Issue - meetings

To consider a joint report of the Deputy Chief Executive and the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The Third Quarter Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports for the Inclusive Neighbourhoods and Sustainable Stockport Portfolios are presented for consideration by the Committee. These focus on highlights and exceptions in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programmes and other key projects since the Mid-Year Reports. They include the latest forecast performance and financial data for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programmes.

These reports are based on the 2019/20 Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreements (PPRAs), which were considered by the Committee on 8 July and approved by Cabinet on 23 July 2019.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

·         Consider the Third Quarter Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports;  

·         Review the progress against delivering key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 2019/20;

·         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 contact:

Sustainable Stockport Alan Lawson on 474 5397 or email: alan.lawson@stockport.gov.uk or Lisa Joy on 474 4044 or email:

lisa.joy@stockport.gov.uk

Inclusive Neighbourhoods Gaynor Ward on 474 3186 or email: gaynor.ward@stockport.gov.uk or Stephen Pate on 218 1086 or email:

stephen.pate@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Third Quarter Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports for the Inclusive Neighbourhoods and Sustainable Stockport Portfolios.  The report focussed on highlights and exceptions in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programmes and other key projects since the Mid-Year Report and included the latest forecast performance and financial data for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programmes.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

The Cabinet Members for Inclusive Communities (Councillor Amanda Peers) and Sustainable Stockport (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

Inclusive Neighbourhoods Portfolio

·         It was queried what mechanisms were in place to monitor the effectiveness of awards made under the Stockport Local Fund.  In response, it was stated that those organisations that had applied as part of the first phase were now taking part in monitoring reviews that would examine the level of spend, its impact and progress. 

·         It was queried whether the target for the number of employers that participated in the annual jobs fair was increased annually.  In response, it was stated that the target had remained static which was increasingly challenging as unemployment figures decreased year-on-year.

·         It was stated that there had been a number of well-documented difficulties with the introduction of Integrated Operating Police Operating System.  Greater Manchester Police were rolling out an ongoing programme of updates and upgrades combined within training for members of staff.  The Greater Manchester Police and Crime Panel were being appraised of the position by way of a standard item on the agenda for each meeting of the Panel.

Sustainable Stockport Portfolio

·         It was commented that there were a number of materials that while technically capable of being recycled, were not included within the Council’s recyclable waste streams.

·         Further information was requested on the background to the relatively high levels of sickness at TLC.

·         It was commented that at a recent meeting of the ‘Scrutiny Review Panel – Domestic Waste Collection Service’ a proposal had been discussed that involved the potential for residual waste bins to have RFID identification chips to be installed as part of a trial to reduce the number of households with more than one bin.  It was stated that this proposal conflicted with previous statements made by the Cabinet to the Council Meeting where a commitment had been given that such devices would not be used in Stockport.  In response it was stated that no such devices had been installed on any bins in the borough.

·         The rollout of carbon literacy training for councillors on the Climate Emergency Task & Finish Group was welcomed, and it was suggested that this should be extended to all councillors as soon as possible.

·         Concern was expressed in relation to the number of homes that had been empty for a period of 24 months or longer and what work was being undertaken to user the powers that the Council had to bring those properties back into use.  In response it was stated that a report would be brought back to a future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee in this issue.

·         Further information was requested on the number of electric vehicles within the Council’s vehicle fleet.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.