Agenda and minutes

To consider a report of the Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services.

This item covers two reports as follows;

·         First Update Corporate Performance and Resources Report (CPRR) 2015/16

·         First Update Leader’s Report 2015/16

The First Update Corporate Performance and Resource Report (CPRR) provides an overview of progress in delivering the Council’s Priority Outcomes and budget during the first quarter of 2015/16. It is the first report based on the new Council Plan 2015/16 and the Medium Term Financial Plan 2015/18, and is presented in a new format.  Project updates are largely focused around the Investing in Stockport programme, and the report also includes forecast budget and performance data where this is available, along with a Treasury Management Review and an update on the refreshed 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 the Council’s achievements over the last quarter, including significant decisions at GM level.

Both reports were considered and recommendations (set out in Section 6 of the report) were approved by the Executive Meeting at its meeting on 18 August.

Scrutiny Committee is asked to:

·         Consider the First Update Reports;  

·         Review the progress against delivering corporate objectives, key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 2015/16;

·         Review Treasury Management activity during the first quarter of the year;

·         Highlight key areas of and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any performance or resource issues;

·         Identify how areas of strong performance and good practice can be shared in other services.

Officer contacts; Steve Skelton, Head of Policy, Performance and Reform (CSS), steve.skelton@stockport.gov.uk (474 3174)

Andrew Moran, Strategic Accountant (Technical, CSS), andrew.moran@stockport.gov.uk (474 4086)

The First Update Corporate Performance and Resource Report (CPRR) provides an overview of progress in delivering the Council’s Priority Outcomes and budget during the first quarter of 2015/16. It is the first report based on the new Council Plan 2015/16 and the Medium Term Financial Plan 2015/18, and is presented in a new format.  Project updates are largely focused around the Investing in Stockport programme, and the report also includes forecast budget and performance data where this is available, along with a Treasury Management Review and an update on the refreshed Corporate Risk Register. It is supported by seven Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports which were considered by the last Scrutiny cycle.

The Director of Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of progress in delivering the Council’s Priority Outcomes and budget during the first quarter of 2015/16.

It was the first report based on the new Council Plan 2015/16 and the Medium Term Financial Plan 2015/18, and is presented in a new format.  Project updates were largely focused around the Investing in Stockport programme, and the report also included forecast budget and performance data where this was available, along with a Treasury Management Review and an update on the refreshed Corporate Risk Register. It was supported by seven Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports which were considered by the last Scrutiny cycle.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Sue Derbyshire) and the Deputy Executive Leader and Portfolio holder for Support and Governance (Councillor Iain Roberts) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         It was noted that the implications of implementing the Government’s announcement regarding the National Living Wage to contracted social care workers in particular were being considered and the costs are reflected in future years budget proposals.

·         Following the current consultation, an updated position in relation to the ‘Public Health Grant’ would be included in the next Corporate Performance and Resources Report.

·         The Government’s intention to reduce rents paid by tenants in social housing by 1% a year for four years from 2016 was a serious issue and would impact on the Housing Revenue Account by approximately £19m for the period 2016/17 – 2020/21. The Adult Care Services and Housing Scrutiny Committees had received a report in relation to this issue.

·         The IIS Programme Staffing was made up of employees either on secondment or on fixed term contracts. It was expected that proposals to commit the remaining balance of £3.11m earmarked to support the Investing in Stockport Programme were in development and would be included in further financial updates.

·         The Scrutiny Committee noted there was a forecast deficit of £0.524m in respect of the individual pooled budgets and that the Council would bear the majority of this deficit.

·         The Scrutiny Committee noted that a detailed report in relation to the forecast deficit of £0.273m in respect of the Social Care Placements budget would be submitted to the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee.

·         In relation to the ring-fenced DSG and School Balances, approximately £12 m of this related to balances held by schools and the remaining £5m were balances retained by the Council but there were restrictions on what these balances could be used for.

·         It was noted that the provision of £2.670m for ‘Price Inflation’ included within the 2015/16 Forecast Outturn as at 30 June 2015 related to items such as, utilities and residential care price inflation etc.

RSOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the report considered by the Adult Care Services and Housing Scrutiny Committee in relation to the impact of the reduce rents paid by tenants in social housing by 1% a year for four years from 2016 be circulated to members of this Scrutiny Committee for information.

(3) That the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services be requested to write to members of the Scrutiny Committee explaining the deficit of £8,177 predicted in 2017/18 in relation to ‘Revenue Contributions (RCCO)’ within the Capital Programme.

The Leader’s Report highlights a number of the Council’s achievements over the last quarter, including significant decisions at GM level.

The Leader of the Council submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) highlighting a number of the Council’s achievements over the last quarter, including significant decisions at Greater Manchester level.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Sue Derbyshire) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The Leader of the Council provided an update in relation to the review of the AGMA Scrutiny arrangements and in particular how decisions affecting Stockport can be considered by the Council’s Scrutiny Committees prior to decisions being taken. It was hoped that proposals will be considered at the next informal leaders meeting and she undertook to report back to a future meeting of this Scrutiny Committee.

