Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Customer Focus)

The report includes the Council Plan for 2012/13 that sets the strategic direction for the Council to support the delivery of its key priorities and outcomes.  The Plan is closely aligned to the budget for 2012/13 which is also presented to this meeting. This Council Plan has been developed during a time of significant change for local authorities, and the wider public sector. Significant reductions in the levels of funding allocated to the Council mean that we have to do things differently to meet the challenges of having a much reduced budget.

The Council’s priorities for 2012/13 are as follows:

·         Safe and Strong

·         Thriving

·         Green

·         Healthy

The Executive is asked to:

·         Recommend the Council Plan to Council Meeting for approval.

·         Agree the principles in paragraph 3.2 of the report for use in guiding the development of the Council Plan performance measures.

·         Agree the timetable set out in paragraph 3.3 of the report for the development of the performance and risk measures.

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

The Executive Councillor (Customer Focus) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider the final draft of the Council Plan for 2012/13.

The Plan would set the strategic direction for the Council to support the delivery of its key priorities and outcomes, and had been closely aligned to the proposed budget for 2012/13.

RESOLVED – That

(i)        the Council Meeting be recommended to approve the Council Plan 2012/13;

(ii)       the principles in paragraph 3.2 of the report be agreed for use in guiding the development of the Council Plan performance measures, and

(iii)      the timetable set out in paragraph 3.3 of the report for the development of the performance and risk measures be agreed.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Customer Focus)

The report includes the draft Council Plan 2012-13 and details the consultation carried out to date on the draft priorities.

The Executive is invited to

·        to approve the draft priorities set out in the Plan and request that further work be undertaken to develop performance measures and to identify relevant corporate risks and potential mitigation strategies for these;

·        note that the supplementary information, such as the introduction and summary of achievements, and the design of the final Plan may change, and

·        have regard to the tabled comments of December meetings of Scrutiny Committees in discussing this item.

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

The Executive Councillor (Customer Focus) submitted a report (copies of which has been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider the draft Portfolio Priorities for inclusion in the 2012-13 Council Plan and providing information on consultation carried out to date.

Executive Councillors made comments in relation to specific achievements within their portfolios in 2011 and highlighted challenges and priorities for 2012-13. In particular it was highlighted that the high level priorities within the Plan would complement detailed strategies and plans developed both by the Council and in conjunction with partners.

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

RESOLVED – That

(i)            The draft priorities set out in the draft Plan be approved and that further work be undertaken to develop performance measures and to identify relevant corporate risks and potential mitigation strategies;

(ii)          the possibility that supplementary information, such as introduction and summary of achievements and the design of the final Plan may change be noted, and

(iii)         the comments of the Scrutiny Committees in December 2011 in respect of the priorities be noted.

To consider a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Policy, Strategy, Partnerships & Transformation)

The Draft Portfolio Priorities in relation to the Environment, Leisure, Regeneration and Transportation portfolios to be included within the Council Plan for 2012/13.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the draft portfolio priorities.

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

A representative of the Assistant Chief Executive (Policy, Strategy, Partnerships and Transformation) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the draft Portfolio Priorities for the Environment, Leisure, Regeneration and Transportation executive portfolios to be included within the 2012/13 Council Plan.

The following comments were made/issues raised on the draft priorities:-

Environment Executive Portfolio

•           Members had no substantive comments and supported all the priorities that related to the Environment executive portfolio.

Leisure Executive Portfolio

•           A Member felt that the priorities were not extensive and detailed enough.

Regeneration Executive Portfolio

•           With regard to attracting new investment and supporting the development of existing businesses, there should be a focus on encouraging women into business.

•           Concern was expressed how the objective of maximising external funding to support regeneration in Stockport would be achieved when there were fewer programmes to bid for funding and as a result staffing in this area was being rationalised.  However, as an example the Corporate Director for Place advised that the Council had received £5m funding from the Department of Transport towards the construction of a multi-storey car park adjacent to Stockport Railway Station.

Transportation Executive Portfolio

•           With regard to those aspects of securing improvement to the transport network which related to the longer term objectives of tram-trains and Metrolink, the two methods of providing trams should not be in competition with each other. However, it was pointed out that it was easier to initiate tram-train projects which should help to prevent any possible conflict. As a consequence tram-train projects should be a higher priority for Stockport than Metrolink.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the comments be referred to the Executive for consideration in conjunction with the Draft Council Plan 2012/13.

