Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 23 January 2018

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 23 January 2018 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.

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made.

To consider whether it is in the public to exclude the public during consideration of agenda item 9 ‘Property Alliance’ which will contain information “not for publication by virtue of Category 3 ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority)’ as set out in the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

RESOLVED – In order to prevent the disclosure of information that was ‘not for publication’, the disclosure of which would not be in the public interest, would not be fair and would be in breach of the Date Protection principles, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following agenda item:-

To consider call-in items (if any)

There were no call-ins to consider.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

This item covers two reports as follows:

•      Final Update Corporate Performance and Resources Report (CPRR) 2017/18

•      Final Update Leader’s Report 2017/18

The Final Update Corporate Performance and Resource Report (CPRR) provides a summary of progress in delivering the Council’s priority outcomes, revenue budget and capital programme during the third quarter of 2017/18 (October to December 2017) and also includes a Treasury Management update.

The Leader’s Final Update Report reflects on progress in delivering local priorities and how next year’s budget proposals and new Council Plan aim to address the future challenges faced by the Council.

These reports were considered and approved by Cabinet on 6 February.  

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to:

·           Consider the Final Update Reports;  

·           Review the progress against delivering corporate objectives, key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 2017/18;

·           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 contact: Michael Cullen / Steve Skelton, 0161 474 4631 / 3174, michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk / steve.skelton@stockport.gov.uk

Representatives of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted the final Corporate Performance and Resources Report (CPRR) and Leader’s Report for 2017/18 (copies of which had been circulated).

The CPPR provided an update on progress in delivering the Council’s Priority Outcomes and budget during the third quarter of 2017/18, including providing a Treasury Management update.

Updates were included on delivery of policy priorities, alongside Reform Projects. The report also included third quarter forecasts of budget and performance data, along with an update on the Corporate Risk Register. The report was supported by seven Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports which were considered in the most recent Scrutiny cycle.

The Leader’s Final Update Report reflected on progress in delivering local priorities and how next year’s budget proposals and new Council Plan aimed to address the future challenges faced by the Council.

These reports had been considered and approved by the Cabinet on 6 February.  

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Alex Ganotis) attended the meeting to present the report and to answer councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Further information was requested in relation to the development of shared services. In response it was stated that there was a particular project between the Council and the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust exploring the long held ambition to share back-office services and that there had been positive progress, with further detail being provided to the Scrutiny Committee when available. It was also commented that work was also taking with bodies associated and exploring inter-directorate working.

·         Further information was requested in relation to how the proposed GM Green Summit would feed back into work in Stockport. In response it was stated that the Summit had agreed to set a target date for the City-Region to become carbon-neutral, although the details were currently embargoed. Partners were working to understand what the likely policy decisions would need to be decarbonise transport, housing, electricity as well as to make the most of natural capital. It was not proposed to mandate councils to take these actions but to begin discussions with them and businesses about how deliver change.

·         Clarification was sought on whether the additional capital spend on the Aurora development affected the affordability of the scheme. In response it was stated that the original decision included this expenditure and therefore would not impact on the scheme’s viability.

·         Concerns were raised about children’s mental health given the growing pressures on young people. In response it was stated that early intervention was a central principal of the Stockport Family approach and that while it was impossible to guarantee no young person in Stockport would suffer mental distress but every effort was being made to work with schools to identify those young people in need of extra support.

·         Clarity was sought on the causes of rough sleeping. In response it was stated that this was a complex issue, but that the Council worked closely with housing partners to ensure appropriate support was available.

RESOLVED – (1) That the reports be noted.

(2) That the Leader of the Council be requested to provide a written response to members of the Scrutiny Committee clarifying the proposed completion of the Bredbury Curve development.

(3) That the Borough Treasurer be requested to provide a written response to members of the Scrutiny Committee on the implications of re-phasing of grant funding for the Stockport Interchange bridge.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The November cycle of Scrutiny Committees considered a report seeking Members views on proposed priority areas for the Safer Stockport Partnership (SSP) to focus on in a new SSP Plan. Taking into account this feedback, an updated final draft Plan was approved by the Partnership Board on 8 February 2018.  This is now presented for consideration and comment by CRMG Scrutiny Committee, ahead of being submitted to the Cabinet on 13 March.

This report also informs the Committee of the initial decisions approved by the SSP Board, based on recommendations made by the Panel convened to consider applications and agree funding awards in relation to the 2018/19 Community Safety grant.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to:

a)        Consider and comment on the draft 3 Year Safer Stockport Partnership strategic plan;

b)        Note the initial decisions on funding awards from the 2018/19 Community Safety grant.

Officer contact: Steve Skelton, 0161 474 31714, steve.skelton@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Scrutiny Committee to consider the draft Safer Stockport Partnership Strategic Plan 2018-19 prior to its submission to the Council Meeting on 5 April 2018. The Plan outlined the key strategic priorities for the Partnership over the next 3 years, including a high level annual plan of key multi-agency activity and interventions to address the refreshed priority issues.

The Plan had been subject to consultation with a range of partners and stakeholders, and the Scrutiny Committee had previously been consulted on the priorities of the Plan.

