Agenda and minutes

Councillors and officers to declare any interest 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 agenda items for the meeting.

No interests were declared.

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

The report sets out the Scrutiny Review Panel Procedure Rules and suggests that the Panel should adopt it for the purpose of conducting the review.

The Panel are requested to formally adopt the Scrutiny Review Panel Rules for the purpose of conducting the review.

Officer Contact: Charles Yankiah on 0161 474 3206 or email: charles.yankiah@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Assistant Director Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Panel to formally adopt the Scrutiny Review Panel Procedure Rules for the review.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Section 151 Officer).

The report outlines the proposed scope and brief for the review.

The Panel is requested to determine the scope of the review and outline any areas they wish to scrutinise further.

Officer contact: Michael Cullen, email: michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Chief Executive (Section 151 Officer) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which aimed to assist the Panel to scope the review and determine the areas which they wish to explore and scrutinise further as part of the Review of Local Government Financial & Governance Sustainability.

The Deputy Chief Executive (Section 151 Officer) informed the Panel that the objective was to provide assurance that the processes and systems in place in Stockport were robust and would provide assurance and mitigation against the recent examples of financial and governance failures in local government. This would be achieved by discussing and exploring the key causes of recent failures in financial and governance arrangements in local government, testing the arrangements that were in place within Stockport considering the recent high-profile reports on financial and governance arrangements in certain local councils and discussing and exploring any learnings that should be applied within Stockport.

Members welcomed the report and thanked the officers for the details in the report.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a joint presentation of the Deputy Chief Executive (Section 151 Officer), the Assistant Director, Legal & Democratic Governance, the CSS Strategic Head of Service, Finance and the CSS Head of Service, Internal Audit, Risk & Insurance.

The report provides details relating to the review of local government financial and governance sustainability.

The Panel is requested to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Michael Cullen, email: michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Chief Executive (Section 151 Officer), the Assistant Director, Legal & Democratic Governance, the CSS Strategic Head of Service, Finance and the CSS Head of Service, Internal Audit, Risk & Insurance submitted a joint report (copies of which had been circulated) providing details relating to the review of local government financial and governance sustainability.

The following comments were made/issues raised: -

·       Members enquired about the continual professional development (CPD) and training for officers and members and the requirements. In response, it was noted that as members of CIPFA, the CPD must be done and would be included in the personal, development & review (PDR) process for both Senior Officers and junior staff. It was stated that the evidence needed to be documented with responses to the PDRs, but more importantly for Stockport to look at the examples shared and lessons learnt.

·       It was commented that Stockport wants people to be the best they can be, rather than getting away with anything as seen from the examples at other authorities.

·       Members commended the management at Stockport and the processes and systems in place to avoid and prevent similar things occurring at other authorities.

·       It was noted that in other authorities where the examples were shown that there was a clear failure in Governance and it was important that elected members were also competent in their functions with a knowledge of what to do to scrutinise and ask the relevant questions.

·       Members thanked the officer team for the ongoing CRMG training that was provided annually, but noted that it was crucial to include in induction courses for new members, regular refresher training for members which would provide confidence and consistency in the approach for decision making and scrutiny.

·       It was commented that it was not just about being the best we could be, but also having successful robust succession planning which was demonstrable through the process. This could include being part of the requirements for the professional bodies, doing an annual quality and improvement plan and re-aligning services with finance colleagues.

·       It was noted that Stockport had strength in its financial management and there was a clear focus on its finances and internal audit processes.

Members thanked the officer team for the presentation and for the concerns and issues highlighted and welcomed the approach through the review.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To provide the Panel with the opportunity to discuss the information and evidence presented by officers and witnesses, receive responses to questions relating to the scope of the review and formulate recommendations.

There were no further questions.

To agree the following and propose new dates for future meetings of the scrutiny review and the timescales for undertaking the review: -

·       10 January 2023

RESOLVED – (1) That the next meeting be held on Tuesday 10^th January 2023.

(2) That the Assistant Director – Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer be authorised to determine future dates of the Panel in consultation with the Chair and the Panel members.