Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Devolution.

Following the approval of new Cabinet Portfolio responsibilities at the Annual Council Meeting, the seven Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreements (PPRAs) have been considered by the last cycle of Scrutiny Committees. These reflect Cabinet priorities, alongside spending plans set out in the Medium Term Financial Plan and support the outcomes set out in the 2019/20 Council Plan.

The Agreements will provide the basis for Portfolio Performance and Resource Reporting during the year, along with the Corporate Report. Final versions of these are now presented for approval by Cabinet, incorporating any changes made following discussion with and comments from Scrutiny Committees.

The Cabinet is recommended to approve the 2019/20 Portfolio Agreements included at Appendix 1 to the report.

Officer contact: Holly Rae / Michael Cullen, 0161 474 3014 / 0161 218 1032, holly.rae@stockport.gov.uk / michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk

The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Devolution submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Cabinet to consider the draft Portfolio Agreements that had been developed to articulate the Cabinet’s priorities as set out in the 2019/20 Council Plan and Medium Term Financial Plan. The Agreements would provide the basis of the quarterly Portfolio Performance and Resource Monitoring Reports.

The Leader and Cabinet Members stressed the importance of putting people first in the approach taken to the development of the Agreements and ensuring that residents were able to share in growth.

The Leader commented that the Agreements had been developed in the context of ongoing uncertainty surrounding the Council’s finances, such as the Comprehensive Spending Review, the future of business rates retention, and the still awaited Green Paper on adult social care funding. The Leader also referred to a recent event she had attended with James Brokenshire MP (Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government) at which he had acknowledge the challenges these uncertainties created for local government and for Stockport in particular.

Cabinet Members highlighted significant issues within their portfolio agreements.

RESOLVED – That the 2019/20 Portfolio Agreements included at Appendix 1 to the report be approved.