Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council (Policy, Finance & Devolution) and the Executive Councillor (Reform & Governance)

This report provides background information and updates on the development of and consultation on Executive proposals to address the spending reduction requirement for 2017/18.

In October the Executive received an updated Medium-Term Financial position and, in response, set out a series of working papers explaining initiatives that will shape a future reform programme and address wider challenges over the medium-term and business cases for proposed changes.

Following consultation and further development, this report presents updated proposals, the details of which are in the business cases at Appendices 2 and 3.  As set out at the October Executive, updated business cases in relation to the employee-related proposals were presented for decision to implement at the 20th December Executive Meeting.  Consultations in relation to resident facing proposals remained open until 21st December, therefore, updated business cases in relation to these are for decision at this Extraordinary Executive Meeting.

In particular, this report provides information on the outcomes of consultation and identifies areas of potential impact on residents, partners, the Council and its workforce (including those related to equalities) in relation to the relevant proposals, which are:

·         Waste Collection

·         Low Emissions Permits

·         Council Tax Discount Scheme

The Executive is asked to consider the information set out in this report and endorse the business cases at Appendices 2 and 3 for implementation in 2017/18, before taking the decisions necessary to meet medium term financial requirements.

In response to the clear preference of residents and in the context of a range of on-going discussions with other Greater Manchester Councils, the proposed changes to waste collection services will not be progressed.  The Executive are confident that the scope of, and options built into, previously scrutinised proposals, and the opportunity to consider the additional social care precept and where necessary phase-in savings associated with Stockport Together through the appropriate use of one-off monies, provide the basis to plan for a balanced budget in 2017/18.

The Executive is recommended to note the feedback received agree to the proposals that are in Final Business Case format and ask officers to proceed to implementation for 2017/18.

Officer contact: Laureen Donnan, 0161 474 3181

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Finance & Devolution) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the results of the consultation on the Executive’s savings proposals for 2017/18 and inviting the Executive to approve the finalised business cases for these proposals including any amendments arising from the consultation feedback.

The report set out the feedback in relation to the following proposals:-

·         Waste Collection

·         Low Emissions Permits

·         Council Tax Discount Scheme

The Leader of the Council welcomed the significant consultation response and the positive engagement from the public and councillors.

In relation to Waste Collection proposal, the Executive Councillor (Communities & Housing) confirmed that following feedback the proposal would not be progressed. She also highlighted the review of the black bin usage had provided useful information about recycling habits. It was further reported that in light of the level of support from the public for recycling evident from the consultation, the Council would engage in a campaign to better inform the public about what could be recycled.

In relation to Low Emission Vehicle Permits, the Executive Councillor (Communities & Housing) emphasised that while the introduction of the policy had been successful, the improvements in new vehicle emissions had meant that this scheme was no longer as cost effective, and that the discount offered should therefore be reduced.

In relation to the Council Tax Discount Scheme, the Leader of the Council highlighted the broad support for changes to the current discounts (relating to unoccupied properties) and that the proposals would bring the Council in line with neighbouring authorities. He also highlighted that the proposals had been amended to take account of consultation feedback.

The Leader of the Council also stated that despite not proceeding with the waste collection proposals, the other proposals and business cases previously approved would allow the Executive to propose a balanced budget for 2017/18.

RESOLVED – That the feedback received agree to the Executive savings proposals be noted and that the proposals set out in the Final Business Case format be approved and officers be requested to proceed to implementation for 2017/18.

To consider a joint report of the Leader of the Council (Policy, Finance & Devolution) and the Executive Councillor (Reform & Governance)

This report provides background information and updates on the development of and consultation on Executive proposals to address the spending reduction requirement for 2017/18.

Following consultation and further development, this report presents updated proposals, the details of which are in the business cases at Appendix 1 and 2.  As set out at the October Executive, updated business cases are only presented in relation to the employee-related proposals where the consultation closed on the 19 November.

In particular, this report provides information on the outcomes of consultation with employees and identifies areas of impact on employees (including those related to equalities) in relation to the relevant business cases, which are:

•           Overtime

•           Staff Travel – Review of Council Travel Costs

The Executive is recommended to note to feedback received and agree the final business cases that accompany this report.

Officer contact: Laureen Donnan, 0161 474 3181

A joint report of the Leader of the Council (Policy, Finance & Devolution) and the Executive Councillor (Reform & Governance) was submitted (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive to consider the outcome of consultations on employee related savings proposals connected to overtime and staff travel. The final business cases appended to the report had been amended to reflect the feedback received. A summary of the feedback from scrutiny and area committees to those business cases and working papers considered by the respect bodies was also appended to the report.

