Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 9 October 2023.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 9 October 2023 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.

The following interests were declared:-

Personal Interest

Officers

To consider call-in items (if any).

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider a joint report of the Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture & Sport and Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways & Transport Services.

Following October Scrutiny Committees, the report provides further detail on the budget change proposals, taking into consideration the feedback received to date.

The appendix to this report outlines the change 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 Committee is recommended to comment on the report and the proposals presented within that are relevant to the Committee’s remit.

Officer Contact: Gill Lawton on 0161 474 3686 or email: gill.lawton@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture & Sport and the Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways & Transport Services submitted a joint report (copies of which had been circulated) providing further detail on the budget change proposals, taking into consideration the feedback received to date.

The appendix to the report outlined 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 Member for Parks, Highways & Transport Services (Councillor Grace Baynham) and the Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture & Sport (Councillor Frankie Singleton) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

Library Services

·         Members thanked portfolio holders for arranging for a banner to be placed at Reddish Library which advertised that the library remained open during building works, along with details of the Open+ service.

·         In relation to proposed reductio in staffing hours within the borough’s library services, members queried whether that was likely to affect the additional services provided by libraries such as community hubs and gardens. In response it was stated that the services provided by libraries and library staff were important and that it was planned that librarians would continue to perform those important roles.

·         It was requested that consideration be given to the modernisation of library services, for example by introducing printing service and card payments for library fines; services which were currently only available at Stockport Central Library.

·         It was noted that there had been no library closures in the borough since 2010 which was a testament to the value placed upon the library service.

·         The benefits of the Open+ service were highlighted, in particular residents having extended access to spaces with lights and heating. However, having staff present at the library was important to ensure that residents could access council services.  Members queried whether funds could be diverted from other areas to boost library services.  The possibility of extending Open+ hours in some areas and increasing staff in others was also suggested.

·         In response it was stated that Council was under pressure to make savings.  The funding proposals did not involve the closing of any libraries but were designed to achieve savings whilst retaining as good a library service as possible.

·         A pilot had taken place in the Heatons to register all library users as Open+ users. This pilot had a successful outcome and there were plans to further extend this to four further areas within the borough followed by the borough as a whole.

·         In relation to the proposed reduction in Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staffing levels, it was stated that a consultation with library staff was underway and it was expected that the process would be achieved through natural vacancy management.  It might also involve moving staff to different libraries across the borough.

Car Park charges

·         It was stated that car parking charges were generally lower in Stockport than across neighbouring authorities.

·         It was requested that any previously free car park that were primarily used for residential parking should have an annual charge rather than a pay and display charging model.

·         Members also requested that consideration of match-day parking charges around the football ground in Edgely should be postponed. A survey of match-day parking was currently underway and the introduction of charges had the potential to impact the outcome. Members expressed further concern that match-day parking charges could displace parking onto residential roads. It was further commented that residents around the football ground found junctions blocked and cars blocked in on match days.

·         In response, it was stated that the proposal to charge on match-days around the Stockport County Football ground was an early stage proposal and the council was in talks with the football club. The expectation was that, following the introduction of charging at car parks around the football ground, the car parks would remain full and would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To consider a joint report of the Director of Place Management, Director of Development & Regeneration and Director of Strategy.

The Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs) for the Communities, Culture & Sport and Parks, Highways & Transport Services Portfolios are presented for consideration by the Committee.

The Portfolio Reports are based on the 2023/24 Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreements (PPRAs), which were considered by the Committee on 12 June 2023 and approved by Cabinet on 27 June 2023.

The Mid-Year Reports focus on delivery of the portfolio priorities from April to September 2023 and includes forecast performance and financial data (where this is available) for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programmes.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

a)    Consider the Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports.

b)   Review the progress against delivering key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 2023/24.

c)    Highlight key areas of and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any performance or resource issues.

d)   Highlight any significant issues or changes to be fed back to the Cabinet alongside the Corporate Performance and Resource Report.

e)    Identify how areas of strong performance and good practice can be shared in other services.

Officer contact: Alan Lawson by email: alan.lawson@stockport.gov.uk or Kora Yohannan by email: kora.yohannan@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Place Management and Director of Development & Regeneration and Director of Strategy submitted a joint report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs) for the Communities, Culture & Sport and Parks, Highways & Transport Services portfolios.

The Portfolio Reports were based on the 2023/24 Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreements (PPRAs), which were considered by the Committee on 12 June 2023 and approved by Cabinet on 27 June 2023. The Mid-Year Reports focussed on delivery of the portfolio priorities from April to September 2023 and included forecast performance and financial data (where this was available) for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programmes.

The Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways & Transport Services (Councillor Grace Baynham) and the Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture & Sport (Councillor Frankie Singleton) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

Communities, Culture & Sport

·         In relation to the moratorium on library fines, it was reported that this had not resulted in a huge increase in book loans, but had resulted in a significant loss of income in fines. In the light of the current libraries budget, there was a reluctance to pause fines again.

·         It was confirmed that £360,000 of the budget had been allocated to the corporate reserve: MTFP resilience and smoothing reserve.

·         Members referred to the One Stockport Safety Partnership and the anti-social behaviour review. It was suggested that the Stockport Homes website should have a direct link to the council’s form for reporting anti-social behaviour.  Members also requested further information relating to report of anti-social behaviour.

