Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 13 June 2011.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 13 June 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.

The following interests were declared:-

Personal Interests

To report any urgent action taken under the Constitution since the last meeting of the 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.

Six questions were asked.

(i) The first question sought a date for the results of the review of the future of the Peel Moat Leisure Centre and whether the need to sell the land of the former Heatons Campus of Stockport College to meet the redevelopment cost for the Town Centre Campus would mean the closure of the Peel Moat Centre.

The Executive Councillor (Leisure) responded that it was anticipated that the comprehensive consultation on the Leisure Review would commence in the near future, with results expected in the autumn. The statements made at an earlier time regarding how local demand for leisure services in the north of the Borough could be met would form part of the consultation.

In relation to the revenue generated from the sale of the former Heatons Campus site it was replied that this was a matter for Stockport College as land owners.

(ii) The second question related to the impact on road safety of the removal of school crossing patrols.

The questioner also presented a 165 signature petition objecting to the proposed removal of the crossing patrol at Gorton Road and Longford Road.

The Executive Councillor (Transportation) replied that the review of school crossing patrols had sought to bring provision in Stockport in line with government guidance to ensure their efficacy. Where patrols had been removed the Council would seek to use these resources to enhance road safety through road maintenance or improvements.

The Chair clarified that there was no facility to submit petitions to the meeting, however she agreed to use her discretion and accepted the petition.

(iii) The third question related to the impact on road safety of the proposed removal of three crossing patrols on the B6167 in Reddish.

The Executive Councillor (Transportation) replied that the answer was the same as the response given previously.

(iv) The fourth question related to the projected savings to the 2011/12 budget following changes to the schools crossing provision.

The Executive Councillor (Transportation) replied that the priority for the review was safety rather than savings, as had been stressed at the Council Meeting in February. Nonetheless it was anticipated that there would be a saving of approximately £40,000 in the current year rising to approximately £60,000 in subsequent years.

(v) The fifth question related to the delay caused by reassessing proposals to changes to schools crossing patrols by representations received to them and asking which crossing patrol changes had been reassessed following representations and whether any patrols had been changed from being retained to being removed.

The Executive Councillor (Transportation) replied that he had given consideration to all representations received and where there was a valid concern he had asked for the site to be reassessed.

The sites that had been retained following reassessment were those at Church Lane, Marple (All Saints RC Primary), Councillor Lane, Cheadle (Brookside Primary) and Hawthorne Road (Gatley Primary). No sites had been identified for removal that had previously been identified for retention.

(vi) The sixth question related to the proposed Highway Safety and Repairs Policy and whether the use of cones to cover missing grid covers should be considered an appropriate temporary repair, whether the target of 28 days for the replacement of missing grid covers was often exceeded and what was planned to address performance in this respect.

The Executive Councillor (Transportation) replied that when grids were being stolen the Council was responding as quickly as possible with the use of cones to mark the site and cover the hole, which was the best solution where the cover could not be immediately replaced. Due to a high demand nationally for grid covers the Council had to work hard  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

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

The Corporate, Resource Management & Governance Scrutiny Committee submitted its findings into its review of Council Communications in March 2011. The report and the attached document is the Executive’s response to the recommendations made by the Scrutiny Committee.

The Executive Meeting is recommended to adopt the response.

Officer contact: Ian Ratcliffe, 0161 474 3059, ian.ratcliffe@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Customer Focus) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider a draft response to the recommendations following the Scrutiny Review carried out by the Corporate, Resource Management & Governance Scrutiny Committee into council communications.

RESOLVED – (1) That the response to the Scrutiny Review into council communications as set out in the report be approved.

(2) That gratitude and appreciation be recorded for the work undertaken by members of the Scrutiny Review Panel and supporting staff involved in conducting the review.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Transportation)

The report details a policy and plan to improve the way in which Highway Safety Inspection and Repairs are carried out in Stockport.

The aim of the policy is to establish an effective regime of inspection, assessment and recording to support highway maintenance. The Safety Inspection regime provides the basic information for addressing the first core objective of highway maintenance, network safety. This policy will be supported by a plan, which will be reviewed annually, of more detailed procedure for use by the inspectors.

The Executive Meeting is recommended to adopt the Policy and Plan for use.

Officer contact: Andrew Suggett/Sue Stevenson, 0161 474 5694/ 4351, sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk / Andrew.suggett@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Transportation) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to approve a policy to improve the regime for highway safety inspection and repairs carried out in Stockport with the aim to improve the overall standard of the network and value for money.

RESOLVED – That the Highway Safety Inspection and Repairs Policy Statement and Plan be approved and adopted for use.

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

The Executive last adopted a five year HR Strategy on the 11 December 2006. A high level summary of the effectiveness of the previous strategy is shown at appendix 2 of the report. A HR Strategy is designed to provide direction for the management and development of people across the organisation. It is an over-arching document that when linked to Council priorities and business planning processes informs workforce planning and development, employment policy development, procedures and practice.

The HR Strategy attached at appendix 1 has been developed in conjunction with Council directorates, and has been the subject of consultation with the recognised Trades Unions, a range of partner organisations, Corporate Resource Management & Governance Scrutiny Committee and has the endorsement of the Council’s Corporate Leadership Team.

The Executive Meeting is recommended to approve the Human Resources Strategy.

Officer contact: Phil Badley, 0161 474 3110, phil.badley@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Customer Focus) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider the revised HR Strategy for 2011-2014. The report also contained an assessment of the effectiveness of the previous Strategy which covered the period 2006-2011.

RESOLVED – That the HR Strategy for 2011-2014 be approved.