Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 20 September 2018.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 20 September 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

No declarations of interest were made.

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider whether it is in the public interest to exclude the public during that part of the consideration of Agenda Item 5 – ‘Town Centre Regeneration – Merseyway Redevelopment’ which contains information ‘not for publication’ in Appendices 1-7 by virtue of Category 3 ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority)’ as set out in the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

RESOLVED – That it is in the public interest to exclude the public during that part of the consideration of agenda item 5 – ‘Town Centre Regeneration – Merseyway Redevelopment’ which contains information ‘not for publication’ in Appendices 1-7 by virtue of Category 3 ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority)’ as set out in the Local Government Act 1972.

To consider a joint report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration and the Borough Treasurer

The report updates the Scrutiny Committee on the redevelopment strategy for Merseyway. The report provides an overview of the work undertaken since approval at the meeting of the Cabinet held on 19 December 2017, sets out the rationale for the review of the original strategy and provides summaries of the key projects being taken forward.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Paul Richards on 0161 474 2940 or email: paul.richards@stockport.gov.uk

Consideration was given to a joint report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Scrutiny Committee on the redevelopment strategy for the Merseyway shopping centre. The report provided an overview of the work undertaken since approval at the meeting of the Cabinet held on 19 December 2017, set out the rationale for the review of the original strategy and provided summaries of the key projects being taken forward.

(Note: the report included ‘not for publication’ appendices that had been circulated to Members of the Scrutiny Committee only).

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

A Member requested a copy of the market research undertaken.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and regular reports be submitted to the Scrutiny Committee on the redevelopment strategy for Merseyway.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration

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 the suite of Cabinet papers presented to the meeting held on 2 October 2018 and additional updates and information about how the Council is progressing its plans.

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 Economy and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) seeking the views of the Scrutiny Committee in respect of the strategic direction of travel outlined in the overall report and across the five themes, and requesting comments specifically on the proposals presented in the report relevant to the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The first two themes ‘Getting more out of our spending’ and ‘Improving citizen experience’ could be diametrically opposed to each other in that it could be more expensive to provide a better customer experience.

·         The contracts offered to charities had been continually cut by the Council. Staff turnover was therefore high in the charitable sector  which affected the quality of the service provided. It was essential that the Council commissioned the best services from the best provider.

·         Some of the issues raised, such as developing the Digital by Design work and reductions in the Stockport Local Assistance Scheme, would affect the most vulnerable people in society. Councillors assisted residents, on a number of occasions, reporting issues through the Council’s website.

·         A Member felt that the Council’s procurement policies should not by seen as a means of passing on Government cuts in public expenditure.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resource Report (PPRR) for the Economy and Regeneration Portfolio is presented 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 2018). It includes forecast performance and financial data (where this is available) for the Portfolio, along with an update on the portfolio savings programme.

The report is based on the 2018/19 Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreement. This was considered by the Scrutiny Committee on 5 July 2018 and approved by the Cabinet on 17 July 2018.

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 2018/19;

·         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 / 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) setting out the Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resource Report which summarised 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 2018). The report also included forecast performance and financial data for the Portfolio, along with an update on the portfolio savings programme.

The report was based on the 2018/19 Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreement. This had been considered by the Scrutiny Committee on 5 July 2018 and approved by the Cabinet on 17 July 2018.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         An update was requested on the work of the Work and Skills Commission which had met the first time on 31 October 2018.

·         In response to a Member’s question on rail performance, the Scrutiny Committee was advised that the Council was doing everything it could to monitor the situation by holding regular meetings with Northern Rail and there was the opportunity for Councillors to raise issues on rail performance with the Council’s representatives on Transport for Greater Manchester.

·         Footfall in the market had dropped in Quarter 2 in common with most other town centres because of the hot weather.

·         The Corporate Director undertook to keep the Scrutiny Committee updated on the Government’s announcement of additional funding to deal with the problem of potholes.

·         Work on Stockport’s Local Plan continued and the Scrutiny Committee would be updated when there were any further announcements with regard to the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report sets out a review of the Functional Network Hierarchy which identifies the relative importance of a section of adopted highway and so the maintenance levels and inspection levels it will need to receive. The final adopted version of the Functional Network Hierarchy will be used to review the Resilience Network and the Gritting Network to ensure that the routes are receiving appropriate maintenance regimes.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the methodology and recommend the amendments to the Functional Network Hierarchy to the Cabinet for approval and adoption.

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

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out a review of the Functional Network Hierarchy which identified the relative importance of a section of adopted highway and so the maintenance levels and inspection levels it would need to receive. The final adopted version of the Functional Hierarchy would be used to review the Resilience Network and the Gritting Network in order to ensure that the routes were receiving appropriate maintenance regimes.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

RESOLVED – That the Cabinet be recommended to approve and adopt the amendments to the Functional Network Hierarchy.

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: David Clee on 0161 474 3137 or email: david.clee@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 Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items which fell within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.