Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Interim Chief Executive.

Policy priorities for 2017/18 were set out within the Council Plan, which was adopted at the Budget Council Meeting in February. This incorporates the shared outcomes from the Borough Plan alongside specific priorities of the Cabinet.

These priorities are articulated within the Portfolio Agreements, which 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 Cabinet to account and for the Cabinet to identify current and future risks to delivery.

This report presents the draft 2017/18 Agreement for the Reform and Governance Portfolio for consideration and comment by the Committee.

Recommendation

Scrutiny Committee is asked to review and comment on the draft Portfolio Agreement.

Officer contact Peter Owston, Policy, Performance and Reform (CSS), peter.owston@stockport.gov.uk (474 3274) Susan Wood, Head of Management Accounting susan.wood@stockport.go.uk (218 1032)

The Interim Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the policy priorities for 2017/18 as set out within the Council Plan, which was adopted at the Budget Council Meeting in February. This incorporated the shared outcomes from the Borough Plan alongside specific priorities of the Cabinet.

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

This report presented the draft 2017/18 Agreement for the Reform and Governance Portfolio for consideration and comment by the Scrutiny Committee.

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

The following comments were made/ issues raised:

·         The Scrutiny Committee expressed concern that the framework regarding the Greater Manchester Business Rates Retention Pilot had not yet been confirmed and the risks associated with the Council relying on business rates to fund council services.

·         That the proposed sickness absence measures did not include a breakdown by short term and long term sickness or data relating to disability.

·         The Scrutiny Committee considered the impact of the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) Regulations 2015 and in particular the impact on empty mills.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the report on Sickness Absence to be considered at the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee should include a breakdown the figures by short term and long term sickness and provide data relating to disability.