Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 8 August 2011.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 8 August 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 meeting of the Executive.

The Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, has appointed Councillor Hazel Lees to the Board of Stockport Sports Trust to replace Councillor Mags Kirkham. The reason for urgency was to ensure that the Council had full representation at the meeting of the Board on 30 August 2011.

The following urgent decision was 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 related to why no budget savings were proposed within the Marketing and Communications service of the Council and whether or not a BITE Review of the service should have been undertaken.

The Leader of the Council replied that the service had already been involved in three BITE Reviews, had reduced the number of publications such as The Review and had stopped some printed publications entirely. It was also commented that communications activity was centralised to improve efficiency, and with ongoing reductions in resources.

(ii) The second question related to the recent article in the press suggesting that the rent paid by Stockport Credit Union for the use of First House would be increasing and attributing certain statements to Council officers.

The Executive Councillor (Communities) replied that the suggestion that the rent would be increasing as reported was inaccurate and that the Council was investigating ways to support the Credit Union.

The Corporate Director for Place clarified that the comments attributed to him in the press did not reflect the context of the discussion had at the Central Stockport Area Committee and that he was continuing to investigate the details of the issues raised at that meeting.

The Executive Councillor (Finance) further clarified that the current budget proposals did not include any increase in rents for community groups using Council facilities.

(iii) The third question sought clarification on the reasons for the recent withdrawal of a consultation document sent to the Allotment Society.

The Executive Councillor (Leisure) replied that the document contained misleading information relating to rents which did not form part of any proposals and that every effort would be made to ensure no such errors occurred in the future.

(iv) The fourth question asked why a proposed controlled pedestrian crossing had not been agreed as part of a traffic scheme on Bramhall Moor Lane and what advice had been given by officers in relation to its replacement by refuge islands.

The Executive Councillor (Transportation) replied that the advice he had received was that refuge islands were safer than a controlled crossing at this location but that he would investigate the matter further.

(v) The fifth question related to the Council’s policy in respect of providing Halal meat in schools and whether this was sourced from suppliers that stunned the animals prior to slaughter. Clarification was also sought on whether Halal meat was used in meals for pupils who did not have this dietary requirement.

The Executive Councillor (Children & Young People) replied that responsibility for school meals was with the schools themselves, but that where the services of Solutions SK were used for school meals there were only three schools who provided Halal meat and this was sourced from suppliers that stunned animals prior to slaughter. It was also clarified that Halal meat was only used in meals that were clearly marked as containing the product.

(vi) The sixth question asked about the support the Council was providing to businesses and community groups to enhance the Reddish District Centre.

The Executive Councillor (Regeneration) replied that the Council had supported its district centres for a number of years, including Reddish, and that it would continue to work with those interested in enhancing these areas and encouraged the questioner to approach the local Area Committee for further assistance.

One further question had been received prior to the meeting from a questioner who was not present at the meeting and in accordance with the procedure for asking questions it was stated that a written response would be provided.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Adults & Health)

The report proposes a new community development on the site of the former Council run Woodbank Nursery, outlining the proposed partnerships and beneficiaries, legal structure, implications, costs and intended outcomes.

The proposed aim of this new project is to create a supportive but informal affiliation of community groups focused on positive natural parks activities. This aspiration of bringing the community and social enterprises together gives a common purpose and interlinking between the different organisations which enables the most effective use of the resources and cross support of activities

The Executive is recommended to

·   authorise the Council’s participation in the development of a CIC to support wider horticultural activities in keeping with the park environment. Approval of the structure and detail of the CIC can be delegated to the Directors of People and Places including nomination of Directors.

·   support the recommendation to construct a new community building subject to due planning processes.

Officer contact: Nick Dixon, 07866 999540, nick.dixon@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillors (Finance) and (Adults & Health) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive to consider a proposal for a new community development on the site of the former Woodbank Nursery through a community Interest Company, with the aim of creating a supportive but informal affiliation of community groups focused on positive natural parks activities.

RESOLVED – (1) That approval be given to:-

·         the Council participating in the development of a Community Interest Company (CIC) to support wider horticultural activities at the former Woodbank Nursery in keeping with the park environment;

·         the structure and detail of the CIC being delegated to the Director for People and the Director of Place, including the nomination of Directors of the Company.

