Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Finance)

(Note: Publication of this report has been delayed until Friday 9 December 2011. Details of the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2012-13 were published on 8 December 2011 and it is necessary to consider what bearing, if any, this has on the content of the report.)

This report also incorporates Forward Plan items C41 (The transfer of undertakings to Stockport Homes as part of proposal to realign services following a change in legislation about National Housing Revenue Account Subsidy System) and ENV/ L/TR 1 (The transfer of undertakings to / from Solutions SK as part of creating a Public Realm Service)

Officer contact: Steve Houston, 0161 474 4000, steve.houston@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Finance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider proposals to achieve the indicative savings requirements necessary to achieve a balanced budget for 2012-13. The report also detailed responses to extensive consultation with staff, stakeholders and the public on the proposals following the Executive’s decision to proceed to consultation at its meeting on 5 September 2011.

The Executive Councillor (Finance) reported that the decision on these proposals would be exempt from call-in but the proposals had been considered on three occasions by Scrutiny Committees. She also restated the Executive’s commitment to engaging with all those willing to enter into constructive dialogue on achieving the savings requirements.

Executive Councillors summarised the challenges facing the services within their portfolios and the feedback from the consultations.

Details of the comments in relation to the consultation on the savings proposals made at Scrutiny Committees held between 5 and 15 December 2011 were considered (copies of which were circulated).

RESOLVED – That

(i)        the results of the various consultation exercises, including the comments of Scrutiny Committee from December 2011 undertaken in relation to the savings proposals put forward in September 2011 and the changes that are proposed in response to the consultation be noted;

(ii)       the saving proposals as set out in the report and listed in Appendix Three be agreed for implementation;

(iii)      the recommendations set out in Appendix Six regarding TUPE transfers between the Council and its associated bodies be agreed;

(iv)      the Chief Executive and Corporate Directors be asked, in consultation with the relevant Executive Councillors, to implement the delivery of the proposals, and

(v)       the necessary steps continue to be taken to agree a final balanced budget proposal for 2012-13 and an updated Medium Term Financial Plan to 2014-15 for presentation to the Budget Council Meeting in February 2012.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place.

The report provides a summary of the results of the consultation which relate to the portfolios under the remit of this Scrutiny Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider and comment on the consultation responses.

Officer contact: Jim McMahon on 0161 474 4800 or e mail: jim.mcmahon@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) summarising the results of a range of consultations undertaken on the Executive’s saving proposals for the 2012/13 budget. The report included summaries of the consultations on the proposals within the Environment, Regeneration, Transportation and Leisure executive portfolios, and Planning & Highways.

The following general comments were made/issues raised:-

•           It was suggested that whilst the report summarised the consultation process itself, it did not include enough detail in relation to the responses to the consultations.

•           A question was raised as to how the consultation process had influenced the savings proposals.

•           A question was raised as to how the Council would achieve the necessary level of reductions in posts in 2012/13.

•           It was noted that no consultation had been undertaken with regard to the reduction in the grant to the Sports Trust while there had been a major consultation exercise in relation to the Leisure Strategy.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the comments of the Scrutiny Committee be referred to the Executive for consideration in conjunction with the Executive’s savings proposals.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People. (To Follow)

The report provides a summary of the results of the consultation which relate to the portfolios under the remit of this Scrutiny Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee are invited to consider and comment on the consultation responses.

Officer Contact: Donna Sager on tel: 474 3928 or email donna.sager@stockport.gov.uk or Jim McMahon on tel: 474 4800 or email jim.mcmahon@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) summarising the responses to the consultation process which relates to the Children and Young People Executive portfolio. The report outlined the responses to three stakeholder consultations namely (i) Transition – Children to Adults: Children’s Disability Database (ii) School Commissioning and Support: School Meals and (iii) Streamlining Family Services.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The Committee noted that even with an increase of 10p per meal, the cost to parents of school meals remained below the Greater Manchester average.

·         Councillors praised officers for the extent of the consultation exercise.

The Executive Councillor (Children and Young People) attended the meeting and noted comments made by Councillors.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the comments be referred to the Executive for consideration.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The report provides a summary the results of the consultation which relate to the portfolios under the remit of this Scrutiny Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee are invited to consider and comment on the consultation responses.

Officer contact: Donna Sager on 474 3928 or email donna.sager@stockport.gov.uk or Jim McMahon on 474 4800 or email jim.mcmahon@stockport.gov.uk

Representatives of the Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) summarising the results of a range of consultations undertaken on the Executive’s saving proposals for the 2012/13 budget. The report included summaries of the consultations on the proposals within the Adults & Health and Children & Young People portfolios.

In relation to the consultation process there was discussion about the low response rate, particularly around the Children & Young People proposals, and whether any meaningful conclusions could be drawn from the responses received as in most of cases they would not be statistically significant. It was suggested that by choosing not to respond it could be inferred that those consulted (particularly parents) had no strong views on the proposals, although other members stressed caution in inferring anything by a non-response.

