Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 16 July 2013.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 16 July 2013 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

No declarations of interest were made.

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.

Three questions were submitted.

(i) The first question asked what level of additional funding would be required to address the likely shortfall in funding for highways remediation work (as identified in the Corporate Performance and Resources report on the agenda for the meeting), what the timeframe was for addressing the backlog, and what was the estimated increase in insurance claims related to personal injury or damaged vehicles as a result of non-repair of potholes.

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) replied that the initial value of this shortfall was £1.089m as identified in the same report, along with proposals for addressing this. The timescale to deal with the backlog was estimated at 28 weeks. There was no specific estimate of the potential insurance claims payable, although this had been identified as a risk.

The Leader of the Council added that work was continuing to develop a future investment strategy for the highway network which would assess the capital and future maintenance requirements against the Portfolio’s current available resources.

(ii) The second question asked whether the Council maintained ‘cautionary contacts lists’ of residents whom officers felt were a ‘risk’ to staff, and if so, who had control of them, who had access and whether the Council’s Legal Services were aware of such lists.

The Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services) confirmed that the Council did not keep a single secret separate database of ‘cautionary contact lists’. The Council did have a number of databases which contained a variety of information about individuals which allowed the Council to provide services to them and to provide health and safety information for staff.  An individual had a right to make a Subject Access Request for this information.

The Executive Councillor further replied that the Council had regard to Data Protection Good Practice Guidance Note about the use of warning markers in such databases. This guidance provided that employers had a duty of care to staff to protect them in the workplace and that these markers were a means of identifying and recording individuals who pose, or could possibly pose, a risk to the members of staff who came into contact with them. The use of these markers was done in accordance the principles of the Data Protection Act to act lawfully and fairly.

The Executive Councillor further clarified that Legal Services were aware of the use of these markers and ensured that they complied with legal requirements, and that only senior officers within the Council had access to this data.

(iii) The third question asked when the preferred scheme for the proposed A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road would be published and whether the views of residents in favour of Option 2 (the underpass) at the Macclesfield Road junction (location 6) would be taken into account.

The Executive Councillor (Economic Development & Regeneration) replied that is was anticipated that a report identifying the preferred scheme for the Road would be submitted to the Executive on 1 October 2013, as well as a report on the issues raised within the second phase of public consultation, including the concerns raised by local residents in the vicinity of the proposed junction with Macclesfield Road.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Economic Development & Regeneration)

The report provides an update on the progress of the second phase of the consultation on the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road Scheme and the proposed next stages in the development of the scheme.

The Executive is recommended to:-

(i)        note the report and support the on-going work to develop the final preferred scheme for future approval by the promoting authorities; and

(ii)       support the submission of planning application for associated work at Styal Golf Club and the oil terminal pipeline if necessary.

Officer contact: Sue Stevenson, 0161 474 4351, sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Economic Development & Regeneration) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Executive Meeting on progress of the second phase of the consultation on the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road Scheme and the proposed next stages in the development of the scheme.

Executive councillors welcomed the response rate to the consultation and the continued engagement of the public with the development of the scheme.

RESOLVED - That

(i)      the report be noted and support be given to the on-going work to develop the final preferred scheme for the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road for future approval by the promoting authorities; and

(ii)     support be given to the submission of planning application for associated work at Styal Golf Club and the oil terminal pipeline if necessary.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Economic Development & Regeneration)

The report sets out the proposed response of the Executive to the recommendations contained in the final report of the Scrutiny Review ‘Skills and Employment’ which was received by the Executive on 16 July 2013.

The Executive is invited to agree to the responses to the recommendations of the Scrutiny Review as detailed in the report.

Officer contact: Richard Mortimer, 0161 474 3864, Richard.mortimer@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Economic Development & Regeneration) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider a draft response to the recommendations made by the Environment & Economy Scrutiny Committee as part of its Review ‘Skills and Employment’.

