Issue - meetings

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

The report presents the draft 2016/17 Agreements for the Communities and Housing, Economy and Regeneration and Education Portfolios (Appendices 1, 2 and 3) for consideration and comment by the Committee.

Policy priorities for the year ahead are set out within the Agreements, incorporating the existing Council and Borough Plan priority outcomes alongside specific priorities of the new Executive.

The Agreements will form the basis for regular in-year reporting. Portfolio and Corporate Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs and CPRRs) will assess progress against key objectives, priorities, outcomes and budgets, enabling Scrutiny Committees to hold the Executive to account and for the Executive to identify current and future risks to delivery.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to review and comment on the draft Portfolio Agreements.

Officer Contacts: Joe Conmee/Kora Yohannan on 0161 474 5396/4032 or email: joe.conmee@stockport.gov.uk/ kora.yohannan@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the draft 2016/17 Agreements for the Communities and Housing, Economy and Regeneration and Education Portfolios (Appendices 1, 2 and 3) for consideration and comment by the Scrutiny Committee.

The policy priorities for the year ahead were set out within the Agreements, incorporating the existing Council and Borough Plan priority outcomes alongside specific priorities of the new Executive.

The Agreements would form the basis for regular in-year reporting. Portfolio and Corporate Performance and Resources Reports (PPRRs and CPRRs) would assess progress against key objectives, priorities, outcomes and budgets, enabling Scrutiny Committees to hold the Executive to account and for the Executive to identify current and future risks to delivery.

The Executive Councillor (Communities and Housing) (Councillor Sheila Bailey) and Executive Councillor (Economy and Regeneration) (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

Communities and Sustainability

·         The Executive Councillor (Communities and Sustainability) confirmed that the performance indicators in her portfolio were being re-examined for their suitability.

·         The Executive Councillor (Communities and Housing) confirmed that she had approved the allocation of £708,000 from the 2016/17 Transition Fund to support improvements in the Borough’s greenspaces. £615,000  would be directed towards the improvement and replacement of play areas based on the findings of the Play Review undertaken in 2015. The remaining sum of £93,000 would be directed towards surfacing works at destination/neighbourhood parks that had severely deteriorating access routes.

·         The Borough Treasurer’s review of the Council’s earmarked reserves was expected to be completed by the end of July 2016.

·         A Member enquired whether it would be possible to install more cameras at ‘hot spots’ for fly tipping.

·         The Capital Programme for the Leisure Strategy for 2016/17 was primarily for the construction of the new leisure centre in Brinnington.

·Economy and Regeneration      

·         Work on the new Stockport Independent Quarter was in its early stages and the Executive Councillor (Economy and Regeneration) agreed to submit a report to the Scrutiny Committee as work on it progressed.

·         In response to a Member’s question, the Executive Councillor (Economy and Regeneration) confirmed that Bramall Hall would remain in the ownership of the Council.

·         A Member expressed support for the scheme to provide discounted bus travel to local residents in order to ensure that everybody could access public transport, and the partnership working with bus operators and Transport for Greater Manchester to support areas of employment, education and leisure.

There were no comments made or issues raised on the Education Portfolio Performance and Resources Agreement 2016/17 insofar as it related to the remit of this Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – That the draft Portfolio Agreements for the Communities and Housing, Economy and Regeneration and Education Portfolios be noted.