(2) That, without prejudice to any future planning application, support be given to the recommendation to construct a new community building at the former Woodbank Nursery site to support the activities of the CIC.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Communities)

The purpose of this report is to update the Executive on negotiations with the Homes & Communities Agency (HCA) and to seek approval to enter into agreement with the HCA to deliver the Affordable Homes Programme.

The Executive is recommended to

• approve that the Council enter into the HCA Affordable Homes Framework agreement, subject to a mechanism being put in place which allows the conversion of Council housing on re-let to affordable rents.
• approve that the Council enter into agreement with the Accent Group to deliver affordable homes
• approve that the Council enter into an agreement with Stockport Homes to deliver and manage the new build development programme.
• approve (subject to the mechanism previously described) a conversion cap of 282 properties (10 per cent of total relets) to be relet at 80% of market rent to facilitate building 56 homes, with the potential to build additional homes subject to additional HCA funding. Relets at the affordable rent level, will, initially be limited to 5%, which will be sufficient to fund the 56 unit programme, with additional homes relet at 70% of market rent, subject to HCA agreement, up to the 10% cap, only being progressed if further funding from the HCA becomes available.
• request that a policy is developed in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Communities to ensure that relets at an affordable rent are made in a fair and equitable manner.

Officer contact: Andy Kippax, 0161 474 4319, andy.kippax@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Communities) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to approve the Council entering into agreement with the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to deliver the Affordable Homes Programme.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to:-

·         the Council entering into the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA)  Affordable Homes Framework agreement, subject to a mechanism being put in place which allows the conversion of Council housing on re-let to affordable rents;

·         the Council entering into agreement with the Accent Group to deliver affordable homes;

·         the Council entering into an agreement with Stockport Homes to deliver and manage the new build development programme;

·         subject to the mechanism described in the report, a conversion cap of 282 properties (10 per cent of total relets) to be relet at 80% of market rent to facilitate building 56 homes, with the potential to build additional homes subject to additional HCA funding; relets at the affordable rent level to initially be limited to 5% to fund the 56 unit programme, with additional homes relet at 70% of market rent, subject to HCA agreement, up to the 10% cap, only being progressed if further funding from the HCA becomes available, and

·         a policy being developed in consultation with the Executive Councillor (Communities) to ensure that relets at an affordable rent be made in a fair and equitable manner.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Finance)

The report outlines the prospects for the Council’s finances for the medium term taking the 2011/12 revenue budget as its starting point and including forecasts for 2012/13 to 2014/15. The report is intended to provide the Executive with a starting point to inform:-

The report provides Members with a starting point which will inform:

·         The deliberations around priorities and outcomes for the update of the Council Plan;

·         The preparation of medium term business plans covering all of the Council’s services;

·         The development of a balanced and sustainable budget for 2012/13, and an updated Medium Term Financial Plan through to 2014/15

The Executive is recommended to:-

·         Note the position for the current year 2011/12 and that a detailed half year monitoring report will be submitted to the Executive Meeting of 7 November 2011;

·         Note, and comment upon as appropriate, the range of financial forecasts for 2013/13 to 2014/15, and the key issues to be addressed in formulating a response to the financial challenges facing the Council;

·         Approve the 2012/13 starting point set out in Appendix One and agree the adjustments and the resultant indicative spending plan as set out in Appendix Three;

·         Note the indicative savings requirement for 2012/13 of £13.521m as disclosed in Appendix Five;

·         Request that Executive Councillors and Corporate Directors develop spending plans and savings proposals (including those arising from the Corporate Efficiency Plan) to meet the indicative savings requirement for 2012/13 and to report on progress;

·         Take the steps necessary to agree a final balanced budget proposal for 2012/13 and an updated Medium Term Financial Plan to 2014/15 for presentation to the Council meeting on 23 February 2012;

Officer contact: Steve Houston, 0161 474 4000, steve.houston@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Finance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Executive Meeting with an outline of the prospects for the Council’s finances in the medium term to inform the deliberations around priorities and outcomes for the updated Council Plan, the preparation of the medium term business plans covering all of the Council’s services and the development of a balanced and sustainable budget for 2012/13 and an updated Medium Term Financial Plan to 2014/15.