The Cabinet Member for Reform & Governance (Councillor David Sedgwick) attended the meeting to answer councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Some of the statistics contained in the Plan were concerning, but the increased attention to neighbourhood policing was welcomed.

·         Were there sufficient police resources to deliver the Plan? In response it was commented that the Police had not suggested during the development of the Plan that they would not be able to deliver it. Although concerns about resources were acknowledged, there was confidence that the Plan could be delivered.

·         There was key issue about how councillors monitor this plan and it implementation. All councillor will receive communication from residents expressing concerns about crime so having timely feedback was important. Regular communication or attendance at area committees by the Neighbourhood Policing Team was welcomed. This had to be balanced against the time spent delivering front line policing

RESOLVED – (1) That the draft 3 Year Safer Stockport Partnership Strategic Plan 2018-19 be noted.

(2) That the initial decisions on funding awards from the 2018/19 Community Safety grant be noted.

To consider a joint report of the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Policy, Finance & Devolution and the Cabinet Member for Reform & Governance.

In Autumn 2016 the Cabinet set out an ambitious vision to work differently with communities in Stockport. Building on previous working papers published throughout 2017 this report gives an update on the significant progress made to implement this vision, and recommends that Cabinet invest up to £1.0m to implement a radical new approach to community investment.

The report restates the vision for Working with Communities, gives examples of impact and learning to date – including from the ‘beta phase’ of our community investment fund, our work to develop a new model of engagement in the Heatons and the development Stockport Local – and sets out plans for how we will continue to make empower and support our local communities.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to:

·         note and comment upon the update on work underway to progress the Cabinet’s working with communities ambition;

·         note the agreement in principle reached by the Cabinet in October;

·         in line with this decision in principle, note and comment upon the proposal relating to the Stockport Local Fund, including:

- The overview of the Fund and the rules by which it will work;

- The recommendation to pilot this Fund over a two year period using reserves.

Officer contact: Steve Skelton / Holly Rae 0161 474 3174 / 3014, steve.skelton@stockport.gov.uk / holly.rae@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Scrutiny Committee to consider further detailed proposals on the Cabinet’s Working with Communities Programme, in particular the proposal to invest £1m for the Community Investment Fund.

The Cabinet Member for Reform & Governance (Councillor David Sedgwick) attended the meeting to answer councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Further information was sought on how the Investment Fund would be communicated to residents and community groups. In response it was stated that a communications strategy would be developed, but the focus of engagement would be the Stockport Local website. There was also a role for area committees.

·         Clarification was sought on the reasons for choosing the Heatons as the focus for pilot work. In response it was stated that this was largely due to linkages with the work to develop the Stockport Together new models of care and would allow the learning from the pilots to be scaled up to all parts of the borough.

·         Assurance was sought that there was a robust evaluation mechanism in place to determine the effectiveness of the use of £1m of reserves. In response it was stated that as the Investment Fund was a pilot, part of its evaluation would consider how well it could be monitored. For any individual bid or scheme, the ability to measure outcomes would determine whether it received funding, as there was an expectation for savings being realised through reductions in demand on health and social care services.
The Stockport Local and digital approach had enabled this project at this scale proposing as without it the administrative burden would be unsustainable. Manchester Metropolitan University were also involved in developing the evaluation methodology and once complete this would be submitted to the Scrutiny Committee.

·         Clarity was sought that no councillor would be involved in the award of grants and on the expected level of funding awards. In response it was confirmed that no councillor would be involved in the decision making and the expectation was that most would be less than £10,000 as anything above this may become something akin to a commissioned service.

·         Further information was how this process dovetailed with the work of Business Support Advisers. In response it was stated that there was no formal relationship as the fund was not aimed at profit earning organisations. There was nevertheless a role for business involvement to provide advice and peer support, as well as the possibility of aligning resources between the Council and companies’ Corporate Responsibility Funds.

RESOLVED – (1) That in relation to the Working with Communities,

·         the update on work underway to progress the Cabinet’s working with communities ambition be noted;

·         the agreement in principle reached by the Cabinet in October be noted and that in line with this decision the proposal relating to the Stockport Local Fund be noted.

(2) That the Deputy Chief Executive be requested to submit an update report to the Scrutiny Committee on 30 October 2018.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.               

The report sets out planned agenda items for future meetings of the Committee and Forward Plan items that fall within its remit.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the information in the report and put forward any agenda items for future meetings.

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

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out planned items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items that fell within its remit.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The Deputy Chief Executive to report at the meeting.

Officer contact: Charlotte Cordingley, 0161-474-4240, charlotte.cordingley@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive provided a verbal update to the Scrutiny Committee on developments with the Council’s contingency planning following the beginning of liquidation proceedings against Carillion Plc which was part of the Stockport Property Alliance and with whom the Council had a number of contracts for property related services.

RESOLVED – (1) That the update be noted.

(2) That the Democratic Services Manager be requested to make arrangements for a further briefing for members of the Scrutiny Committee on developments with Carillion to take place in advance of the next Committee meeting.

(3) That the Deputy Chief Executive be requested to provide an update to the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee on further developments.