Issue - meetings

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

The Mid Year Corporate Performance and Resource Report (CPRR) provides an update on progress in delivering the Council’s Priority Outcomes and budget during the first half of 2019/20, with a particular emphasis on the second quarter (July to September 2019).

The Cabinet is asked to: 

·         Review progress against delivering Council priorities and capital schemes alongside budget and performance forecasts contained within the report;

·         Approve the virements to the Revenue Budget set out in Section 3.2;

·         Note the Cash Limit and Non-Cash Limit forecast positions for 2019/20 as set out in Section 3.3;

·         Note the Dedicated Schools Grant, Housing Revenue Account and collection Fund forecast positions as set out in Sections 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6;

·         Note the appropriations to/from reserves and balances as set out in Section 3.7 and note the resulting reserves and balances position as at 30 September 2019;

·         Note the position for the 2019/20 Capital Programme as set out in Section 4;

·         Note the re-phasing of capital schemes during the quarter as set out in Section 4.4;

·         Approve the proposals for resourcing and additional resources required for the Capital Programme as set out in Section 4.6;

·         Approve the 2019/20 forecast prudential indicators as set out in Section 4.7; and

·         Identify key areas for further investigation and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any existing or outturn issues or risks.

Officer Contacts: Peter Owston on 0151 474 3274 or email: peter.owston@stockport.gov.uk; or Jonathan Davies on 0161 218 1025 or email: jonathan.davies@stockport.gov.uk

The Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Policy, Finance and Devolution submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a summary of progress in delivering the Council’s priority outcomes and budget in the first half of the financial year, with a particular focus on the second quarter of 2019/20 (July – Sept 2019). 

The following issues were highlighted by the Leader and the Deputy Leader:-

·         The Leader had written to the Secretary of State to request confirmation on whether funding would be available to support residents in respect of issues related to flooding and had not yet received a response. She would pursue a response and when this was received it would be circulated.

·         Stockport Council had received an award in respect of their policies on Digital Transformation. The key message was that no one should be left behind and the award was something that the Council could be proud of.

·         The Regeneration of the Town Centre was something that the Council could be proud of and this was something that it was looking to develop with funding from the Mayoral Generational Fund. Additional plans would be published in the forthcoming weeks and the Leader was looking forward to the plans being released to the public of Stockport.

·         The Council had invested in the Highways Investment Programme. The Sustainable Transport offer was the key to its success. There was a need for an integrated Transport system in Greater Manchester. The Corporate, Resource, Management and Governance Scrutiny Committee had worked closely with the Cabinet on these proposals and the Cabinet would continue to consult with the Committee in the in the future.

·         The Deputy Leader of the Council highlighted the demand pressures that the Council still faced, as outlined in paragraph 3.3.1 of the report.

·         The pressures and reserve balance, outlined in paragraph 3.7.1 of the report, were healthy but the Council needed not to be complacent in respect of this.

·         There had been no announcement from the Government in respect of the Capital Programme grant from 2020-21 onwards so when this was received the Cabinet would examine this closely as to its implications.

Cabinet Members were invited to highlight any specific issues within their portfolios.

·         The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration referred to the grant awarded for Town Centre and District Schemes in the Town and that this would be utilised for the benefit of the public in Stockport.

RESOLVED – That, in relation to the Corporate Performance and Resources Mid-Year Corporate Report for 2019/20:-

·               approval be given to the virements to the Revenue Budget set out in section 3.2 of the report;

·               the Cash Limit and Non-Cash Limit forecast positions for 2019/20 as set out in section 3.3 of the report be noted;

·               the Dedicated Schools Grant, Housing Revenue Account and Collection Fund forecast positions as set out in sections 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6 of the report be noted;

·               the appropriations to/from reserves and balances as set out in section 3.7 of the report and the resulting reserves and balances position as at 30 September 2019 be noted;

·               the position for the 2019/20 Capital Programme as set out in section 4 of the report be noted; 

·               the re-phasing of capital schemes during the quarter as set out in section 4.4 of the report be noted;

·               the proposals for resourcing and additional resources required for the Capital Programme as set out in paragraph 4.6 of the report be approved; and 

·               the 2019/20 forecast prudential indicators as set out in section 4.7 of the report be approved.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

This item covers two reports as follows; 

·         Mid-Year Corporate Performance and Resources Report (CPRR) 2019/20

·         Mid-Year Leader’s Report 2019/20

The Mid Year Corporate Performance and Resource Report (CPRR) provides an update on progress in delivering the Council’s Priority Outcomes and budget during the first half of 2018/19, with a particular emphasis on the second quarter (July to September).

The Leader’s Report reflects on significant achievements and challenges, key decisions at Greater Manchester level, along with areas of progress in delivering council priorities over the first half of the year.

Scrutiny Committee is asked to: 

·         Consider the Mid Year Reports;

·         Review the progress against delivering corporate objectives, key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 2018/19; 

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

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

Officer Contact: Michael Cullen on 0161 474 4631or email: michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Chief Executive and Borough Treasurer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a summary of progress in delivering the Council’s priority outcomes and budget in the first half of the financial year, with a particular focus on the second quarter of 2019/20 (July – September 2019).

The report was the first Corporate Performance and Resources Report to be produced for 2019/20 reflecting the 2019/20 Council Plan, Medium Term Financial Plan and new Portfolio priorities. It included an executive summary and performance analysis, along with the forecast position on revenue and capital, and a focus on highlights and exceptions during the quarter.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Elise Wilson) and Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning and Governance (Councillor Tom McGee) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

• The Leader of the Council had met with the local MPs and would continue to request their support in obtaining financial assistance from the Government for Stockport to help combat flooding in the borough.
• The Leader of the Council would pursue with Transport for Greater Manchester an announcement made by the Government during the General Election campaign that funding would be available to extend the Metrolink system to Stockport.
• The Council was actively addressing those performance indicators within the Children, Family Services and Education portfolio which were within the Council’s control and which showed an amber or red status.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.