Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 26/27 February 2019.

RESOLVED – The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 26 and 27 February 2019 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair subject to the amendment of the finish time to ‘7.01pm’.

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 interests were declared.

To consider call-in items (if any)

There were no call-ins to consider.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

This paper provides an update on Stockport Council’s preparation for the UK’s departure from the European Union. This builds upon the report presented to Scrutiny in January 2019 titled “Brexit: Preparing for the Potential Impact on Stockport Resources and Services.”

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to note the report.

Officer contact: Laureen Donnan, 0161 474 3181, laureen.donnan@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Scrutiny Committee on the Council’s preparations for the UK’s departure from the European Union. The report had been prepared prior to the extension to Article 50 that would delay the departure date.

In response to questions it was confirmed that the Council had been asked by the Government to consider issues in relation to food supply. It was commented that there was limited scope for the Council to coordinate food supplies but there was no expectation of food scarcity although certain products may not be as widely available.

It was commented that delays with importing goods may also impact on the Council’s delivery of its capital programme.

It was also confirmed that that the Cabinet Office had announced it would be refunding additional costs incurred in preparing for the European Elections on 23 May 2019 and the Council had begun that activity.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee.

The report sets outs the findings and recommendations of the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee following their review of scrutiny activity in Stockport. It draws on good practice from elsewhere in the country and makes a series of recommendations for consideration by each of Stockport’s scrutiny committees.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the report and recommendations.

Officer contact: Stephen Fox, 0161 474 3206, stephen.fox@stockport.gov.uk

The Chair submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Scrutiny Committee to consider the final report of the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee’s review into the discharging of scrutiny functions at the Council. The report identified a number of strengths in how the Council and its members undertook these duties and also identified a number of opportunities to enhance and maximise its effectiveness.

Councillors expressed some concerns that the reducing the frequency of meetings may have a negative impact on the efficiency of decision-making and on the need for clarity on what the evidence was for changes to practice.

In response, the Chair stated that the review and report encouraged councillors to be flexible in their approach to scrutiny and not to give to great a focus on reactive activity (pre-decision scrutiny, performance monitoring) to the detriment of looking at issues in greater depth. She also stressed that the Coordination Committee did not wish to be prescriptive but wanted to encourage scrutiny committees to experiment when undertaking their work.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Lead Councillor.

The report sets out the findings and recommendations of the Panel on their review of Stockport Together governance.

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

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted the draft final report of the Scrutiny Committee’s review of Stockport Together governance (copies of which had been circulated) for endorsement by the Committee.

It was commented that because of the fast-changing landscape that Stockport Together was situated in, many of the elements of the Review had been overtaken by events. It was further commented the review would be best used as a starting point for further work in the future as the situation became clearer.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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, email: jonathan.vali@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and any relevant Cabinet Forward Plan items.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the following items be included on future agendas:-

·         Work Programme

·         Scrutiny Review Topic Selection

·         Manchester Airport Group investment