RESOLVED – (1) That the response to the ‘Skills and Employment’ Scrutiny Review be approved.

(2) That the Executive’s gratitude and appreciation be recorded for the work undertaken by members of the scrutiny review panel and supporting staff involved in the review.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services)

The report details the operation and effectiveness of the Council's Treasury Management function for 2012/13. 

The Council’s 2012/13 Treasury Management Policy Statement and Practices were approved at the Council meeting on 27 September 2012.  No amendments have been made to the Policy Statement and Practices during the 2012/13 financial year.

The Council has complied with the requirement under the CIPFA Treasury Management Code to give prior scrutiny of treasury management reports by the Corporate, Resource Management and Governance Scrutiny Committee before they were reported to the full Council.  Member training on treasury management issues was provided on 3 December 2012 in order to support Members’ Scrutiny and Executive role.

During 2012/13, the Council complied with its legislative and regulatory requirements.  The key prudential and treasury indicators detailing the impact of capital expenditure activities during the year, with comparators are found in the main body of the report.  The Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services confirms that borrowing was only undertaken for a capital purpose and the statutory borrowing limit (the authorised limit), was not breached.

The financial year 2012/13 continued the challenging environment of previous years; low investment returns and on-going heightened levels of counterparty risk remained.

The Executive is asked to recommend that the Council Meeting:

·         Approve the actual 2012/13 prudential and treasury indicators in this report;

·         Note the Annual Treasury Management Report for 2012/13;

·         Note that no changes have been made during 2012/13 to the Treasury Management Policy Statement and Practices approved at the Council meeting on 27 September 2012.

Officer contact: Lorna Salvage, 0161 474 4026, lorna.salvage@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) informing the Executive Meeting of the operation and effectiveness of the Council's Treasury Management function for 2012/13. 

RESOLVED – That the Council Meeting be recommended to:-

·         approve the actual 2012/13 prudential and treasury indicators in this report;

·         note the Annual Treasury Management Report for 2012/13;

·         note that no changes had been made during 2012/13 to the Treasury Management Policy Statement and Practices approved at the Council meeting on 27 September 2012.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services)

(i) The first report provides an overview of progress towards delivering the Council’s Priority Outcomes and budget during 2013/14, based on the Council Plan 2013/15 and the Medium Term Financial Plan 2013/17. It is supported by seven Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs), which are published as background papers to this report and will be considered in detail at the next cycle of Scrutiny Committees.

The Council’s Performance and Resource Framework has been refreshed for 2013/14 to not only reflect the change in the number and remit of Executive Portfolios, but also to provide a more strategic focus through a new Leader’s Report, included elsewhere on the agenda. The key purpose of the Corporate Report is to provide an overview of performance in relation to the Council Plan and to monitor the Council’s budgets and savings. A narrative overview, focusing on highlights and exceptions is intended to complement the more detailed focus and content of the Portfolio Reports, and will have an increased focus on the delivery of the Council’s savings plans.

For the first and third quarter, the Corporate Report will also incorporate the Treasury Management Review, providing an overview of the economy alongside the Council’s investment and borrowing activities. 

More detailed First Quarter Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports are available on the Council’s website at

http://democracy.stockport.gov.uk/mgIssueHistoryHome.aspx?IId=15270

(ii) The second report is the Leader’s Report for the period April – June 2013 and accompanies and complements the Corporate Performance and Resources Report.

