Issue - meetings

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

The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Devolution (Councillor Elise Wilson) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) seeking approval for the draft 2022/23 Council Plan.

RESOLVED – That the Council Plan 2022/23 be approved and adopted.

To consider a joint report of the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Devolution and the Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning and Governance.

The Council Plan accompanies the budget and sets a high-level framework for decision making throughout the financial year. It is a public-facing summary document that sits above annual (detailed) Portfolio Agreements.

The 2022/23 Council Plan has been aligned with the key themes and ambitions from our new ONE Stockport Borough Plan framework.

The Cabinet is requested to recommend that the Council Meeting approves and adopts the Stockport council Plan 2022/23.

Officer contact: Holly Rae on 07800 617 550 or email: holly.rae@stockport.gov.uk

The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Devolution (Councillor Elise Wilson) submitted the Council Plan (copies of which had been circulated) that accompanied the budget and set a high-level framework for decision making throughout the financial year.

The Leader of the Council reported that the plan built on the themes in the One Stockport Borough Plan and aligned with the long term vision of the Greater Manchester Strategy.  Some of the key themes of the plan were highlighted including tackling pre-existing inequalities and the impact of climate change as well as underlining the ambitions of the borough with regard to homes, jobs and opportunities.

RESOLVED - That the Council Meeting be recommended to give approval to the draft Council Plan for 2022/23.

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council and the Deputy Leader of the Council

The Council Plan accompanies the budget and set a high-level framework for decision making throughout the financial year. It is a public-facing summary document that sits above annual (detailed) Portfolio Agreements.

The plan had been developed by the Cabinet, supported by Officers, and is and is an opportunity to reflect on performance to date and policy priorities for the future. Priorities in the plan are included by exception. The plan doesn’t attempt to describe everything the Council does only those things that are of crucial importance in a specific year.

The 2022/23 Council Plan has been aligned with the key themes and ambitions from our new ONE Stockport Borough Plan framework, namely ONE Heart, ONE Home and ONE Future.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to:-

·         Consider and comment on the draft 2022/23 Council Plan and Equality Impact Assessment; and

·         Note the key issues and processes outlined in the report.

Officer Contact: Holly Rae on 0161 474 3014 or email: holly.rae@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director (Corporate & Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the Council Plan which accompanied the budget and provided a high-level framework for decision making throughout the financial year. It was a public-facing summary document that sat above annual detailed Portfolio Agreements.

The plan had been developed by the Cabinet, supported by Officers, and was an opportunity to reflect on performance to date and policy priorities for the future. Priorities in the plan were included by exception. The plan did not attempt to describe everything the Council did, only those things that were of crucial importance in a specific year.

The 2022/23 Council Plan had been aligned with the key themes and ambitions from the Council’s new ONE Stockport Borough Plan framework, namely ONE Heart, ONE Home and ONE Future.

The Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance (Councillor Tom McGee) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issue raised:-

·         There were elements of repetition in the plan with some of the earlier comments superfluous as a result of comments made later on in the document.

·         In the section on page 29 of the Plan with regard to ‘Ambitions and Priorities’, there should be greater reference to school admissions and places. Under the reference to empowering families under ‘enhance our early help offer’, there should be reference to how this was being achieved.

·         The ambition to increase the number of publicly accessible electric charging points under ‘A climate friendly and sustainable borough’ should be amended to rapid electric charging points.

·         The inclusion of an Environmental Impact Assessment for the Plan (with key links to the Stockport Climate Action Now (CAN) Strategy and Digital Strategy) was welcomed, but it was felt that that the Committee should explore at a future meeting how to get the best use from such assessments.

·         The importance of working with local communities was emphasised, for example Friends of Parks groups.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.