Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Monitoring Officer.

This report describes the emerging proposals for Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) decision making and invited members to consider proposals for the advance consideration of certain GMCA decisions by the Council.

The Working Party is recommended to note the proposed scrutiny and decision making arrangements of the GMCA and comment on the proposed broader remit of the Scrutiny Coordination Committee in the light of the recommendation of the Constitution Working Party.

Officer contact Celia Tierney on Tel: 0161 474 3230 or by email on celia.tierney@stockport.gov.uk

The Monitoring Officer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) describing the emerging proposals for Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) decision making and invited Members to consider proposals for the advance consideration of certain GMCA decisions by the Council.

It was reported that the Constitution Working Party at its meeting held on 8 February 2017 had agreed that the Monitoring Officer be requested to agree a protocol for scrutiny of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority with the Monitoring Officer for the Combined Authority and that following this agreement a further report be submitted to the Constitution Working Party with options as to how the scrutiny would take place within the structure of scrutiny committees at this Council. The Constitution Working Party had recommended that the remit of the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee be not broadened and that it retains its current terms of reference.

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

The following comments were made/ issues raised:

·         The remit of the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee be not broadened to include the scrutiny of GMCA and that it should retain its current terms of reference.

·         There was a need to build into Stockport’s Scrutiny arrangements the ability to better scrutinise reports prior to decisions being taken by GMCA by a single Scrutiny Committee.

·         The current GMCA Scrutiny Pool was too large and primarily undertook post scrutiny.

·         The GMCA Scrutiny Pool should meet in the evening.

·         The Scrutiny model in Stockport should be adopted by the GMCA with a focus on pre decision making scrutiny.

RESOLVED – That the recommendations of the Constitution Working Party be supported.

To consider a report of the Monitoring Officer.

This report describes the emerging proposals for Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) decision making and invited members to consider proposals for the advance consideration of certain GMCA decisions by the Council.

The Working Party is recommended to note the proposed scrutiny and decision making arrangements of the GMCA and recommend the proposed broader remit of the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee for approval by the Council Meeting.

Officer contact Celia Tierney on Tel: 0161 474 3230 or by email on celia.tierney@stockport.gov.uk

The Monitoring Officer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) describing the emerging proposals for Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) decision making and invited Members to consider proposals for the advance consideration of certain GMCA decisions by the Council.

The Working Party was advised that the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee at its meeting held on 6 February 2017 had noted the proposed scrutiny and decision making arrangements of the GMCA and agreed to support the proposed broader remit of this Committee and it recommended that the Head of Legal and Democratic Governance seek a formal protocol with the GMCA to replace the existing protocol relating to the GMCA, Transport for Greater Manchester Committee and Transport for Greater Manchester and ensure that sufficient notice of the proposed date of decisions requiring the consent  of Stockport was given to elected Members of the Council so as to enable prior debate and scrutiny within the Council.

The Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee further requested the Head of Legal and Democratic Governance to write to the Chief Executive of the Combined Authority suggesting that meetings of the Scrutiny Panel be held in the evening rather than during the day as at present which made it difficult for working councillors and members of the public to attend.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Monitoring Officer be requested to agree a protocol for GMCA scrutiny with the Monitoring Officer for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

(2) That following agreement to the protocol referred to in (1) above, a further report be submitted to the Working Party with options as to how the scrutiny would take place within the structure of scrutiny committees at the Council.

(3) That the Working Party recommends that the remit of the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee be not broadened and that it retains its current terms of reference.

To consider a report of the Monitoring Officer.

This report describes the emerging proposals for Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) decision making and invited members to consider proposals for the advance consideration of certain GMCA decisions by the Council.

Officer contact Celia Tierney on Tel: 0161 474 3230 or by email on Celia.Tierney@stockport.gov.uk.

The Monitoring Officer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) describing the emerging proposals for Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) decision making and invited members to consider proposals for the advance consideration of certain GMCA decisions by the Council.

RESOLVED – (1) That the proposed scrutiny and decision making arrangements of the GMCA be noted.

(2) That the Constitution Working Party be informed that this Committee support the proposed broader remit of this Committee and the Head of Legal and Democratic Governance seeking a formal protocol with the GMCA to replace the existing protocol relating to the GMCA, Transport for Greater Manchester Committee and Transport for Greater Manchester and to ensure that sufficient notice of the proposed date of decisions requiring the consent  of Stockport is given to  elected members of the Council so as to enable prior debate and scrutiny within the Council.

(3) That and the Head of Legal and Democratic Governance be requested to write to the Chief Executive of the Combined Authority suggesting that meetings of the Scrutiny Panel be held in the evening rather than during the day as at present which made it difficult for working councillors and members of the public to attend.