The Leader of the Council and Executive Councillor commented on the positive and constructive engagement with staff and unions during the consultation on the staff-related proposals, and emphasised that although they would have an impact on staff this was unavoidable if the Council were to minimise the impact of funding reductions on frontline services.

RESOLVED – (1) That the feedback received to the Overtime and Staff Travel – Review of Council Travel Costs proposals be noted and the final business cases as set out in appendices 1 and 2 to the report be approved for implementation in 2017/18.

(2) That the comments of scrutiny and area committees relating to the Executive’s business cases and working papers be noted.

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council and the Deputy Leader

The report provides an update on the business cases and related consultation with stakeholders and the public, completed or ongoing, as they relate to the remit of this Scrutiny Committee. The relevant business cases are as follows:-

·         waste collection – consultation results so far

·         low emission permits – consultation results so far

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to review the proposals and consultation findings relevant to the Committee and provide comments.

Officer Contact: Steve Skelton on 0161 474 3174 or email: steve.skelton@stockport.gov.uk

A report of the Leader of the Council and the Deputy Leader of the Council was submitted (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the business cases and related consultation with stakeholders and the public, completed or ongoing, as they related to the remit of this Scrutiny Committee.  The relevant business cases were:-

·         waste collection – consultation results so far

·         low emission permits – consultation results so far

Consultations in relation to resident facing proposals remained open until the end of December 2016 and updated business cases in relation to these would go forward to an extraordinary meeting of the Executive in January. Should there be a significant difference in the final consultation feedback to that reported to this meeting of the Scrutiny Committee, an update would be provided to this Scrutiny Committee for consideration ahead of the Executive's consideration of the 2017/18 Budget in February.

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

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

Waste Collection

• Support was expressed for continuing the consultation on the proposals until the end of December 2016, although a Member expressed the view that the fact that over 80% of residents who had currently responded to the consultation strongly disagreed with the proposal for the collection of black bins from two weeks to three weeks (with a slightly bigger bin) was inevitable and the proposal should not have been put forward. The Executive Councillor advised the Scrutiny Committee that the consultation had elicited a number of useful comments and feedback from residents on the current recycling system in Stockport.
• Support was given for the maintenance of a high quality recycling system in Stockport given the extent of budget savings required by the Council and it was important that Members considered a number of proposals to try and improve it.
• The Executive would be considering a series of options in 2017, including whether it would be possible for certain types of plastics to be recycled. Pressure would continue to be put on the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority to examine improvements as to what waste could be recycled.
• It was acknowledged that the onus was on manufacturers to reduce packaging, but a Member enquired what work was being carried out to work with manufacturers on this issue.
• Support was expressed for an education campaign to encourage residents and businesses to recycle more, and ensure that more residents from harder to reach groups in all the Council's communities responded to similar consultations in the future.
• A Member enquired if any information was available on the collection from green bins in the winter given that there was usually only a small number of green, food waste bags in residents' green bins during the winter months.
• The Executive Councillor advised that an initiative would be undertaken to improve the rate of recycling in the buildings in the civic complex and a survey would be carried out with regard to what waste residents were currently putting in their black bins.

Low Emission Permits

• A Member expressed the view that the proposed change to the discount on low emission parking permits appeared to be at variance with the Government's encouragement for the use of lower emission vehicles, but the Executive Councillor pointed out that the Government had changed the tax bands as to who would qualify for discounts as every car produced in the next few years would be a low emission vehicle. The amount of income the Council would be foregoing in the next few years would therefore be considerable at a time when the income from the parking service was in deficit.
• Low emissions only referred to carbon dioxide, not the other particulates which caused damage to the environment.
• A Member enquired whether the proposed change to the discount offered on Low Emission Parking Permits could be phased in for those  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council and the Deputy Leader.

This report provides an update on consultation with stakeholders and the public, completed or ongoing, as it relates to proposals within the remit of this Committee.  Relevant business cases are:

·         Overtime – final consultation results (Appendix 2)

·         Staff Travel – final consultation results (Appendix 3)

·         Council Tax Discount Scheme – consultation results so far (Appendix 4)

Recommendation

The Corporate Resource Management and Governance Scrutiny Committee is asked to review the proposals and consultation findings relevant to their Committee and provide comments.

Officer contact Steve Skelton on 0161 474 31714, or alternatively email steve.skelton@stockport.gov.uk

The Leader of the Council and the Deputy Leader of the Council submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on consultation with stakeholders and the public, completed or ongoing, as it relates to proposals within the remit of this Committee.  The relevant business cases were:

·         Overtime – final consultation results (Appendix 2)

·         Staff Travel – final consultation results (Appendix 3)

·         Council Tax Discount Scheme – consultation results so far (Appendix 4)

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Alexander Ganotis) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

It was reported that discussions were ongoing with the Unions regarding the proposals in relation to overtime and staff travel.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.