Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 18 May 2011.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 18 May 2011 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.

No declarations of interest were made.

To report any urgent action taken under the Constitution since the last Executive Meeting.

No urgent decisions were reported.

Members of the public are invited to put questions to the Chair and Executive Councillors on any matters within the powers and duties of the Executive, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice.  (Questions must be submitted no later than 30 minutes prior to the commencement of the meeting on the card provided.  These are available at the meeting and at local libraries and information centres. You may also submit your question by email to democratic.services@stockport.gov.uk).

Members of the public were invited to submit questions to the Chair on any matters within the powers and duties of the Executive, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice.

Two questions were asked at the meeting and responses given.

(a) The first question related to the review of School Crossing Patrols and the time taken for the findings to be reported to the Executive Meeting.

The Executive Councillor (Transportation) replied that the decision to review the School Crossing Patrol was a Council Meeting decision on the 2011-12 Budget. The Review was part of the internal process to meet the budget requirements and as such would not be reported back to the Executive. It was anticipated that the review would be completed and the findings reported through the appropriate channels by the end of the month.

(b) The second question related to £505,238 provided to the Council to assist with repairs to roads damaged by the exceptional winter weather and asking when the report on the allocation of this resource would be considered and the work programmed.

The Executive Councillor (Transportation) assured the questioner that officers were actively engaged with a programme of planned maintenance and with reactive repairs and that the additional resource would allow this work to be enhanced. He also stated that he expected the report on the use of this sum to be considered shortly.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Children & Young People)

The Executive Councillor (Children & Young People) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider the Children’s Trust Strategic Plan for 2011-14.

RESOLVED – That the Council Meeting be recommended to approve and adopt the Children’s Trust Strategic Plan 2011-14.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Children & Young People)

The Executive Councillor (Children & Young People) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider the Child Poverty for Stockport. The report also included an Action Plan to accompany the Strategy and an Equality Impact Assessment.

In light of the removal of the requirement for local authorities to produce Equality Impact Assessments (EIA) but the ongoing importance of addressing inequalities in the Borough, the Executive Councillor also invited the Executive Meeting to agree to maintaining the Council’s current requirement to produce an EIA as part of the decision making processes.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Stockport Child Poverty Strategy and Action Plan for 2011-14 be approved and adopted.

(2) That the Children & Young People’s Scrutiny Committee be invited to monitor the implementation of the Strategy and Action Plan.

(3) That the Executive reaffirms the Council’s current practice of requiring the completion of an Equality Impact Assessment as part of the decision making process for Council policies.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Environment)

The Executive Councillor (Environment) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider the Licensing Policy Statement on amendments to the Council’s Licensing Policy in relation to the licensing of premises for regulated entertainment, supply of alcohol and the provision of late night entertainment. The Statement had been produced following the three yearly review and followed extensive consultation.

RESOLVED – That the Council Meeting be recommended to approve and adopt the Statement of Licensing Policy in relation to the licensing of premises for the provision of regulated entertainment, supply of alcohol and provision of late night refreshment and the proposed amendments to the policy as detailed in the report.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Environment)

The Executive Councillor (Environment) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider a proposal to extend the existing arrangements between Stockport Council and Birmingham City Council for the investigation of and enforcement against illegal money lending. The existing successful agreement had delegated the authority of the Council to carry out this work to Birmingham City Council’s Illegal Money Lending Team.

RESOLVED – That the Council Meeting be recommended to:-

·         authorise Birmingham City Council to investigate and institute proceedings against illegal money lenders operating in the Stockport area;

·         agree by virtue of Section 19(1) of the Local Government Act 2000 and Regulation 7 of the Local Authorities (Arrangements for the Discharge of Functions) (England) Regulations 2000 to the delegation of enforcement functions under Part III of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 to the Trading Standards Services of Birmingham City Council subject to those terms and conditions contained in the agreement to be entered into with Birmingham City Council relating to the said delegated function; and

·         approve the “Protocol for Illegal Money Lending Team Investigations” (as detailed at Appendix 1 of the accompanying report) and authorise officers to approve minor alterations as required to ensure agreement to allow the agreement to run from the date when approved by the Council Meeting until 31 March 2015.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Finance)

The Executive Councillor (Finance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider a response to the recommendations contained in the Scrutiny Review undertaken by the Corporate, Resource Management & Governance Scrutiny Committee into the ‘Insurance Service – Claims Management’.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted and the proposed action plan in relation to Insurance Services – Claims Management be approved.

(2) That gratitude be recorded for the work undertaken by the Review Panel and others involved in the review for their work.

To consider a joint report of the Executive Councillors (Communities) and (Finance)

The Executive Councillor (Communities) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive to consider a proposal for the installation of Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Panels on Council houses and properties to be funded through prudential borrowing financed from the feed in tariffs (‘FiT’) available from the Government. The report set out the benefits of the proposal to the borough in lowering energy consumption and carbon footprints of Council properties and houses, as well as identifying potential risks.

