Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 6 November 2015.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 6 November 2015 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. 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.

Four questions had been submitted by members of the public who were not present at the meeting. The Chair confirmed that, in accordance with the Code of Practice, written responses would be provided to these questions.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Supporting Adults)

This report details the outcome of the recent review of Council Adult Social Care Fees for Care Homes and Care Homes with Nursing. It proposes fee uplift for the current financial year with an effective implementation date of 6 April 2015 . It also proposes a further light touch review in February 2016 to confirm a settlement figure for 2016/17 in light of the introduction of the national living wage and identifies the need for a commissioning strategy within the Stockport Together programme ahead of the formal pooled budget for 2016/17.

The Executive is asked to agree:

·         the proposed fee uplift as detailed in section 6.6 (Table 4) for the current financial year with an effective implementation date of 6th April 2015;

·         to develop a joint strategic commissioning strategy within the Stockport Together programme ahead of the development of further formal pooled budget arrangements on 1 April 2016;

·         to undertake a light touch review in February 2016 to take into account the final settlement for social care locally and to incorporate where appropriate the work of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services’ North West Finance & Resources Group to clarify the potential scale of the financial impact of the National Living Wage on social care budgets across the region.

Officer contact: Vincent Fraga, 0161 474 4401, vincent.fraga@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Supporting Adults) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive to consider the outcome of a review of Council fees for care homes and care homes with nursing care. The outcome of the review was a proposal to increase the fee for the current financial year (payment backdated to April 2015). It was hoped that the uplift would ensure more sustainable services and fees that reflected the cost of providing the service.

The Executive Councillor further report that a further ‘light touch’ review would take place in February 2016 and that it was anticipated that care home services would in time be procured through a joint commissioning approach with the Clinical Commissioning Group.

RESOLVED – That in relation to Adult Social Care Fees for Care Homes and Care Homes with Nursing:-

·         The proposed fee uplift as detailed in the table below be approved for the current financial year with an effective implementation date of 6 April 2015

·         a joint strategic commissioning strategy within the Stockport Together Programme be developed ahead of the development of further formal pooled budget arrangements on 1 April 2016;

·         a light touch review be undertaken in February 2016 to take into account the final settlement for social care locally and to incorporate where appropriate the work of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services’ North West Finance & Resources Group to clarify the potential scale of the financial impact of the National Living Wage on social care budgets across the region.

To consider a joint report of the Executive Councillors (Supporting Places) and (Safe & Resilient Communities)

The Government published the Education and Inspection Act in February 2006. The Act places a number of duties on local authorities including duties to:

·         Promote choice of schools

·         Promote high standards

·         The fulfilment of every child’s educational potential.

Part of the duty is the publication by the Local Authority of a Sustainable Modes of Travel to School Strategy. The latest government guidance regarding the Act published in July 2014 has been used in the development of a reviewed strategy for Stockport Council. The full Draft of the Strategy can be found in Appendix 1.

The purpose of the report is to obtain comments on and approval for the reviewed strategy.

The Executive is recommended to adopt the Strategy.

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

A joint report of the Executive Councillors (Supporting Places) and (Safe & Resilient Communities) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive to consider a revised Sustainable Modes of School Travel Strategy for 2015-2020, in light of Government Guidance issued in July 2014.

Executive councillors commented on the challenges that schools and residents faced from increasing reliance on cars to pick-up and drop-off children at school, and encouraged schools and governors to develop travel plans that would help make children healthier and safer.

RESOLVED – That the School Travel Strategy 2015-2020 be approved.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Safe & Resilient Communities)

The Youth Justice Plan is a statutory annual plan required under Section 40 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

The purpose of the plan is to headline achievements against last year’s Youth Justice Plan and to outline the priorities for the coming year. The work of the Youth Offending service (YOS) is monitored through the YOS Partnership Board, which in turn reports to the Safer Stockport Partnership (SSP) and the Children’s Trust Board.

The Executive is requested to endorse and recommend the Youth Justice Plan for adoption by the Council Meeting.

Officer contact: Jacqui Belfield-Smith, 0161 474 4789, jacqui.belfield-smith@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Safe & Resilient Communities) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive to consider the updated Youth Justice Plan. The Council was required to update and adopt annually a Youth Justice Plan that set out performance against the previous year’s Plan and outlined priorities for the forthcoming year.

The Executive Councillor highlighted the significant reductions that had been achieved in recent years in the number of first time entrants into the Youth Justice System.

RESOLVED – That the Council Meeting be recommended to adopt the Youth Justice Plan.

To Executive Councillor (Support & Governance), Leader of the Council 

This item comprises the (i) Mid-Year Corporate Performance and Resources Report (CPRR) 2015/16, and (ii) the Mid-Year Leader’s Report 2015/16

The Mid-Year CPRR provides an overview of progress in delivering the Council’s Priority Outcomes and budget during the first half of 2015/16, including updates on key activity during the second quarter of the year.

Project updates are largely focused around the Investing in Stockport programme, and the report also includes forecast budget and performance data, along with a comprehensive update on the Corporate Risk Register. It is supported by seven Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports which were considered by the last Scrutiny cycle.

The Leader’s Report highlights a number of significant achievements and areas of progress over the last quarter, alongside key national and regional developments including the latest on plans for devolution to the GM Combined Authority.

