Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 30 July 2018.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 30 July 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers to declare any interests which they have in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

Councillors and Officer were invited to declare any interests which they may have had in any of the agenda items for the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made.

To consider call-in items (if any).

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Communities & Housing.

The Cabinet have been preparing its medium term strategy in response to its medium term financial plan. The latest update was presented in October. This frames the choices the Council will make about its budget both next year and in future years aligned to five key themes:

·         Getting more out of our spending;

·         Improving citizen experience;

·         Making sure we have the right property in the right places;

·         Sharing services with other organisations;

·         Enabling an organisation fit for the future.

This latest update is presented to scrutiny for consideration and is comprised of:

·         An overview report summarising the strategy and budget choices;

·         Appendix for each theme which outlines the strategic direction and ambition for each theme as well as a suite of proposals for 2019/20.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to:-

·         comment upon the strategic direction of travel outlined in the overall report and across the five themes; and

·         comment on the report and the proposals presented within the report relevant to the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

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

The Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) seeking the views of the Scrutiny Committee in respect to the strategic direction of travel outlined in the overall report and across the five themes and to comment specifically on the proposals presented in the report relevant to the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Concern was expressed at the proposal that the waste collection calendar would only be available online in the future.

·         The consultation and discussions being held with trade unions in respect to any proposed staffing reductions.

·         Councillors requested that further information be circulated in respect to the evidence base for proposals relating to grass cutting and street cleaning frequencies. It was suggested that where possible wild flowers be planted to mitigate the impact of reduced grass verge cutting.

·         The Committee discussed the profoundly difficult situation that the Council faced due to the cuts in Local Government Funding resulting in a saving requirement of £47m in the forthcoming financial year’s acknowledging that very difficult decisions would need to be made which would affect the most vulnerable people in the community.

·         Concern was expressed in respect to proposals relating to the removal of Highways delegated budgets from Area Committees. A number of Councillors expressed the view that the Area Committee should retain this budget. Whilst acknowledging that some wards carried over funding on a regular basis, Councillors also recounted efforts they had made to progress schemes that had taken a considerable amount of time which made the spending of the budget problematic at times.

·         It was suggested, and a number of Councillors agreed, that if the Area Committees retained the Highways delegated budget in the future any monies left over or not committed at the end of the financial year be clawed back.

·         The Chair commented that she welcomed the proposals relating to fees and charges although she did express concern in respect to the proposals relating to public realm and asked that alternatives be explored.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and that the comments be referred to the Cabinet Member (Communities and Housing) for consideration.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The report reviews the actions and effects of the ‘Environmental and Recycling Campaign’ (formed part of the Cabinet’s response to the Medium Term Financial Plan 2017) and which intended to reduce costs by £0.500m.

This report summarises the activities conducted under the campaign umbrella, summarises the penetration and impact of the communications campaign and provides options to continue to build on the progress made.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Adam Forbes on 0161 474 3680 or email: adam.forbes@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the actions and effects of the Environmental and Recycling campaign which had been formed as part of the Cabinet’s response to the Medium Term Financial Plan 2017.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Stockport’s communications team had worked in partnership with Keep Britain Tidy to deliver a series of communication focused initiatives centred around improving environmental awareness. Councillors welcomed the finding which suggested residents want to do the right thing and already take pride in their surroundings, the campaign aimed to further support this behaviour and celebrate the good work already undertaken by our communities.

·         Work undertaken with residents to encourage those residents who used communal bin facilities to increase their recycling efforts.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The report details the Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resource Report for the Communities and Housing Portfolio for consideration by the Committee. This provides 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). It includes forecast performance and financial data (where this is available) for the Portfolio, along with an update on the portfolio savings programme.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:

·         Consider the Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resource Report; 

·         Review the progress against delivering key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 2017/18;

·         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: Alan Lawson on 0161 474 5397 or email: alan.lawson@stockport.gov.uk

Officer contact: Kora Yohannan on 0161 474 4032 or email: kora.yohannan@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the mid-year portfolio performance and resources report for the Communities and Housing Portfolio.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The commitment to build 600 affordable homes over two years was on

target with 300 being forecast to be completed this municipal year.

·         Councillors welcomed the start of the accelerated tree-planting programme that had begun across the borough. The first tree was planted last week and another 450 trees will be planted along highways across Stockport over the winter planting season.

·         Fly-tipping incidents continued to see an upward trend over the last four years and investigations were being carried out to identify hotspots where regular fly tipping occurs across the Borough.

·         Councillors expressed concern in respect to C&H2.2 and C&H2.3, litter and detritus on the highways, both of which were below target. Councillors were informed that these concerns were being discussed with TLC in order to put in place actions to bring the scores into line with the targets.

·         Councillors welcomed the information supplied relating to empty property statistics which were excellent.

·         Opportunities to develop lessons learnt from the Brinnington Regeneration Scheme throughout the rest of the Borough.

RESOLVED – That the report noted.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The report outlines the key achievements of partnership working and across partner organisations against SSP Themes and Priorities. Whilst a new 3 year SSP Plan has been published (April 2018), it should be noted that this Report reviews progress against the performance framework associated with the 2016/17 SSP Plan.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

·         Consider the SSP Annual Report for 2017/18;

·         Note the progress made in relation to delivering against the priority themes of the SSP Plan;

·         Provide any comments or reflections on the issues covered in the Report and presentation.

Officer contact: Katy Forde on 07527387232 or email: katy.forde@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the key achievements of partnership working and across partner organisations against SSP Themes and Priorities.

The Cabinet Member (Communities and Housing) and Superintendent Emma Taylor, Greater Manchester Police answered Councillors questions in relation to the report.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The report provides an update on the review of the Stockport Council Gambling Policy – Statement of Licensing Principles. 

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Mark Glynn on 0161 474 3700 or email: mark.glynn@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the review of the Stockport Council Gambling Policy – Statement of Licensing Principles. The Corporate Director report that the policy had also been considered by the Licensing, Environment and Safety Committee and that it would be submitted to the next meeting of the Cabinet for approval.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The five year agreement between the Council and United Utilities to collect water charges from Council tenants is due to expire on 31st March 2019. The collection of water charges has been a huge success for the Council, Stockport Homes and the Housing Revenue Account (HRA). This report reviews the current arrangements and outlines the terms of a proposed new agreement from April 2019. 

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Andy Kippax on 0161 474 4319 or email: andy.kippax@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) reviewing the current arrangements and outlining the terms of a proposed new agreement from April 2019.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.                                                       

The report sets out planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items that fall within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the information in the report and put forward any agenda items for future meetings of the Committee.

Officer contact: Damian Eaton on 0161 474 3207 or email: damian.eaton@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and any relevant Forward Plan items.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.