Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 17 January 2022.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 17 January 2022 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Chair reported that with regard to Agenda item 12 – ‘Active Communities: Update on Transition to New Arrangements for Operation of Council-Owned Leisure Centres and Delivery of Active Communities Programmes’ it had been commented that:-

“The intention was that the public should not notice any significant changes following the transfer of operations to the new Stockport Active CIC.”

The Chair commented that while the minute accurately reflected the discussion that was held at that meeting, it had subsequently transpired that the statement itself was not accurate as crèche facilities were due to be discontinued.

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 interests in any of the items on the agenda for meeting.

The following interests were declared:-

To consider call-in items (if any).

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider a joint report of the Director of Place Management and the Service Director for Strategy and Commissioning.

The Third Quarter Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs) for the Inclusive Neighbourhoods and Sustainable Stockport Portfolios are presented for consideration by the Committee.

These provide a summary of progress in delivering the Portfolio priority outcomes since the mid-year reports. In the case of the budget and capital updates, these cover the period since the Q2+ report considered by CRMG Scrutiny in January and Cabinet on 1st February. 

The Third Quarter Update Reports focus on the Portfolio performance measures which are reported where new data or forecasts are available since the Mid-Year Reports.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

·         Consider the Third Quarter Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports;  

·         Review the progress against key measures, 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.

Sustainable Stockport

Alan Lawson on 474 5397 or email: alan.lawson@stockport.gov.uk  or Lisa Joy on 474 4044 or email: lisa.joy@stockport.gov.uk

Inclusive Neighbourhoods

Lisa Calvert-Choi on 07815 997 572 or email: lisa.calvert-choi@stockport.gov.uk or Stephen Pate on 218 1086 or email: stephen.pate@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Place Management submitted a joint report of the Director and the Service Director for Strategy and Commissioning (copies of which had been circulated) providing the third quarter update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports for the Inclusive Neighbourhoods and Sustainable Stockport Portfolios.  These provide a summary of progress in delivering the Portfolio priority outcomes since the mid-year reports.

The Cabinet Member for Inclusive Communities (Councillor Amanda Peers) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

Sustainable Stockport Portfolio

·         It was suggested that the council could do more to address failing rates of activity amongst children though the subsidisation of clubs and sporting activities.

·         It was suggested that the indicators in the report could be presented differently to better illustrates whether trends were improving or deteriorating.

·         Concern was expressed that the lack of leisure facilities in the Marple area was driving a reduction in activity amongst young people in the area.

·         Work was taking place to encourage physical activity that was not dependent on physical settings, such as through the use of greenspace.

·         Anecdotal complaints of missed bin collections were raised by members.  In response, it was stated that members of the public should be encouraged to report missed bin collections so these issues could be addressed.

·         Further information was requested in relation to the number of prosecutions for fly-tipping in the borough.

·         Work was taking place with TLC to look at decarbonisation including the examination of alternative fuels for their vehicles.

·         It was requested that members be provided with additional information on the use of cameras to detect and prosecute those who fly-tip.

Inclusive Communities Portfolio

·         Further information was requested in relation to cross-boundary crime and the proportion of crimes in Stockport that were committed by Stockport residents.

·         The work being undertaken to commemorate those who lost their lives as a result of the covid pandemic was discussed, including the opportunities for members of the public to make suggestions.  It was stated that the criteria for this was purposefully loose to allow people to make suggestions suitable and appropriate to the specific circumstances.

·         The number of learners from priority areas had plateaued although it was stated that  a new officer had been appointed who role was focus on enhancing and engaging communities into adult learning.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report presents a draft of the latest three-year iteration of Safer Stockport Partnership’s Plan, covering 2022 to 2025 (the previous plan covered 2018-2021).

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

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

The Director of Place Management submitted a report of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive (copies of which had been circulated) presenting a draft of the latest three-year iteration of Safer Stockport Partnership’s Plan, covering 2022 to 2025 (the previous plan covered 2018-2021).

The Cabinet Member for Inclusive Communities (Councillor Amanda Peers) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was important that the priorities of the council and Greater Manchester Police remained closely aligned.  In response, it was stated that close cooperation through the Safer Stockport Partnership Board, the Greater Manchester Police, Fire and Crime Panel and other informal groups meant that this alignment was embedded in the policy setting process.

·         It would be useful Stockport’s District Commander (Chief Superintendent John Webster) were to attend a future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee to outline his priorities and to respond to members’ questions.

·         The resources allocated to road policing had doubled, although it was acknowledged that this remained insufficient to tackle all of the issues across Greater Manchester.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

There has been considerable interest from Councillors in the concept of slower speed initiatives to encourage walking and cycling and improve road safety.  Councillors have been concerned both about speeding and encouraging people to stay within the speed limit across the highway network and also about considering appropriate speeds for different areas and in particular encouraging 20mph and reduced vehicle activity in residential areas.

This report provides an overview of the information provided to the all-Party Working Group on slower speed initiatives, a summary of their discussions and a set of recommendations relating to the issues raised.

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

Officer contact: Sue Stevenson on 0161-474-4351 or email: sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Place Management submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of the information provided to the all-Party Working Group on slower speed initiatives, a summary of their discussions and a set of recommendations relating to the issues raised.