The Executive is recommended to

·         Review progress against delivering the Council Plan’s Investing in Stockport outcomes and capital schemes alongside budget and performance forecasts contained within the report;

·         Approve the virements to the Revenue Budget set out in section 2.2.3;

·         Note the cash limit and non-cash limit forecast positions for 2015/16 as set out in sections 2.3 and 2.5;

·         Note the position on the 2015/16 budget savings programme set out in section 2.3.2;

·         Note the Retained Schools Budget and Housing Revenue Account forecast positions as set out in sections 2.6 and 2.7;

·         Approve the contributions to/from earmarked reserves and balances as set out in section 2.8 and note the forecast reserves and balances position;

·         Note the forecast position for the 2015/16 Capital Programme as set out in section 3.1;

·         Approve the changes to the Capital Programme as set out in 3.1.6;

·         Approve the proposals for resourcing the Capital Programme as set out in 3.3.4 and 3.3.5, and;

·         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 / Andy Moran, 0161 474 3274 / 4086, peter.owston@stockport.gov.uk / andrew.moran@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Support & Governance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Executive with a report on the delivery of the Council’s Priority Outcomes and budget during the first half of 2015/16, including updates on key activity during the second quarter.

The Leader’s Report for the second quarter was also included, which highlighted significant achievements and areas of progress, including the latest plans for devolution to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

RESOLVED – That in relation to the Corporate Performance and Resources Mid-Year Reports 2015/16:-

·                progress against delivering the Council Plan’s Investing in Stockport outcomes and capital schemes alongside budget and performance forecasts contained within the report be noted;

·                the virements to the Revenue Budget set out in section 2.2.3 of the report be approved;

·                the cash limit and non-cash limit forecast positions for 2015/16 as set out in sections 2.3 and 2.5 of the report be noted;

·                the position on the 2015/16 budget savings programme set out in section 2.3.2 be noted;

·                the Retained Schools Budget and Housing Revenue Account forecast positions as set out in sections 2.6 and 2.7 of the report be noted;

·                the contributions to/from earmarked reserves and balances as set out in section 2.8 of the report be approved and the forecast reserves and balances position be noted;

·                the forecast position for the 2015/16 Capital Programme as set out in section 3.1 of the report be noted;

·                the changes to the Capital Programme as set out in 3.1.6 of the report be approved; and

·                the proposals for resourcing the Capital Programme as set out in 3.3.4 and 3.3.5 of the report be approved.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Support & Governance)

The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of complaints, as at the 2^nd quarter (July - September) 2015/16.

This report is structured as follows:

·         Performance overview

·         Overview of Stage 1 & Stage 2 Corporate Complaints

·         Overview of statutory Adults Social Care Complaints

·         Overview of statutory Children’s Social Care Complaints

·         Overview of complaints about Stockport Homes

·         Overview of complaints referred to the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO)

·         Overview of complaints referred to the Housing Ombudsman (HO)

·         Lessons learnt as a result of complaints

Within each section, complaints information is provided in relation to:

·         Numbers of complaints received

·         Percentage of complaints upheld

·         Percentage of complaints dealt with within agreed timescales

Executive is asked to:

a)     Review performance information contained in this report, and

b)     Comment on the performance measures reported and suggest any additional information that might be collected in future.

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

The Executive Councillor (Support & Governance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Executive with an overview of complaints received in the second quarter of 2015/16 and outlining any lessons learnt as a consequence.

RESOLVED – That performance in relation to complaints received in the second quarter of 2015/16 be noted.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Support & Governance)

The report provides the Executive with a mid-year review of the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy for 2015/16 approved by Council on 26 February 2015 and has been prepared in accordance with the CIPFA Code of Practice for Treasury Management in the Public Services.

The report provides an economic update for the first six months of 2015/16 and details how this impacts upon the interest rate predictions and outlook provided in the initial strategy.  An overview is provided of more recent forecasts and developments in the financial markets and how these are affecting the Councils investment portfolio and borrowing strategies for the current financial year.   A review is provided of the Council’s capital expenditure prudential indicators and compliance with Treasury and Prudential Limits for 2015/16.

The Executive is asked to recommend that the Council Meeting receive this report in line with best practice guidelines and note the report and the treasury activity in the first half of the financial year.

Officer contact: John Parkinson, 0161-218-1757, john.parkinson@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Support & Governance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Executive with a mid-year review of the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy for 2015/16, as agreed by the Council Meeting, and providing an economic update for the first six months of the year and the impact of this on interest rate predictions and the outlook provided in the initial Strategy.

RESOLVED – That the Council Meeting be recommended to receive the mid-year review of the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy for 2015/16 in line with best practice guidelines, and note the report and the treasury activity in the first half of the financial year.

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council.

The Executive is invited to note the decisions of the:-

·         Joint Meeting of the AGMA Executive Board and Greater Manchester Combined Authority held on 29 October 2015;

·         Low Carbon Hub Board on 2 October 2015; and

·         Planning & Housing Commission on 7 October 2015.

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

The Leader of the Council submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out decisions taken by theJoint Meeting of the AGMA Executive Board and Greater Manchester Combined Authority, and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority held on 29 October 2015; the Low Carbon Hub Board on 2 October 2015 and the Planning & Housing Commission on 7 October 2015.

The Leader of the Council highlighted work on the implementation of the Low Carbon Hub and the development of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

On:-

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

(b)  Any called-in Executive Decisions

There were no recommendations to consider.