Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The report outlines the arrangements in place in ensuring that decisions being taken at the Greater Manchester level, and which consequently necessitate the exercising of executive functions at Stockport, are open to scrutiny at a local level. The report al so updates the Scrutiny Committee on the review by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) of its scrutiny arrangements and the further changes proposed by the Interim Elected Mayor (Tony Lloyd) as detailed in paragraph 4.1.5 of this report.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to:

·         Note the report and the current arrangements.

·         Note the proposals of the Interim Elected Mayor as set out in paragraph 4.1.5 of the report and the implications for Stockport (para 4.2).

Officer contact Craig Ainsworth on telephone number Tel: 0161 474 3204 or by email on craig.ainsworth@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the arrangements in place in ensuring that decisions being taken at the Greater Manchester level, and which consequently necessitate the exercising of executive functions at Stockport, were open to scrutiny at a local level. The report also updated the Scrutiny Committee on the review by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) of its scrutiny arrangements and the further changes proposed by the Interim Elected Mayor (Tony Lloyd) as detailed in paragraph 4.1.5 of the report.

Cllr John McGahan one of the three members appointed to the current Scrutiny Pool attended the meeting to comment upon the proposals by the Interim Elected Mayor as set out in the report. In particular:

·         ‘Standing Scrutiny Committees’ should be established mirroring the Leaders Portfolios.

·         Administrative and policy support for the Scrutiny function should be provided through the existing support in each local authority.

·         Scrutiny Committees should make formal recommendations to the Mayor and GMCA prior to decisions being taken by the Combined Authority.

·         The Mayor, relevant portfolio holder and other partner agencies delivering services on behalf of the GMCA should be required to attend Scrutiny Committees where appropriate.

·         Scrutiny Committees should be advertised held in public and streamed live with minutes and documents made publicly available. Meetings should also be held in the evening.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the GMCA be recommended to adopt the same approach as operated in Stockport with an assumption that reports will be submitted to the appropriate Scrutiny Committee for comments prior to a decision being taken by the GMCA and that reports should only be restricted where it is necessary to do so.

(3) That this Scrutiny Committee welcomes the review of the current ‘Scrutiny Pool’ arrangements and in would support:

·         ‘Standing Scrutiny Committees’ should be established mirroring the Leaders Portfolios.

·         Scrutiny Committees should be advertised, held in public and webcast with minutes and documents made publicly available. Meetings should also be held in the evening.