Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Reform & Governance

Two years ago the then Executive considered and supported a proposal to invest in building new digital capabilities in order to support our growth and public service reform ambitions. In February 2017, the current Cabinet presented a Working Paper that set out the following basis on which further investments would be made to utilise these capabilities, and develop new ones, in order to support identified spending reductions over the medium-term.  This report now sets out the broad scope of a second phase of the Digital by Design programme that will meet these expectations.  In doing so the proposed work will lead to a range of improvements to how services are supported and delivered, and will reform working practices to facilitate recurrent annual reductions in revenue spending of £1.5m in Corporate and Support Services and a further £0.6m in Children’s Services. 

The Cabinet is invited to

·        discuss the issues raised in the report;

·        agree a further investment in a second phase Digital by Design programme as detailed in the report;

·        ask the Deputy Chief Executive, by September 2017, to agree the funding and delivery details of the second phase in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Reform and Governance in respect of Corporate and Support Services; and in addition the Cabinet Member for Children and Families and the Corporate Director for People in respect of Stockport Family services.  

Officer contact: Steve Skelton; 0161 474 3174, steve.skelton@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Member for Reform & Governance submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Cabinet to consider proposals for the second phase of investments for the Digital by Design Programme that would reform working practices and reduce revenue spending. The proposals, relating to Corporate and Support Services and Stockport Family, would be subject to further work to develop detailed Delivery Plans. A further report would also be submitted to the Cabinet detailing the funding arrangements for the investment.

RESOLVED – That in relation to the Digital by Design Phase II proposals:-

·         a further investment in a second phase Digital by Design programme be approved;

·         the Deputy Chief Executive be requested, by September, to agree the funding and delivery details of the second phase with the Cabinet Member for Reform and Governance in respect of Corporate and Support Services; and in addition the Cabinet Member for Children and Families and the Corporate Director for People in respect of Stockport Family services.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Reform and Governance.

The report provides an update on investment in building new digital capabilities in order to support our growth and public service reform ambitions. This report now sets out the broad scope of a second phase of the Digital by Design programme that will meet these expectations.  In doing so the proposed work will lead to a range of improvements to how services are supported and delivered, and will reform working practices to facilitate recurrent annual reductions in revenue spending of £1.5m in Corporate and Support Services and a further £0.6m in Children’s Services.

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

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

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report of the Cabinet Member for Reform and Governance (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on investment in building new digital capabilities in order to support our growth and public service reform ambitions and setting out the broad scope of a second phase of the Digital by Design programme that will meet these expectations.  In doing so the proposed work will lead to a range of improvements to how services are supported and delivered, and will reform working practices to facilitate recurrent annual reductions in revenue spending of £1.5m in Corporate and Support Services and a further £0.6m in Children’s Services.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Councillors asked for assurance that blind and visually impaired people who struggle to access council website due to software problems would be given additional support – it was agreed that officers would meet with representatives of the disability forum to give this concern further consideration.

·         Councillors welcomed the replacement of the Common Assessment Forms for collecting important data for early help assessment and saw the new way of working as a positive step and much more user friendly

·         Councillors welcomed the work being undertaken and recognised the opportunities it creates for the future. They asked that regular updates on the project be brought to future meetings.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and officers thanked for their presentation.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

This report sets out the broad scope of a second phase of the Digital by Design programme that will meet these expectations.  In doing so the proposed work will lead to a range of improvements to how services are supported and delivered, and will reform working practices to facilitate recurrent annual reductions in revenue spending of £1.5m in Corporate and Support Services and a further £0.6m in Children’s Services. 

The report sets out details to inform a future Transformation Reserve Request, which would be aligned to capital and other funds as set out in section five below.   This funding will be provided once detailed Delivery Plans have been agreed at a senior level as set out in Section 4

Recommendation

The Corporate, Resource Management and Governance Scrutiny Committee is recommended to discuss and comment upon the proposals contained in the report. Members’ comments will be then reported to the Cabinet meeting that receives the proposals for consideration and approval.

Officer contact Geraldine Gerrard, Head of Business Support, Telephone 07800 617 956.

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the broad scope of the second phase of the Digital by Design programme.  The proposed work would lead to a range of improvements to how services were supported and delivered, and would reform working practices to facilitate recurrent annual reductions in revenue spending of £1.5m in Corporate and Support Services and a further £0.6m in Children’s Services. 

The report also set out details that would inform a future Transformation Reserve Request, which would be aligned to capital and other funds as set out in section 5 of the report. This funding would be provided once detailed Delivery Plans had been agreed at a senior level as set out in Section 4 of the report.

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

The following comments were made/ issues raised:

·         The Scrutiny Committee noted that the Digital Design Programme formed part of the implementation strategy for not only ‘Stockport Family’ but also ‘Stockport Together’ and the Council was working with the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust on the integration of systems between the various organisations.

·         The Scrutiny Committee welcomed the initiative with the University of Manchester to support four apprenticeships within the Council.

·         The use of case studies within the report was helpful.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the above comments be reported to the Cabinet when it receives the proposals for consideration and approval.