The Executive is asked to;

·         Review progress against delivering Council Plan priorities, portfolio outcomes and capital schemes alongside budget out-turns contained within the report;

·         Approve the virements to the Revenue Budget set out in section 2.2.4;

·         Note the cash limit and non-cash limit forecast positions for 2013/14 as set out in sections 2.3 and 2.6;

·         Endorse the move to the next stage of the development of the procurement shared service as set out in paragraph 2.4.2;

·         Approve the virement of £0.385m from non-cash limits to the Adult Care Services Portfolio and £0.791m from non-cash limits to the Communities and Sustainability Portfolio as set out at paragraph 2.6.5;

·         Note the Retained Schools Budget and Housing Revenue Account forecast positions as set out in sections 2.7 and 2.8;

·         Approve the contributions to/from earmarked reserves and balances as set out in section 2.9 and note the resulting reserves and balances positions;

·         Note the latest position for the 2013/14 Capital Programme as set out in section 3.1;

·         Approve the changes to the Capital Programme as set out in 3.1.5;

·         Approve the resourcing of the Capital Programme as set out in section 3.4;

·         Note the changes to the 2012/13 Capital Programme out-turn set out in section 3.5;

·         Identify key areas for further investigation and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any existing or forecast issues or risks.

Officer contact: Peter Owston / Christine Buxton, 0161474 3274/ 4124, peter.owston@stockport.gov.uk / Christine.buxton@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer and Community Services) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Executive Meeting with an update on progress in delivering the Council's Priority Outcomes and budget in the first quarter of 2013/14.

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) also submitted her first ‘Leaders Report’ (copies of which had been circulated) that provided a strategic overview of Council activity as well as an update on AGMA and Combined Authority activity, and a copy of the report of the recent LGA Peer Review.

Executive councillors highlighted key issues relating to their portfolios.

RESOLVED - That

·         the Corporate Performance and Resources – First Quarter Update 2013/14 and the Leaders Report (April to June) be noted;

·         the virements to the Revenue Budget set out in section 2.2.4 be approved;

·         the cash limit and non-cash limit forecast positions for 2013/14 as set out in sections 2.3 and 2.6 be noted;

·         the move to the next stage of the development of the procurement shared service as set out in paragraph 2.4.2 be endorsed;

·         the virement of £0.385m from non-cash limits to the Adult Care Services Portfolio and £0.791m from non-cash limits to the Communities and Sustainability Portfolio as set out at paragraph 2.6.5 be approved;

·         the Retained Schools Budget and Housing Revenue Account forecast positions as set out in sections 2.7 and 2.8 be noted;

·         the contributions to/from earmarked reserves and balances as set out in section 2.9 be approved and the resulting reserves and balances positions be noted;

·         the latest position for the 2013/14 Capital Programme as set out in section 3.1 be noted;

·         the changes to the Capital Programme as set out in 3.1.5 be approved;

·         the resourcing of the Capital Programme as set out in section 3.4 be approved; and

·         the changes to the 2012/13 Capital Programme out-turn set out in section 3.5 be noted.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services).

The report provides an overview of complaints received in the 1^st quarter of 2013/14 and also outlines lessons learnt as a result of complaints.

The Executive is asked to:

·                Review performance information contained in this report, and

·                Comment on the performance measures reported and suggest any additional information thatmight be collected in future.

Officer contact: Anwar Majothi, 0161 474 3182, anwar.majothi@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Executive Meeting with an overview of complaints received in the first quarter of 2013/14 and also outlining lessons learnt as a result of these complaints.

RESOLVED – That performance in relation to complaints received in the first quarter of 2013/14 be noted.

To consider a joint report of the Leader and Executive Councillor (Policy, Reform and Finance) and the Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services)

The report updates the forecasts for the Council’s finances for the period 2014/15 to 2016/17 taking as its starting point the position set out in the budget reports considered at the Council Meeting on 5 March 2013.

The report seeks to inform:

·           The deliberations around priorities and outcomes for next and future years’ Council Plans;

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

·           The development of a balanced and sustainable budget for 2014/15 and a longer term forecast moving beyond the current Comprehensive Spending Review period up to 2016/17.

Since the previous forecast, there have been further developments which impact on the council’s medium term financial plans including:

·           The Chancellor’s budget statement delivered on 20 March 2013 which announced additional spending reductions for 2014/15;

·           The publication of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) on 26 June 2013;

·           The publication of a consultation paper on 25 July 2013 covering the 2014/15 and 2015/16 local government finance settlement; and

·           The approval of additional savings plans at the Executive Meeting of 16 July 2013.

