Issue - meetings

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

The Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resources Reports (PPRRs) for the Citizen Focus & Engagement and Resources, Commissioning and Governance Portfolios are presented for consideration by the Committee.   These provide a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects in the first half of the year, with a focus on the second quarter of the year (July to September). These include forecast 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 Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports;

·         Review the progress against delivering key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 2021/22;

·         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

Stephen Pate on 0161 218 1086 or email: stephen.pate@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director (Corporate & Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resource Report (PPRR) for the Citizen Focus & Engagement and Resources, Commissioning & Governance Portfolios. The report provided a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects in the first half of the year, with a particular focus on the second quarter (July to September). The report also included a forecast on performance and financial data (where this was available) for the Portfolio, along with an update on the portfolio savings programme.

The Cabinet Members for Resources, Commissioning & Governance (Councillor Tom McGee) and Citizen Focus & Engagement (Councillor David Sedgwick) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

Resources, Commissioning & Governance Portfolio

·         Although the average number of working days lost due to sickness absence per employee was reducing, it still seemed high. A Member enquire how sickness absence had been affected whilst more members of staff has been working at home during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Citizen Focus & Engagement Portfolio

·         A Member enquired what was being carried out to promote digital usage in libraries and how this was being communicated to residents. Members requested additional information about how the library service marketed its offer and detail of related spend.

·         With regard to performance indicator CFE1.5 on the percentage and number of Stage 2 complaints responded to on time, concern was expressed that the target was not being met.

·         With regard to performance indicator CFE1.1 on the percentage and number of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests responded to on time, concern was expressed that the forecast was below the target.

·         Feedback had been positive to the trial at Marple Library to offer office space to Council officers to pre-book desk space for individual work or small meetings, allowing colleagues too work in their local area rather than having to return to offices in Stockport or return to work from home.

·         Reference was made to the work on developing and delivering a digital strategy for Stockport, focussing around three core pillars of Digital Communities, Digital Place and Digital Council.  A report would be submitted to a meeting of the Scrutiny Committee in the New Year.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.