Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The First Update Corporate Performance and Resource Report (CPRR) provides an overview of progress in delivering the Council’s Priority Outcomes and budget during the first quarter of 2016/17. It is the first report based on the new Council Plan 2016/17 and the Medium Term Financial Plan 2016/19, and also reflects the new Executive Portfolios and priorities.

Updates are included on delivery of policy priorities, alongside Reform Project updates. The report also includes forecast budget and performance data where this is available, along with an update on the refreshed Corporate Risk Register. It is supported by seven Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports which were considered by the most recent Scrutiny cycle.

The Leader’s Report highlights a number of the Council’s significant achievements over the last quarter, including significant decisions at GM level.

The Executive at its meeting on 16 August approved the recommendations in the report.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the report.

Officer contact: Steve Skelton/ Michael Cullen, 0161 474 3174 / 0161 218 1032, steve.skelton@stockport.gov.uk / Michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of progress in delivering the Council’s Priority Outcomes and budget during the first quarter of 2016/17. It was the first report based on the new Council Plan 2016/17 and the Medium Term Financial Plan 2016/19, and also reflected the new Executive Portfolios and priorities.

The report included updates on delivery of policy priorities, alongside Reform Project updates. The report also included forecast budget and performance data where this was available, along with an update on the refreshed Corporate Risk Register. It was supported by seven Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports which had been considered by the Scrutiny Committees in the last committee cycle.

The Leader’s Report highlighted a number of the Council’s significant achievements over the last quarter, including significant decisions at a Greater Manchester level.

It was reported that the Executive at its meeting on 16 August had approved the recommendations in the report.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Alex Ganotis) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions. The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was noted that although to date £300,000 of permanent savings had been identified as part of the reconfiguration of corporate and support services it was anticipated that the quarter 2 report would show a saving of 800,000 and that the £2million permanent annual reduction would be achieved.

·         A working paper summarising work to increase income generation opportunities and that this would be submitted to the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee for comment.

·         There was a need to build affordable housing within the town centre and a vision for the town centre was currently being developed which connected the current regeneration projects to each other including providing housing on the current site of Stockport College.

·         An explanation was requested as to why the Solutions SK Fleet Replacement Strategy had been brought forward from 2017/18 and the cost had increased.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Borough Treasurer be requested to write to all members of the Scrutiny Committee providing an explanation as to why the Solutions SK Fleet Replacement Strategy had been brought forward from 2017/18 and the cost had increased.

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

The First Update Corporate Performance and Resource Report (CPRR) provides an overview of progress in delivering the Council’s Priority Outcomes and budget during the first quarter of 2016/17. It is the first report based on the new Council Plan 2016/17 and the Medium Term Financial Plan 2016/19, and also reflects the new Executive Portfolios and priorities.

Updates are included on delivery of policy priorities, alongside Reform Project updates. The report also includes forecast budget and performance data where this is available, along with an update on the refreshed Corporate Risk Register. It is supported by seven Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports which were considered by the most recent Scrutiny cycle.

The Leader’s Report highlights a number of the Council’s significant achievements over the last quarter, including significant decisions at GM level.

The Executive is asked to;

a)    Review progress against delivering the Council Plan, priority outcomes and capital schemes alongside budget and performance forecasts contained within the report;

b)   Identify key areas for further investigation and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any existing or forecast issues or risks;

c)    Approve the virements to the Revenue Budget set out in section 2.2.3;

d)   Note the cash limit and non-cash limit forecast positions for 2016/17 as set out in sections 2.3 and 2.6;

e)    Note the position on the 2016/17 budget savings programme set out in section 2.4;

f)     Note the Retained Schools Budget and Housing Revenue Account forecast positions as set out in sections 2.7 and 2.8;

g)   Approve the contributions to/from earmarked reserves and balances as set out in section 2.9 and note the forecast reserves and balances position;

h)   Note the forecast position for the 2015/16 Capital Programme as set out in section 3.1;

i)     Approve the changes to the Capital Programme as set out in 3.1.5;

j)     Approve the proposals for resourcing the Capital Programme as set out in 3.3.3, and;

k)    Note the treasury management review and activity during the first quarter as set out in section 4.

Officer contact: Steve Skelton/ Michael Cullen, 0161 474 3174 / 0161 218 1032, steve.skelton@stockport.gov.uk / Michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Finance and Devolution) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Executive with a report on the delivery of the Council’s Priority Outcomes and budget during the first quarter of 2016/17. The report was based on the Council Plan 2016/17 and the Medium Term Financial Plan 2016/19 and reflected the new Executive Portfolios and priorities.

The Leader’s Report for first quarter of 2016/17 was also included within the report and summarised decisions at Greater Manchester level.

The Leader of the Council highlighted the recent announcement of the award of £19m from the Transformation Fund to Stockport to support the development of new models of care; the £700,000 allocated for investment in parks and greenspaces; the intention to explore using resources to reduce borrowing costs and increasing income in order to safeguard vital public services; ongoing work following the June 2016 flooding.

The Executive Councillor (Children & Family Services) highlighted that the increasing spend on secure accommodation was subject to monthly monitoring; and that an independent audit of Child Protection Plans and referrals had confirmed the appropriateness of those decisions, which provided assurance that children were not being put at risk.

The Executive Councillor (Communities & Housing) reported that good progress was being made in establishing a housing company to deliver affordable housing in Stockport; and that work was ongoing to establish a housing commission to provide overarching governance for the housing strategy and to ensure that Stockport could realise the benefits of Greater Manchester activity.

RESOLVED – That in relation to the Corporate Performance and Resources First Update Report 2016/17:-

·         progress against delivering the Council Plan, priority outcomes and capital schemes alongside budget and performance forecasts contained within the report be noted;

·         the virements to the Revenue Budget set out in section 2.2.3 of the report be approved;

·         the cash limit and non-cash limit forecast positions for 2016/17 as set out in sections 2.3 and 2.6 of the report be noted;

·         the position on the 2016/17 budget savings programme set out in section 2.4 be noted;

·         the Retained Schools Budget and Housing Revenue Account forecast positions as set out in sections 2.7 and 2.8 of the report be noted;

·         the contributions to/from earmarked reserves and balances as set out in section 2.9 of the report be approved and the forecast reserves and balances position be noted;

·         the forecast position for the 2015/16 Capital Programme as set out in section 3.1 of the report be noted;

·         the changes to the Capital Programme as set out in 3.1.5 of the report be approved;

·         the proposals for resourcing the Capital Programme as set out in 3.3.3 of the report be approved, and;

·         the treasury management review and activity during the first quarter as set out in section 4 of the report be noted.