·         In terms of the UK Strategic Priorities Fund, members commented that asking the community about where funds should be allocated was a good process.  Members requested a further report on the success of that programme, along with a report on more granular data related to library users.

·         Members commented that the first town centre-wide Christmas celebration event had gone well and requested that consideration be given to making it an annual event.

·         In response it was stated that, whilst funding was a consideration, the possibility of holding this event every year was being looked at.

·         In terms of the impact of the town of culture, the numbers of museum visits had vastly increased in direct correlation with town of culture events. Members requested a future report on the legacy of the town of culture year in order to draw on the investment and learning for the future.

Parks, Highways & Transport Services

·         Members queried whether the ‘school streets’ programme would be extended into other areas.  In response, it was stated that the first school street schemes in the borough had been set up with funds provided by Transport for Greater Manchester and were intended to continue as self-funding.  Members also had the option of using ward delegated budgets to set up school street schemes.

·         The feasibility of the Highways Investment Programme was in the process of being considered and it was important to consider timing in terms of current interest rates and waiting for a prudential time to invest.

·         It was commented that the protection and enhancement of the natural environment was a priority and that a list of proposed locations for orchards, grasslands and meadows had been identified and would be brought to a future meeting of this Committee.  Members were requested to propose further locations, particularly for tree planting.

·         Members requested more granular detail related to formal interventions on fly-tipping.  It was also suggested that CCTV could be employed to assist with fly-tipping enforcement and that a borough-wide approach should be taken to address fly-tipping.  In response it was stated that the council’s approach was to try to keep the borough clean and use targeted enforcement against fly-tipping.  It was further stated that CCTV was reported not to be particularly effective in catching fly-tipping culprits.  A report on fly-tipping enforcement  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report provides an update about the council’s strategic and systematic response to the cost of living crisis. It also details the developing anti-poverty approach which builds upon many years of supporting residents in need of financial support.

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

Officer contact: Emma Handby on 0161 474 3175 or email: emma.handby@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Place Management submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update about the council’s strategic and systematic response to the cost of living crisis. It also detailed the developing anti-poverty approach which built upon many years of supporting residents in need of financial support.

The Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture & Sport (Councillor Frankie Singleton) and the Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources (Councillor Jilly Julian) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Members commented that the report was a useful resource for all councillors, particularly in helping to direct residents to relevant resources.

·         Members queried whether the update amounted to an anti-poverty strategy and, if so, what mechanisms were in place to analyse its efficacy.

·         In response it was stated that the report was currently in draft form with plans to circulate the final version to all members. The report captured the full spectrum of activity on anti-poverty work which had taken place in the past few years, some of which were strategic and some more immediate. In thinking about strategies for the coming years, the report focussed on actions and objectives in terms of what the council would hope to achieve. It was reported that there was no final date for the anti-poverty strategy but that it was expected to be completed soon.

·         Members commented on the statistics on pupil premiums and reported that, post-Covid, the educational performance of children with pupil premiums had worsened.

·         Members requested that a solution be identified to the lack of an accessible public toilet at the Citizens Advice facility at Stopford House; currently, users had to ask permission to use the toilets and be escorted. In response it was stated that this situation would be investigated.

·         In terms of taking account of lived experience, it was important to ensure that the anti-poverty work carried out within the borough took learning from other authorities but that it was the right approach for Stockport residents. The anti-poverty strategy would ensure that power and voice was front and centre in determining strategy.

·         Members commented that the case-studies included in the report were a useful addition and helped to bring the report to life.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Strategy.

The report provides an overview of the Equality Objectives which run from 2023-2027, an update on progress in year 1, outlines the future priorities and how the council are responding to the key GM Equality and Diversity Strategies.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to note the approach of the council’s Equality Objectives and progress against implementing them.

Officer contact: Kathryn Rees on 0161 474 3174 or email: kathryn.rees@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Strategy submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of the Equality Objectives which ran from 2023-2027, an update on progress in year 1, outlining the future priorities and how the council was responding to the key GM Equality and Diversity Strategies.

The Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture & Sport (Councillor Frankie Singleton) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Members suggested that the men’s toilets located next to the council chamber should become gender neutral.

·         Members commented that the report represented a good start. The nature of inequality began with health and lead to other areas.  It was also noted that equality began in childhood and equality gaps could be life-long. It was further commented that the council should do whatever it could to support care-leavers.

·         Factors which contributed to a shift in council policy on inequality included the borough becoming more diverse.  Information related to the diversity of the borough was available from school census data which, for the first time had asked about sexual orientation.  This provided the council with a rich data set in which to understand communities within the borough.

·         It was also reported that that further data on the borough was available in the State of the Borough annual report which included census data and key metrics, along with the prototype of labour profiles which were being collated as part of local neighbourhood workshops.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Assistant Director – Legal & Democratic Governance.

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: Jacqueline Kramer on 0161 474 2978 or email: jacqueline.kramer@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Assistant Director - Legal & Democratic Governance (Monitoring Officer) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and any Forward Plan items.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Assistant Director - Legal & Democratic Governance be recommended to programme the following items into the Scrutiny Committee’s work programme for the 2023/24 Municipal Year: Communities & Transport Scrutiny Committee

·         Joint agency working, including permissions granted for utility companies to work on highways

·         Fly tipping enforcement

·         Audit of CCTV