Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Corporate & Support Services) & Deputy Chief Executive.

The report provides a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects since the final update report, with a focus on the fourth quarter of the year (January to March). It includes out-turn performance and financial data (where this is available) for the Portfolios, along with updates on the portfolio savings programme

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

·         Consider the Annual Portfolio Performance and Resource Report;

·         Review the progress against delivering key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 2020/21;

·         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: Officer Contacts: Peter Owston on 0161 474 3274 or email: peter.owston@stockport.gov.uk; alan.lawson@stockport.gov.uk

 on 0161 474 5397 or email: alan.lawson@stockport.gov.uk; and

Kora Yohannan on 0161 474 4032 or kora.yohannan@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects since the final update report, with a focus on the fourth quarter of the year (January to March). The report included out-turn performance and financial data (where this was available) for the Portfolios, along with updates on the portfolio savings programme.

The Cabinet Members for Citizen Focus and Engagement (Councillor David Sedgwick) and 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:-

Resources, Commissioning and Governance Portfolio

·         A Member referred to the strategy to exit rented premises where possible and relocate services within the Council’s owned estate which would continue to reduce the revenue burden on the Single Property Budget.

·         More up to date information was requested on the Re-provision of the Dialstone Facility.

·         A report on the Schools Capital Programme was requested for a future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee.

·         The red indicator for performance indicator RCG 2.1 in connection with the percentage of cumulative spend on Social Value delivered through contracts was highlighted. It was suggested that the indicator be reported over a longer timescale.

·         With regard to Performance Indicator RCG 3.1 with regard to the average number of working days lost due to sickness absence per employee, a Member enquired what was being done to work with the members of staff.

·         With regard to performance indictor RCG 3.2 regarding the percentage of children allocated their first choice school place for primary and secondary schools, it was noted that there were quite a lot of children who were not allocated their first choice school place. Members requested further consideration of this indicator at a future meeting.

·         Members asked for more information on the purchase of the Nutanix based product to replace the hardware and software within the new data centre.

·         With regard to commissioning school places, a Member enquired whether there was a timeline for the completion of the strategy for sufficient specialist provision which was being informed by a task and finish group.

Citizen Focus and Engagement Portfolio

·         The old mapping software had been problematic and would be replaced by a new system in the next few months.

·         A Member raised how effective AMI (an artificial intelligence ‘chat bot’) was in dealing with residents’ queries on the Council’s website and the Cabinet Member agreed to meet with her to discuss this further.

·         With regard to Communications Planning and Training, Members welcomed the annual communications plan and revised style guide which had been rolled out across the Council, providing Officers with a consistent but adaptable approach to the visuals, language and tone used in all Council communications. In addition, the guides were being incorporated into relevant training for Officers.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.