 2016.

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:-

·         Councillors questioned the figures provided in the report for sickness absence to date. 

·         The Scrutiny Committee noted the current consultation on proposals to change ways to access Information, Advice and Guidance services and the level of response to date.

·         It was noted that a report in relation to ‘Locality Working’ had been considered by the Executive on 16 December 2015 and that the priorities identified by local people were being addressed.

·         The Scrutiny Committee enquired what was meant by “better managing sickness absence” and noted that despite this the forecast was that the figures were increasing.

·         Whilst the Scrutiny Committee noted that the focus was on ensuring invoices were paid within 30 days, they expressed concern that the target for paying invoices for local businesses with 10 days was unlikely to be met.

·         Councillors asked about high staff turnover in the business support function and the action being taken to address this issue.

·         The increase in the number of victim-based and violent crimes was partly due to the way incidents were now recorded (counting victims rather than incidents).  Further work will be done to understand where possible if there has also been an increase in incidents as well.

·         Concern was expressed at the increase in the number of people who felt “that their local area was a place where people from different ethnic backgrounds get on well together”. It was noted that the figures were currently being broken down by ward and would be reported to Area Committees in due course.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Deputy Chief Executive be requested to confirm the information in the report that “on average approximately 2,351 full days every month are lost due to ill health which is equivalent to 10 full members of staff”.

(3) That the Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Service be requested to write to members of this Scrutiny Committee confirming the fees relating to the purchase of Edgeley Park.