It was also commented that for many of the services under consideration, particularly for adults, there was little choice of alternative suppliers or providers available to users.

In relation to specific proposals the following comments were made/ issues raised:-

Transition – Children to Adults: Children’s Disability Database

·         Moving toward a system with live data was welcomed as long as capturing this data improved outcomes.

School Commissioning and Support: School Meals

·         Although the response rate was relatively low, there was likely to be disquiet amongst parents after any increase was introduced.

·         For families with two or more children, particularly those on low incomes, the proposed increase would have a more significant impact on their income.

·         It was important to maintain or improve the quality and nutritional value of school meals, particularly as this would impact children’s receptiveness to learning and every encouragement should be given to parents to take up school meals.

Streamlining Family Services

·         There had been supportive comments made by the Scrutiny Committee previously about targeting resources to those most in need of support, although it was recognised that this may cause concern to those who had benefitted from universal services in the past.

Personalisation – Transport

·         The proposed increase would be significant, particularly when considered as a two-legged journey. There was a danger that if the cost discouraged use of the service that this would lead to increased isolation and would result in individuals entering the social care system with acute needs.

Personalisation – Community Meals

·         There may be other more flexible options that could be explored for providing these services, such as through microbusinesses or community specific provision, especially in light of the personalisation agenda.

·         There was discussion about alternatives to delivered meals, including eating out at pubs which aimed at an older persons’ market, and the benefits this would have in reducing isolation.

·         Concerns were expressed that the proposed increase in the cost per meal was significantly greater than the rate of inflation.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted and the comments of the Scrutiny Committee be referred to the Executive for consideration in conjunction with the Executive’s saving proposals.

(2) That the Corporate Director of People be requested to provide information to the next meeting on the level of charges for the services identified in the report comparing the charges of Stockport Council with those in comparable local authorities.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.

During the last cycle of meetings each scrutiny committee was given the opportunity to examine the savings proposals put forward by the Executive at its meeting on 5 September, together with the report from the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services on the financial landscape and forecasts for the period 2012/13 to 2014/15. Furthermore, a seminar was held for all members on 7 September, at which the basis and make-up of the financial forecasts were outlined.

The Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee considered the comments made by the Scrutiny Committees at its meeting on 4 October 2011 and determined that each Committee’s comments be summarised and referred back to members of the Committee at the earliest opportunity, together with a note of some cross cutting themes identified by the Co-ordination Committee. Members are asked to make any further comments on the financial position and the Executive’s savings proposals at the November round of Scrutiny Committees.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to make any further comments at this stage in relation to the savings proposals prior to consideration by the Executive at the meeting on 16 December 2011.

Officer contact: Craig Ainsworth, 0161 474 3201, craig.ainsworth@stockport.gov.uk

The Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) summarising the comments made by the Scrutiny Committee at its last meeting on the savings proposals put forward by the Executive together with the report from the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services on the financial landscape and forecasts.  The report also included a note of some cross cutting themes identified by the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee.

The Chair explained that Scrutiny Committees were being given the opportunity to make any further comments on the financial position and the Executive’s savings proposals prior to consideration by the Executive at its meeting on 16 December 2011.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the comments made by the Scrutiny Committee at it's last meeting as well as further information provided by the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services following consideration of the report by the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee. The Committee were encouraged to make any further comments on the report prior to its consideration by the Executive at the meeting on 16 December 2011.

RESOLVED - That the report be noted and the comments made by the Scrutiny Committee at its previous meeting be referred to the Executive for consideration.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.

During the last cycle of meetings each scrutiny committee was given the opportunity to examine the savings proposals put forward by the Executive at its meeting on 5 September, together with the report from the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services on the financial landscape and forecasts for the period 2012/13 to 2014/15. Furthermore, a seminar was held for all members on 7 September, at which the basis and make-up of the financial forecasts were outlined.

The Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee considered the comments made by the Scrutiny Committees at its meeting on 4 October 2011 and determined that each Committee’s comments be summarised and referred back to members of the Committee at the earliest opportunity, together with a note of some cross cutting themes identified by the Co-ordination Committee. Members are asked to make any further comments on the financial position and the Executive’s savings proposals at the November round of Scrutiny Committees.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to make any further comments at this stage in relation to the savings proposals prior to consideration by the Executive at the meeting on 16 December 2011.

Officer contact: Craig Ainsworth on 474 3204 or email: craig.ainsworth@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) summarising the comments made by the Scrutiny Committee at its last meeting on the savings proposals put forward by the Executive together with the report from the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services on the financial landscape and forecasts.  The report also included a note of some cross cutting themes identified by the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee was given the opportunity to make any further comments on the financial position and the Executive’s savings proposals prior to consideration by the Executive at its meeting on 16 December 2011.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.