Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The First Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs) for the Reform & Governance and Communities & Housing Portfolios are presented for consideration by the Scrutiny Committee. These provide a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects during the first half of the year, with a particular focus on the second quarter (July to September) of 2016/17. It includes forecast performance data (where this is available) and projected financial data for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programmes. 

The Reports are based on the 2016/17 Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreements (PPRAs). These were considered by this Scrutiny Committee on 5 July 2016 and approved by the Executive on 19 July 2016.

In addition to the Reform and Governance Portfolio Report, the Scrutiny Committee is asked to review the Neighbourhoods and Community Safety elements of the Communities and Housing Portfolio Report, with the remainder of this being considered separately by the Adult Care Services & Housing and Environment & Economy Scrutiny Committees. To assist the Scrutiny Committee, these elements of the report have been highlighted. Whilst other information within the portfolio may provide useful context, questions relating to this information should be addressed to the appropriate Scrutiny Committee.

The 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 2016/17;

·         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, Head of Management Accounting susan.wood@stockport.go.uk (218 1032)

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted reports (copies of which had been circulated) in relation to the First Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs) for the Reform & Governance and Communities & Housing Portfolios The reports provided a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects during the first half of the year, with a particular focus on the second quarter (July to September) of 2016/17. They included forecast performance data (where this is available) and projected financial data for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programmes. 

The Reports were based on the 2016/17 Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreements (PPRAs). These had been considered by this Scrutiny Committee on 5 July 2016 and approved by the Executive on 19 July 2016.

In addition to the Reform and Governance Portfolio Report, the Scrutiny Committee was asked to review the Neighbourhoods and Community Safety elements of the Communities and Housing Portfolio Report, with the remainder of this being considered separately by the Adult Care Services & Housing and Environment & Economy Scrutiny Committees.

The Executive Councillor for Reform & Governance (Councillor David Sedgwick) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         It was noted that £369,000 had been utilised from reserves to achieve the savings for 2015/16 and 2016/17 in relation to the Solutions SK operating Model following  decisions taken which made the original £2.9m savings unachievable.

·         The Scrutiny Committee noted that the Government had committed £8 billion to build 400,000 affordable homes to rent and buy across the country and that Stockport are well positioned for any expected Stockport’s bid for funding to be would be successful.

·         The Scrutiny Committee noted that it was anticipated that the £1.2m savings within Corporate and Support Services would be achieved and an update would be included within the Quarter 3 Performance & Resources report regarding the 2016/17 Corporate and Support Services savings

·         Concern was expressed that the forecast in relation to the percentage of invoices paid for local businesses within 10 days was 73.3$% against a target of 85%. The Scrutiny Committee noted the action being taken to address this and that it is expected that there had been a significant improvement in performance will be delivered in the future as a result.

·         The Scrutiny Committee also noted that in the last quarter the percentage of telephone calls to the Contact Centre which are answered had fallen due to staff shortages and the pressures placed on the services by the EU Referendum. It was reported that these had now been addressed and it was expected that the target would be met by the end of the financial year.

·         It was noted that the Executive had identified the need to maximise business rate collection and the Executive Councillor welcomed the decision of this Scrutiny Committee to consider a Scrutiny Review on Business rate and rent collection from industrial and commercial premised owned by the Council.

RESOLVED – (1) That the reports be noted

(2) The Deputy Chief Executive be requested to circulate details of the ‘Fit & Fed’ project to members of this Scrutiny Committee.