In addition, a review has been undertaken of the key assumptions underpinning the forecasts presented in this report.

At this stage the best estimate of the reductions necessary to bring forecast spending down to match likely resource levels suggests that savings of around £21.705m are required for 2015/16 and that the cumulative on-going savings requirement to 2016/17 will amount to some £36.319m.

The Executive is recommended to:

·         Note the recent announcements in the March Budget and Comprehensive Spending Review and their impact on the local government sector, in particular, the planned reductions in local government expenditure and their impact on Settlement Funding Assessments;

·         Note, and comment upon as appropriate, the financial forecasts for 2014/15 to 2016/17, and the key issues to be addressed in formulating a response to the financial challenges facing the Council;

·         Approve the adjustments to the medium term financial plan at this stage as set out in the tables at paragraphs 3.3 and 4.2, including reducing the council tax increase assumption from 2.5% to 2% per annum for planning purposes;

·         Note the indicative cumulative savings requirement for 2015/16 of £21.705m and £36.319m for 2016/17 along with the sensitivity analyses included at Appendices One and Two;

·         Take the steps necessary to propose a final balanced budget for 2014/15 and an updated Medium Term Financial Plan to 2016/17 for presentation to the Budget Council meeting on 27 February 2014.

Officer contact: Steve Houston/ Andy Moran, 0161 474 4000/4086, steve.houston@stockport.gov.uk / Andrew.moran@stockport.gov.uk  

A joint report of the Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) and the Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services) was submitted (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Executive Meeting with an update on the forecasts for the Council’s finances for the period 2014/15 to 2016/17.

Since the previous forecast was considered by the Executive, further developments which had impacted on the Council’s medium term financial plan included:

·           the Chancellor’s budget statement delivered on 20 March 2013 which announced additional spending reductions for 2014/15;

·           the publication of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) on 26 June 2013;

·           the publication of a consultation paper on 25 July 2013 covering the 2014/15 and 2015/16 local government finance settlement; and

·           the approval of additional savings plans at the Executive Meeting of 16 July 2013.

The current best estimate of the reductions necessary to bring the Council’s forecast spending down to match likely resource levels suggested that savings of around £21.705m would be required for 2015/16 and that the cumulative on-going savings requirement to 2016/17 would amount to £36.319m.

RESOLVED - That

·         the recent announcements in the March Budget and Comprehensive Spending Review and their impact on the local government sector, in particular, the planned reductions in local government expenditure and their impact on Settlement Funding Assessments be noted;

·         the financial forecasts for 2014/15 to 2016/17, and the key issues to be addressed in formulating a response to the financial challenges facing the Council be noted;

·         the adjustments to the medium term financial plan proposed at this stage as set out in the tables at paragraphs 3.3 and 4.2, including reducing the council tax increase assumption from 2.5% to 2% per annum for planning purposes be approved;

·         the indicative cumulative savings requirement for 2015/16 of £21.705m and £36.319m for 2016/17 along with the sensitivity analyses included at Appendices One and Two be noted;

·         the necessary steps be taken to propose a final balanced budget for 2014/15 and an updated Medium Term Financial Plan to 2016/17 for presentation to the Budget Council meeting on 27 February 2014.

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

The report sets out the decision notices published on 31 August 2013 from the most recent meetings of the AGMA Executive Board and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) held on 26 July 2013.

This is the first time that these decisions have been reported to the Executive, and it is being done to bring practice in Stockport in line with that of other Greater Manchester authorities.

The Executive is invited to note the decisions.

Officer contact: Jonathan Vali, 0161 474 3201, jonathan.vali@stockport.gov.uk

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) informing the Executive of the decisions taken by the AGMA Executive Board and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority meetings held on 26 July 2013.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.