RESOLVED – That, in relation to the proposal to install solar PV panels on Council houses and properties:-

• the work already undertaken to progress this proposal be noted and the gratitude be recorded for the work of officers in preparing the proposal;

• in order to benefit from ‘FiT’ funding, it be noted that all installations must be completed before March 2012;

• the use of prudential borrowing of up to £9.5m to finance the project be authorised and that approval be given to the installation of the Solar PV Panels to Council house and properties as set out in the report;

• the option of a framework for schools be investigated;

• the options for the joint procurement of the panels with Stockport Homes will be developed to ensure maximum value for money be noted;

• authority be delegated to the Corporate Director for Corporate & Support Services, in consultation with the Executive Councillor (Finance), to determine the Council properties to be fitted with solar PV panels and the actual level of borrowing to be undertaken.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Regeneration)

Please note that the Greater Manchester Joint Minerals Plan

Development Plan Document, Sustainability Appraisal and Appendices and the Habitats Regulations Assessment are not included in the agenda pack due to their size. These can be viewed online at:-

GM Minerals Plan:

http://stockport-consult.limehouse.co.uk/file/1800439 (40mb)

GM Minerals Plan – Sustainability Appraisal:

 http://stockport-consult.limehouse.co.uk/file/1800252 (0.5mb)

GM Minerals Plan – Sustainability Appraisal Appendices:

http://stockport-consult.limehouse.co.uk/file/1800251 (0.4mb)

GM Minerals Plan – Habitats Regulations Assessment:

 http://stockport-consult.limehouse.co.uk/file/1800255 (1.2mb)

A copy of each of these documents is available for public inspection at Town Hall reception and for councillors in Group Offices.

The Executive Councillor (Regeneration) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider the Greater Manchester Joint Minerals Development Plan Document. The Plan had been developed by a committee of AGMA and sought to provide a set of development control policies to assist in the consideration of mineral related planning applications. The Plan, if approved, would form part ot the Council’s Local Development Framework document.

RESOLVED – That the Council Meeting be recommended to:-

• approve the publication fot he Joint Minerals Development Plan Document and its submission to the Secretary of State, and

• delegate responsibility to the Greater Manchester Joint Minerals Planning Committee for approval of any minor or non-material changes to the published Joint Minerals Development Plan Document before its submission to the Secretary of State for independent examination.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Transportation)

The Executive Councillor (Transportation) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider Stockport’s Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment report, prepared in accordance with the Flood Risk Regulations 2009, for submission to the Environment Agency.

RESOLVED – That Stockport’s Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment be approved for submission to the Environment Agency for review.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Finance)

The Executive Councillor (Finance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the 2010/11 outturn position on the Council’s revenue account.

It was reported that before any additional transfers, there was an overall surplus of £2.837m.  The £1.458m cash limit surplus had largely arisen from within the Children and Young People Portfolio, offset by deficits against Regeneration, Transportation and the Planning and Highways Committee.  The cash limit position at outturn reflected amounts appropriated into portfolio reserves to take action to reduce expenditure in advance and in preparation for 2011/12. There was a non-cash limit surplus of £1.379m.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That approval be given to:-

·         The approach to managing cash and non-cash limit surpluses and deficits set out in the report, including the proposal to fund £.0.200m of the Transportation Portfolio Deficit from General Balances; and

·         The proposed contributions to/from earmarked reserves as described in Section 8 of the report.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Finance)

The Executive Councillor (Finance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing progress on the outcomes of capital projects in 2010/11.

It was reported that final expenditure for 2010/11 was £101.146m, £10.0m higher than the original programme approved by Council in February 2010. The three year programme totalled approximately £200m.

RESOLVED – (1) That progress on capital schemes as set out in Appendix Three and the Prudential Indicators set out in Appendix Four be noted.

(2) That approval be given to:-

• the changes to the capital programme as detailed in Appendix One;

• the resourcing of the capital programme as set out in Appendix Two; and

• the delegation of approval of any final changes to the capital outturn, resourcing and prudential indicators to the Corporate Director for Corporate & Support Services in conjunction with the Executive Councillor (Finance).

To consider a joint report of the Executive Councillors (Communities) and (Finance)

The Executive Councillor (Communities) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the 2010-11 outturn position for the Housing Revenue Account.

RESOLVED – That the 2010-11 Housing Revenue Account outturn position be noted and the treatment of balances as set out in the report be approved.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Customer Focus)

The Executive Councillor (Customer Focus) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of the corporate complaints and statutory adult and children’s social care complaints received by the Council for the fourth quarter of 2010/11. The report also outlines performance in respect of complaints reviewed by the Local Government Ombudsman and any changes to service provision as a result of complaints.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the performance in relation to complaints be welcomed.

(a)               Matters (if any) referred to the Executive Meeting

(b)               Any called-in Executive Decisions

A representative of the Service Director (Legal & Democracy) reported on two referrals that had been made to the Executive:-

(i)         Environment & Economy Scrutiny Committee – 2 June 2011

That the Executive be requested to recommend to the Environment Partnership that its membership be extended to include representation from councillors based upon the proportionality of the Council as a whole.

(ii)        Adults & Communities Scrutiny Committee – 6 June 2011

That the Executive be recommended to give consideration to the re-appointment of councillors to the Safer Stockport Partnership based upon the proportionality of the Council as a whole.

The Executive Meeting was advised that the political proportionality arrangements did not apply to appointments to the partnerships and that the number of seats available to the Council on the partnerships was determined by those bodies.

RESOLVED – That in light of the advice given, the referrals from the Environment & Economy Scrutiny Committee and Adults & Communities Scrutiny Committee be noted and that no further action be taken.