Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Interim Chief Executive.

The First Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Report for the Reform and Governance Portfolio is presented for consideration by the Committee. This provides a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects in the first quarter of the year (April to June). It includes forecast performance and financial data (where this is available) for the Portfolio, along with an update on the portfolio savings programme.

This is the first report to be based on the 2017/18 Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreement which was considered by the Committee on 23 May 2017 and approved by Cabinet on 13 June 2017.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:

·         Consider the First Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Report;  

·         Review the progress against delivering key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 2017/18;

·         Highlight key areas of and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any performance or resource issues;

·         Highlight any significant issues or changes to be fed back to the Cabinet alongside the Corporate Performance and Resource Report;

·         Identify how areas of strong performance and good practice can be shared in other services.

Officer contacts: Peter Owston, Policy, Strategy and Performance Manager 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 the first update Portfolio Performance and Resource Report for the Reform and Governance Portfolio (copies of which had been circulated) providing a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects in the first quarter of the year (April to June). It included forecast performance and financial data (where this is available) for the Portfolio, along with an update on the portfolio savings programme.

This was the first report to be based on the 2017/18 Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreement which was considered by the Scrutiny Committee on 23 May 2017 and approved by Cabinet on 13 June 2017

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

The following comments were made/ issues raised:

·         Clarification was sought in relation to the measures being taken to “reduce post-mortem rate”

·         Further details in relation to the three existing care homes which would be returned to the Council as part of the “Borough Care Investment Programme”

·         Members referred to the risk rating for the savings required in Corporate and Support Services (Amber) and noted that the transfer into Business Support from other Portfolios of cash limit, following the decision to transfer all facets of responsibility for the Councils outbound mail to one support area together with the envisaged contribution by working with STaR (£107,000) was crucial towards the savings requirement.

·         Members requested that future reports provide data in relation to the ‘No Purchase Order Policy’ including details of where supplier are not given a Purchase Order number or a supplier not using Purchase Order number/correctly

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That clarification be provided to all members of this Scrutiny Committee in relation to the measures being taken to “reduce post-mortem rate”

(3) That members of this Scrutiny Committee be provided with further details in relation to the three existing care homes which would be returned to the Council as part of the “Borough Care Investment Programme”