Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 17 December 2012.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 17 December 2012 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

No declarations of interest were made.

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

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 can also submit via the Council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/publicquestions)

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

One question had been submitted by a member of the public who was not present at the meeting. It was stated that in accordance with the Code of Practice a written response would be provided.

To consider whether it is in the public to exclude the public during consideration of agenda item 10 (Future of Reablement Services) which contains information “not for publication by virtue of Category 4 ‘Information relating to any consultations or negotiations, or contemplated consultations or negotiations, in connection with any labour relations matter arising between the authority or a Minister of the Crown and employees of, or office-holders under the authority’ as set out in the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of information which was not for publication relating to any consultations or negotiations, or contemplated consultations or negotiations, in connection with any labour relations matter arising between the authority or a Minister of the Crown and employees or, or office-holders under the authority (Category 4 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended) the disclosure of which would not be in the public interest, would not be fair and would be in breach of Data Protection principles, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the ‘not for publication’ appendix to agenda item 10 (ISSK: Proposal to return Home Support to Council Control) should the content of the appendix need to be discussed.

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance)

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

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Executive Meeting on the forecasts for the Council’s finances for the period 2013/14 to 2016/17 taking account of the provisional local government finance settlement published on 19 December 2012. The report updated the information submitted to the Executive Meeting on 17 December 2012.

RESOLVED – That

·         the details of the provisional local government finance settlement, in particular the Authority’s Start-Up Funding Allocation and Business Rates Baseline figures be noted;

·         the financial forecast for 2013/14 to 2016/17, and the key issues to be addressed in formulating a response to the financial challenges facing the Council be noted;

·         the indicative budget adjustments set out in paragraph 3.3 of the report be approved;

·         the indicative cumulative savings requirement for 2013/14 of £5.434m and £15.003m for 2014/15 in addition to the ‘post CSR’ forecasts to 2016/17 be noted;

·         the Executive Councillors and Corporate Directors be requested to continue to develop spending plans and savings proposals to meet the remaining indicative savings requirement for 2013/14 and to report on progress;

·         approval be given to taking the steps necessary to agree a final balanced budget proposal for 2013/14 and an updated Medium Term Financial Plan to 2014/15 for presentation to the Executive Meeting on 18 February 2013 and the Budget Council Meeting on 5 March 2013.

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance)

Officer contact: Alison Blount, 0161 474 5107, Alison.blount@stockport.gov.uk

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to set the Council Tax Base for Stockport for 2013/14. The impact of the Council’s Local Council Tax Support and Local Discount Scheme, approved at the Council Meeting on 20 December 2012, had been included in the calculation.

RESOLVED – That based on the calculations and assumptions set out in the report the Stockport Council Tax Base for 2013/14 be set at a Band D equivalent figure of 87,639.46

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance)

Officer contact: Alison Blount, 0161 474 5107, alison.blount@stockport.gov.uk

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider the impact of the new Business Rates Retention Scheme which would come into effect on 1 April 2013, and to agree the forecast for Business Rates for the Borough.

RESOLVED – That

·         approval be given to 2013/14 Business Rates forecast of £88.758m, in line with the calculation made by the Department for Communities and Local Government in disaggregating Estimated Business Rates Aggregate in the Start Up Funding Allocation set out in the Medium Term Financial Plan Update Report considered earlier in the meeting (see Minute 6 above);

·         approval be given to the NNDR1 return included at Appendix One of the report; and

·         the Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) be authorised to make the decision as to whether or not the Council join the Greater Manchester Business Rates Pool.

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

The report sets out a proposal to establish a local HealthWatch organisation in Stockport. The Health and Social Care Act introduced the creation of a new local consumer champion for health and social care called ‘Local HealthWatch’.  Most Local HealthWatch organisations will build on the existing LINk membership (Local Involvement Network).

Local HealthWatch will be:

•        An easily identifiable organisation, which will

•        Champion the voice of the public (consumers of health and adult social care services) and exert consumer influence, and

•        Collaborate with other organisations representing user, carer and consumer interests, contributing to holding the health service and adult social care services to account

The Council is developing Local HealthWatch in Stockport as a genuinely lay member-led organisation, governed by a Board, which is elected by its members.  Consultation with local residents and the wider LINk membership has been taken into consideration in designing the Local HealthWatch model for Stockport.