The Cabinet Member for Inclusive Communities (Councillor Amanda Peers) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         There was a clear demonstration of political support for 20mph zones in residential areas.

·         The report set out the Council’s ambition with regard to slower speeds and embeds this in existing council policies such as

·         There was a commitment that this matter would be the subject of annual reporting to the Scrutiny Committee.

·         Where lower speed limits were implemented, they needed to be done with credibility and believability with a reasonable expectation that people would comply.

·         It was acknowledged that there was a funding challenge with the widespread implementation of 20mph zones.

·         Concern was expressed that there had not been a significant change in the number of accidents or casualties over a 10 year period which suggested there was a strong justification for action to be taken.

·         In response to a question, it was stated that there was no automatic assumption that vertical traffic calming devices were necessary for a 20mph speed zone, however any such scheme needed to be self-enforcing through measures appropriate to that specific location.

·         Reduced speed limits were an effective tool to bring down average speeds on residential roads.

·         Greater Manchester Police were actively looking to restart the community speedwatch initiative.

·         It was important that the Cabinet took swift action to implement the recommendations contained within the report.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Cabinet be recommended to adopt an ambitious timescale for the implementation of the recommendations contained within the report.

To consider a report of the Director of Public Health.

Stockport’s current Active Communities Strategy 2019-2021 was launched in Autumn 2019 and, despite the challenges presented by the pandemic since March 2020, has demonstrated positive impact over the past 24 months.

This report provides an update on the refreshed ONE Stockport Active Communities Strategy. The updated strategy will continue to adopt a whole systems methodology, but one that is aligned to the new national, Greater Manchester and local priorities, as well as continuing to mitigate against the negative impact of Covid-19 on the wider health and wellbeing of people in Stockport.

The Committee is recommended to :

(1) Comment on the strategy principles, implementation priorities, success criteria and wider outcomes.

(2) Note and endorse the continuation of a whole systems methodology for the ONE Stockport Active Communities Strategy 2022-2030.

Officer contact: Russ Boaler/ Megan Palin on 0161 474 3941, or email: russ.boaler@stockport.gov.uk / megan.palin@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Public Health submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the refreshed ONE Stockport Active Communities Strategy.

The updated strategy would continue to adopt a whole systems methodology, but one that was aligned to the new national, Greater Manchester and local priorities, as well as continuing to mitigate against the negative impact of Covid-19 on the wider health and wellbeing of people in Stockport.

The Cabinet Member for Inclusive Communities (Councillor Amanda Peers) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         There were colour coded routes available in some parks that allowed users to readily identify accessible walking routes.

·         Concern was expressed in relation to the marked reduction in physical activity since 1961 identified in the report.

·         GPs were still able to distribute swimming and gym vouchers.

·         It was suggested that insufficient was being done to promote healthy lifestyles.

·         Work needed to be done to identify any barriers to accessing leisure facilities or greenspace, including gaps in public transport provision.

·         A high percentage of journeys under a mile in length were undertaken by car.

·         Society was being increasingly driven to be sedentary.

·         The focus was on encouraging people to be more active more often rather than setting daunting targets.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Report of the Director of Place Management.

Under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, local authorities can introduce Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) to deal with particular nuisance or problems in a designated area that has become detrimental to the local community and is interfering with the right to a decent quality of life.

A PSPO was introduced in September 2018 following a previous consultation. The measures introduced were intended to promote responsible dog ownership.  The Council carried out a consultation exercise on renewal of the previous PSPO.  This paper sets out the consultation undertaken so far, issues identified around enforcement of a PSPO, alternative options for addressing the problems Stockport and the legal basis for a PSPO.

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

Officer contact: Ian O'Donnell on 0161 474 4175 or email: Ian.odonnell@stockport.gov.uk.

The Director of Place Management submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the outcome of a public consultation with regard to the renewal of the existing public space protection order (PSPO) to promote responsible dog ownership.  The report further outlined the issues identified around enforcement of the order, alternative options for addressing the problems in Stockport and the legal basis for making the order

The Cabinet Member for Inclusive Communities (Councillor Amanda Peers) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The proposed level at which the fixed penalty notices were set were the maximum that could be imposed.

·         The council had issued relatively few fixed penalty notices, with the purpose of the PSPOs being to encourage responsible dog ownership and behaviour change rather than to impose fines.

·         Consideration should be given to widening the scope of the PSPO to limit the length of the dog leads.

·         Many dog owners wanted a site were dogs were permitted to run free, however it would be difficult in practice to develop such a facility within parks.

·         The lack of litter bins did not excuse a failure to pick up or properly dispose of dog waste.

·         New signage and social media would be used to promote the new PSPO.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report details the Councils updated draft Gambling Act (2005) Statement of Principles of Licensing 2022-2025 (The Policy)

The draft Policy has been subject to a public consultation and subsequent review by the Corporate Leadership Team (CLT). As part of the governance process, the draft Policy is now presented to scrutiny Committee for comment.

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

Officer contact: Sarah Tooth on 0161 474 4176 or email: sarah.tooth@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Place Management submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the Council’s updated draft Gambling Act (2005) Statement of Principles of Licensing 2022-2025 which had been subject to a public consultation.

The Cabinet Member for Inclusive Communities (Councillor Amanda Peers) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer).

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.