Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 5 September 2022.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 5 September 2022 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 officers were invited to declare any interests which they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations were made.

To consider call-in items (if any).

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider whether it is in the public interest to exclude the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the following item:

RESOLVED - That in order to prevent the disclosure of information which was not for publication, the disclosure of which would not be in the public interest, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any of the exempt information in Agenda Item 9 – ‘Outline Business Case – Review of the Future Redevelopment of Central Library’.

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

Under the long-term Management Agreement with Stockport Council, Stockport Homes is required to provide it with a five yearly Delivery Plan.  The Delivery Plan for the 2021 - 2026 was approved by the Council Cabinet in 2021 and agreed that an annual report on the progress against the five-year plan would be submitted to the relevant Scrutiny Committee.

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 Director of Place Management submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) that stated that under the long-term Management Agreement with Stockport Council, Stockport Homes was required to provide the Council with a five yearly Delivery Plan.  The Delivery Plan for the 2021 - 2026 was approved by the Council Cabinet in 2021 and it was agreed that an annual report on the progress against the five yearly plan would be submitted to the relevant Scrutiny Committee.

The Cabinet Member for Communities & Housing (Councillor Helen Foster-Grime) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a joint report of the Cabinet Members for Climate Change & Environment, Highways, Parks & Leisure Services and Communities & Housing.

Within this report and appendix we outline our strategic approach in responding to the review of the medium-term financial plan. This follows on from the report presented at the Cabinet meeting on the 28th September 2022. Whilst Stockport Council continues to develop opportunities for further enhancing the lives of our residents, we are also in a period of unprecedented uncertainty. Factors include the high levels of price inflation, interest rate changes, and uncertainty around volatile energy prices certainly beyond 6 months. In addition we are still without any means to accurately forecast the Government Settlement, Government assistance even via a levy on adult social care and wage settlements. Furthermore there are global issues, such as the war in Ukraine and energy supply generally, which are totally unpredictable.

This report outlines the budget proposals being considered by the Cabinet to address financial and demand challenges, enable longer term transformation, and ensure the delivery of shared strategic partnership ambitions.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the report and the proposals presented within the report relevant to the remit of this committee.

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

The Director of Place Management submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining a strategic approach in responding to the review of the medium-term financial plan and the budget proposals being considered by the Cabinet to address financial and demand challenges, enable longer term transformation, and ensure the delivery of shared strategic partnership ambitions.

The Cabinet Members for Climate Change & Environment (Councillor Mark Roberts); Communities & Housing (Councillor Helen Foster-Grime); and Highways, Parks and Leisure Services (Councillor Grace Baynham) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         With regard to the suggested reduction in the workforce of between 100-115 posts, it was queried what proportion of these would involve redundancies.  In response, it was stated that the report highlighted where it was considered savings could be made, however the detail of the proposal remained to be worked through.

·         Further detail was requested in relation to the proposal to make £100k of savings in the leisure service.  In response, it was stated that work was taking place to ensure that the existing models of service delivery remained appropriate which involved looking at the current estate and community-based models of delivery.  It was noted that some sites required significant investment, while others would require smaller-scale projects.  Consideration was also being given to streamlining the  fees for leisure activities.

·         Work remained ongoing with regard to proposal to increase the fees charged for replacement bins.  It was noted that the Council subsidised the cost of replacement bins and that the proposed increase in charges would not eliminate an element of subsidy.  It was further noted that the inflationary pressures being felt across the economy may also impact the increased revenue associated with this proposal.

·         Concern was expressed in relation to the impact of introducing new parking charges or increasing existing fees with particular reference to district and local centres which were already struggling.

·         It was suggested that more work could be done to raise awareness around investment in Council services from monies raised through parking charges.

·         It was commented that library staff had worked hard to support the introduction of the Open Plus service, and the proposal to made reductions in staffing levels was regrettable in that context.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

This committee has a statutory responsibility to review and scrutinise community safety partnership activity and routinely receives an annual review and partnership update.  This focuses on the activity of the One Stockport Safety Partnership (OSSP) since committee approved the partnership’s 2022-2025 Plan in March 2022.  OSSP was previously known as the Safer Stockport Partnership – the new name was adopted by the partnership’s board in September 2022 to bring consistency to the names of all our key  strategic partnerships.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

a)    Consider the SSP 2022 Annual Update 2020/21 presentation.

b)    Note the priorities within each of the three themes in OSSP’s 2022/23 delivery plan.

c)    Note the proposed actions within the Safer Streets initiative

d)    Provide any comments or reflections on the issues covered in the presentation.

e)    Consider and comment on content and format of future Scrutiny updates (including performance information) and timing of the updates.

Officer contact: Karishma Chandaria at: karishma.chandaria@stockport.gov.uk

The Scrutiny Committee was advised that a representative of Greater Manchester Police was unable to attend this meeting of the Scrutiny Committee to support the discussion on this item due to ill-health. 

RESOLVED – That consideration of this item be deferred to a future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee pending the attendance of a representative of Greater Manchester Police.

To consider a report of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal and Democratic Services).

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 Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and any relevant Forward Plan items.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a joint report of the Deputy Chief Executive and the Corporate Director of Corporate & Support Services and the Director of Development & Regeneration.

The report presents the next steps for the redevelopment of Central Library following the opening of Stockroom in late 2023 and provides an update on the ongoing progress of the Stockroom Project.

(NOTE: The report contains an appendix that is ‘not for publication’ and has been circulated to members of the Scrutiny Committee only).

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to: -

a)    Note the progress update on the Stockroom Project.

b)   Note the update on Central Library Redevelopment Strategy and recommend for approval the proposals.

c)    Recommend for approval the release of up to £400k in reserves to fund the development of the project through to planning and construction tender in line with the steps covered in section 11 of this report.

d)   Recommend that authority be delegated for the Director of Development and Regeneration (Place) and Deputy Chief Executive (Corporate and Support Services) in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance to enter into any required professional services and construction contracts and bring forth any necessary planning applications related to the refurbishment of Central Library.

e)    Recommend that authority be delegated for the Director of Development and Regeneration (Place) and Deputy Chief Executive (Corporate and Support Services) in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance and Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance) to take the necessary steps to implement the strategy set out in this report.

Officer contact: James Kington, Strategic Head of Estates and Asset Management by email on james.kington@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Chief Executive and the Corporate Director of Corporate & Support Services and the Director of Development & Regeneration submitted a joint report (copies of which had been circulated) presenting the next steps for the redevelopment of Central Library following the opening of Stockroom in late 2023 and provides an update on the ongoing progress of the Stockroom Project.

The Cabinet Member Highways, Parks and Leisure Services (Councillor Grace Baynham) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Concern was expressed that this item had not been considered by this Scrutiny Committee in advance of its consideration by the Cabinet despite the fact that library services fell within the remit of the committee.  In response, it was stated that the item had been considered by the Corporate, Resource Management & Governance Scrutiny Committee as the majority of the report concerned the Finance & Resources portfolio.

·         A discussion took place in relation to the approximate 90% reduction in the range of books that would be on display at Central Library and whether this represented the retention of library services in the building that residents may have anticipated.  In response, it was stated that a full range of library services would be available including a comprehensive range of books and computer facilities.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.