The Executive is invited to:-

·         consider the report and the proposed model for Local HealthWatch in Stockport

·         give approval to establishing ‘HealthWatch Stockport’ in the form described.

Officer contact: Sarah Newsam, 07891 949204, sarah.newsam@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Health & Wellbeing) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to agree to establish a Local HealthWatch organisation for Stockport as a new local consumer champion for health and social care, as required by the Health & Social Care Act 2012.

RESOLVED – That the creation and establishment of ‘HealthWatch Stockport’ on the proposed model and structure described in the report be approved, and that detailed protocols for the Council to exercise its governance responsibilities be preprared.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Adult Care Services)

This report outlines the current financial and organisational position with respect to ISSK. Following a period of consultation between ISSK and staff discussions have been taking place regarding a possible return of the home support service back to Council control. Permission is sought from the Executive to collaborate with ISSK on a further 30 day consultation period with staff regarding a potential return to the Council.

The Executive is recommended to agree that:-

·         the home support elements of ISSK returns to the Council as soon as is practicable bearing in mind all HR and Legal requirements. 

·         Consultation commence with staff on a transfer back to the Council bearing in mind the changes proposed

·         further work be undertaken on ISSK’s residual services  with a view to bringing proposals back to the Executive once an appropriate way forward is identified.

Officer contact: Terry Dafter, 0161 474 4401, terry.dafter@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Adult Care Services) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider proposals to return the home support / reablement service back to the Council from ISSK in order to improve performance and to take advantage of opportunities for collaborative and integrated working with health and social care partners.

(NOTE: the report included information ‘Not for Publication’ contained within its appendix that had been circulated to executive councillors only)

Executive Councillors highlighted improvements had already been achieved in care for vulnerable residents through the work of ISSK.

The Leader of the Council stated that trade unions had played an active role in developing these proposals.

RESOLVED – (1) That approval be given to the transfer of the home support/ reablement elements of ISSK to the Council as soon as practicable subject to all necessary Human Resources and Legal requirements being met, and that approval be given to undertake further consultation with staff on these proposed changes.

(2) That a further review be undertaken on the residual services of ISSK with a view to proposals being made to the Executive on the appropriate way forward, including the option of these services remaining with a reduced size ISSK.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Public Realm)

The Council is required to review its gambling policy every three years and the report attached details the proposed changes for the 2013-16 policy. There has been a widespread consultation involving the public and other interested parties. The policy has been reviewed in light of any comments made. The policy has previously been considered by both the Licensing Environment and Safety Committee and the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee.

The Executive is asked to endorse the proposed Statement of Principles and recommend their adoption as Council policy at a future Council Meeting.  

Officer contact: Ian O’Donnell, 0161 474 4175, ian.odonnell@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Public Realm) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider proposed revisions to the Council’s Gambling Policy in light of representations received as part of the statutory three-year review.

RESOLVED – That the proposed Statement of Principles be endorsed and the Council Meeting be recommended to adopt the revised Gambling Policy.

To consider a joint report of the Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) and the Executive Councillor (Supporting Communities)

The report provides details of a draft rent strategy for Council Dwellings for the period 2012-2017.  The strategy details three aims:

·         To put rent setting into a local and national context;

·         To set a strategic framework for setting rents over the next five years; and,

·         To facilitate more regular consultation on the approach in Stockport and ensure a wider group of tenants and stakeholders are informed about the implications of setting rents.

The strategy endorses the view that the case for following rent restructuring is compelling and needed to ensure a sustainable HRA that maintains and enhances the current housing stock and provides excellent services to tenants in Stockport.

The Executive is recommended to endorse the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Rent Strategy 2012 – 2017.

Officer contact: Paul Lawrence, 0161 474 4515, paul.lawrence@stockport.gov.uk 

The Executive Councillor (Supporting Communities) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider a rent strategy for 2012-2017 that would set a framework for the annual rent increases required as part of the thirty year business plan and asset management plan for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).

Executive Councillors commended the improvements to the housing stock achieved so far and stressed the need to ensure the deliverability of future improvements through the HRA business plan and asset management plan.

RESOLVED – That the Housing Revenue Account Rent Strategy 2012-2017 be endorsed and approved.