RESOLVED – That

·         the position for the current year 2011/12 be noted and that a detailed half year monitoring report be submitted to the Executive Meeting of 7 November 2011;

·         the financial forecasts for 2013/13 to 2014/15, and the key issues to be addressed in formulating a response to the financial challenges facing the Council be noted;

·         the 2012/13 starting point set out in Appendix One be approved and the adjustments and the resultant indicative spending plan as set out in Appendix Three be agreed;

·         the indicative savings requirement for 2012/13 of £13.521m as disclosed in Appendix Five be noted;

·         Executive Councillors and Corporate Directors be requested to develop spending plans and savings proposals (including those arising from the Corporate Efficiency Plan) to meet the indicative savings requirement for 2012/13 and to report on progress to a future meeting, and

·         approval be given to take the steps necessary to agree a final balanced budget proposal for 2012/13 and an updated Medium Term Financial Plan to 2014/15 for presentation to the Council meeting on 23 February 2012.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Finance)

The proposals contained in the report take as their starting point the Indicative Budget for 2012/13 set out in the report of the Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services elsewhere on the agenda for this meeting.  Within a range of potential outcomes that report estimates that there will be an ongoing savings requirement of around £13.5m (illustrative case) in 2012/13, rising to £31.6m by 2014/15.

The Executive is recommended to:-

·         agree the savings proposals for consultation as set out in the report and listed in Appendix Two;

·         ask the Chief Executive and Corporate Directors, in consultation with the relevant Executive Councillors, to undertake the appropriate consultation exercises and to develop implementation plans, including impact and risk assessments, to facilitate the delivery of the proposals set out in this report by April 2012;

·         agree that the proposals be re-submitted for the Executive’s approval at its meeting in December

·         continue with the steps necessary to agree a final balanced budget proposal for 2012/13 and an updated Medium Term Financial Plan to 2014/15 for presentation to the Council budget meeting in February 2012; and

·         report to all scrutiny committees in the next cycle outlining the savings proposals relating to the specific Scrutiny Committee’s remit.

Officer contact: Steve Houston, 0161 474 4000, steve.houston@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Finance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider proposals, arising from the indicative budget as detailed in the previous report, to meet the estimated savings requirement of approximately £13.5m (illustrative case) in 2012/13, rising to £31.6m by 2014/15.

Executive Councillors summarised the proposals as they related to their portfolios.

RESOLVED – That

·         the savings proposals as set out in the report and listed in Appendix Two be agreed for consultation;

·         the Chief Executive and Corporate Directors, in consultation with the relevant Executive Councillors, be requested to undertake the appropriate consultation exercises and to develop implementation plans, including impact and risk assessments, to facilitate the delivery of the proposals set out in this report by April 2012;

·         the proposals be re-submitted for the Executive’s approval at its meeting in December 2011;

·         approval be given to continue with the steps necessary to agree a final balanced budget proposal for 2012/13 and an updated Medium Term Financial Plan to 2014/15 for presentation to the Council budget meeting in February 2012; and

·         a report be submitted to all scrutiny committees in the next cycle outlining the savings proposals relating to each Scrutiny Committee’s remit.

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council

The report sets out the draft Business Programme for the municipal years 2012/13 & 2013/14, in which it is proposed to move to a six week cycle for meetings of the Executive, Scrutiny Committees and Regulatory Committees from the Annual Council Meeting in 2012. The report also proposes minor amendments to the dates of some meetings during the 2011/12 municipal year to facilitate a Council Meeting prior to the commencement of electoral ‘purdah’.

The Executive is requested to recommend approval of the Business Programme to the Council Meeting on 22 September 2011.

Officer contact: Craig Ainsworth, 0161 474 3204, craig.ainsworth@stockport.gov.uk

The Leader of the Council submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider the draft programme of meetings for the municipal years 2012/13 and 2013/14, and proposed amendments to the 2011/12 programme.

RESOLVED – That the Council Meeting be recommended to approve the Business Programmes for the municipal years 2012/13, 2013/14 and the proposed amendments to the 2011/12 Business Programme, subject to the amendment of the date of the Informal Council Meeting in the municipal year 2012/13 from Tuesday, 15 May 2012 to Thursday, 17 May 2012.