To consider a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Policy, Strategy, Partnerships & Transformation)

The Draft Portfolio Priorities in relation to the Adults & Health and Children & Young People portfolios to be included within the Council Plan for 2012/13

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the draft portfolio priorities

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

A representative of the Assistant Chief Executive (Policy, Strategy, Partnerships and Transformation) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the draft Portfolio Priorities for the Adults & Health and Children & Young People executive portfolios to be included within the 2012/13 Council Plan.

The Executive Councillor (Adults & Health) reported that the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and the future Joint Health & Wellbeing Strategy would provide the means for delivering on the priorities.

The following general comments were made/ issues raised on the draft priorities:

·         Increasing joint working across Council departments and between organisations would be welcomed.

·         It was important to ensure that these priorities were reflected in other strategies, particularly the emerging health strategies.

·         There was a difficult balance between providing strategic priorities and providing detail of how these would be achieved. A number of the priorities lacked substance in this respect.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and comments be referred to the Executive for consideration in conjunction with the Draft Council Plan 2012/13.

To consider a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Policy, Strategy, Partnerships & Transformation)

The report sets out the proposed process for developing the 2012-13 Council Plan which is focused around four key priorities aimed at creating a borough that is:-

• Safe and Strong – a place that promotes respect for all its citizens by all its citizens
• Thriving – building on a strong and sustainable economy and high levels of educational attainment and skills
• Green – leading the way in creating a sustainable future for our environment and our economy
• Healthy – increasing choice, control, independence and the adoption of healthy lifestyles as well as excellent services that offer value for money.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to

(i)            note the process and timetable for developing the 2012-13 Council Plan as set out in the report.

(ii)          review the 2011-12 Council Plan and put forward suggestions for priorities for 2012-13.

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

A representative of the Assistant Chief Executive (Policy, Strategy, Partnerships & Transformation) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the proposed process for developing the 2012-13 Council Plan which would be focussed around four key priorities aimed at creating a borough that was ‘Safe and Strong’; ‘Thriving’; ‘Green’ and ‘Healthy’.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The consultations/ surveys currently being undertaken by the Council needed to inform the process for developing priorities.

·         As many of the targets/ measures would be set locally, there was a need to benchmark Stockport’s performance against other comparable local authorities.

·         There was a need to ensure that the ‘Risk Register’ was up to date.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

A representative of the Assistant Chief Executive (Strategy) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the proposed process for developing the 2012-13 Council Plan. The 2011-12 Stockport Council Plan was focused around four key priorities aimed at creating a borough that is Safe and Strong, Thriving, Green and Healthy. The Scrutiny Committee were invited to put forward suggestions for priorities for 2012-13.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was suggested that performance indicators be circulated in the future to better enable Councillors to identify which priorities they feel should be included in the Council Plan.

·         Executive Portfolio’s should not be considered in isolation as many issues were cross cutting.

·         Increasing employment opportunities for young people should be a priority.

·         Early year’s intervention was identified as a top priority

RESOLVED – That the report and the timetable for developing the 2012-13 Council Plan be noted.

To consider a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Strategy).

The report sets out the proposed process for developing the 2012-13 Council Plan which is focused around four key priorities aimed at creating a borough that is:

·         Safe and Strong - a place that promotes respect for all its citizens by all its citizens

·         Thriving - building on a strong and sustainable economy and high levels of educational attainment and skills

·         Green - leading the way in creating a sustainable future for our environment and our economy

·         Healthy - increasing choice, control, independence and the adoption of healthy lifestyles as well as excellent services that offer value for money.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

(1) Note the process and timetable for developing the 2010-13 Council Plan as set out in the report.

(2) Review the 2011-12 Council Plan and put forward suggestions for priorities for 2012-13.

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

A representative of the Assistant Chief Executive (Strategy) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the proposed process for developing the 2012-13 Council Plan which would be focussed around four key priorities aimed at creating a borough that was ‘Safe and Strong’; ‘Thriving’; ‘Green’ and ‘Healthy’.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Achieving the broad strategic aims within the Council Plan may potentially become more difficult as a result of the transition from the receipt of specific ring-fenced grant funding to a general budget allocation on which there would be competing pressures.

·         It was encouraging to note the number of achievements made from the 2010/11 Council Plan.

·         It would have assisted the Scrutiny Committee’s consideration of proposals for the Council Plan for 2012/13 if the report had identified those areas where there had been difficulties with the 2010/11 Plan.

·         The current difficulties with respect to housing, and in particular the problems that young people have securing homes needed to be high on the Council’s list of priorities.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.