·         The current AGMA Scrutiny arrangements provided an opportunity to share information across the ten local authorities but didn’t undertake ‘scrutiny’ effectively.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council and Deputy Leader.

At its meeting on 18 August 2015, the Executive received a report which included a Medium Term Financial Forecast for the period 2016/17 to 2020/21. That report illustrated the level of resources likely to be available in 2016/17 and the resulting budget position should the previously identified level of cash limit reductions be achieved.

In response to those forecasts, and in line with its previous proposals and statements of intent, the Executive brought forward a set of proposals for 2016/17. These have been informed by the strategic framework and are designed to address the budget reduction requirement.  At the meeting on 18 August Executive Councillors agreed to present to each scrutiny committee the relevant proposals relating to each committee’s remit, including the specific detailed business cases.

The Corporate, Resource Management & Governance Scrutiny Committee is therefore receiving the following:

• Medium Term Financial Plan – Financial Landscape and Forecasts 2016/17 to 2020/21
• Investing in Stockport Executive Proposals
• Stockport Together – Integrating Health and Social Care
• New Model for Regulation and Community Safety
• Libraries
• Neighbourhood Management
• Public Realm and SSK Operating Model
• Information, Advice and Guidance
• CSS
• Digital by Design (enabler)
• Locality Working (enabler)

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to comment on:

(a)   the business cases and project updates appended to the report.

(b)   the overall approach being taken to the development of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan and Budget for 2016/17as outlined within the Executive reports,

(c)  the proposed approach to pooling Health and Social Care budgets as outlined within the specific Health and Social Care (Stockport Together) report.

Officer contact Steve Houston or Laureen Donnan on 0161 474 4000 or 0161 474 3180

The Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) relating to the Executive proposals I relation to the ‘Investing in Stockport Programme’.

At its meeting on 18 August 2015, the Executive had received a report which included a Medium Term Financial Forecast for the period 2016/17 to 2020/21. That report illustrated the level of resources likely to be available in 2016/17 and the resulting budget position should the previously identified level of cash limit reductions be achieved.

In response to those forecasts, and in line with its previous proposals and statements of intent, the Executive was now bringing forward a set of proposals for 2016/17. These had been informed by the strategic framework and were designed to address the budget reduction requirement.  At the meeting on 18 August Executive Councillors agreed to present to each scrutiny committee the relevant proposals relating to each committee’s remit, including the specific detailed business cases.

The Corporate, Resource Management & Governance Scrutiny Committee received the following:

• Medium Term Financial Plan – Financial Landscape and Forecasts 2016/17 to 2020/21
• Investing in Stockport Executive Proposals
• Stockport Together – Integrating Health and Social Care
• New Model for Regulation and Community Safety
• Libraries
• Neighbourhood Management
• Public Realm and SSK Operating Model
• Information, Advice and Guidance
• CSS
• Digital by Design (enabler)
• Locality Working (enabler)

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Sue Derbyshire) and the Deputy Executive Leader and Portfolio holder for Support and Governance (Councillor Iain Roberts) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The ‘Digital by Design’ proposals would provide an alternative means of residents accessing council services and information for those residents unable to access the Council website.

·         In relation to the proposed savings (£0.7m - £1m) in relation to the ‘Digital by Design’ proposals this would be achieved through savings in respect of current IT spend (hardware, electricity, accommodation and staffing). It was expected that there wold be additional savings across the Council in respect of ‘Business Transformation’ in future years as a result of the proposals and the project provided the platform to support further achievement of reductions in resources in the future. .

• A discussion took place in relation to the Council’s provision of independent and impartial advice currently provided by the Citizens Advice Bureau, Stockport Credit Union and as part of the Targeted Prevention Alliance.

·         It was noted that the £6m savings in Corporate and Support Services had been achieved through improved productivity and self-service rather than simply ceasing the provision of services or “cost shunting”. There have however been changes to how services are delivered.

·         The Scrutiny Committee commented upon the proposals within the CSS Business Case to identify and develop further opportunities to trade in future years and concern was expressed regarding this approach especially in relation to schools.

·         In respect of the ‘Stockport Together – Integrated Health and Social Care’ Business Case, there was a need to ensure that robust governance arrangements were in place and review the current Section 75 Agreement to improve the scrutiny arrangements. It was proposed to report progress towards the new  arrangements to scrutiny in the December cycle together with a further report to the February cycle  prior to the Executive approving the new Section 75 Agreement on 22 March 2016

RSOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the draft implementation plan in respect of the ‘Digital by Design’ Programme and the detailed response in relation to the Scrutiny Review “Understanding the accessibility of Digital Services Across the Borough” be submitted to the next meeting of this Scrutiny Committee.

(3) That an update report in relation to the Locality Working project is provided at the next meeting, in particular feedback from communities in the two pilot areas.