Agenda and minutes

The Chair referred to the recent death of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Members of the Scrutiny Committee and Officers observed a minute’s silence as a mark of respect to his memory.

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 26 January 2021.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 26 January 2021 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 which they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

The following interests were declared:-

Personal Interests

To consider call-in items (if any)

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider a joint report of the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance.

The purpose of the report is to provide a summary of the Quarter 3 revenue forecast outturn including an update on the Dedicated Schools Grant, Housing Revenue Account (HRA), Collection Fund and updates to the Capital Programme. The report was submitted to the meeting of the Cabinet held on 9 February 2021.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on and note the report.

Officer Contact: Jonathan Davies on 0161 218 1025 or email:  jonathan.davies@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a summary of the Quarter 3 revenue forecast outturn including an update on the Dedicated Schools Grant, Housing Revenue Account (HRA), Collection Fund and updates to the Capital Programme. The report had been submitted to the meeting of the Cabinet held on 9 February 2021.

The Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning and Governance (Councillor Tom McGee) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         A Member enquired how the Council’s income in the overall balances had been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The deficit had mainly been offset by Covid-19 grants received from the Government totalling £24.421m, reducing the Council’s revenue budget deficit to £0.344m.

·         Clarification was provided that appropriations from and to Reserves had enabled the budget to remain unaltered.

·         Concern was expressed that the Council was carrying forward a deficit on the Dedicated Schools Grant of £1.302m from 2019/20 which would be added to this year’s DSG deficit. A formal budget recovery plan had not been constructed at this point due to the DSG Review not coming to any firm conclusions or recommendations until June 2021 so as not to pre-judge the consultation process.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Lead Councillor, Councillor Carole McCann

The report outlines the findings and recommendations of the joint Scrutiny Review Panel.

This Scrutiny Review was jointly commissioned by this Scrutiny Committee and the Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Committee. The Panel considered a range of information from health partners, notably from the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership and Stockport Clinical Commissioning Group, alongside proposals for Integrated Care Systems contained within the recent Health and Care White Paper.

The Final Report was agreed at the final Review Panel Meeting on 25 March 2021.

The Committee is invited to comment on the report and approve its submission to the Cabinet.

Officer Contacts: Katy Forde on 07527 387232 or email: katy.forde@stockport.gov.uk; or Geraldine Gerrard on 0161 474 3837 or email: geraldine.gerrard@stockport.gov.uk

The Lead Councillor, Councillor Carole McCann, submitted the final report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the findings and recommendations of the joint Scrutiny Review Panel on the Council’s Relationship with its Health Partners.

The Scrutiny Review had been commissioned by this Scrutiny Committee and the Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Committee. The Panel had considered a range of information from health partners, notably from the Greater Manchester Health & Social Care Partnership and Stockport Clinical Commissioning Group, alongside proposals for Integrated Care Systems contained within the recent Health and Care White Paper.

The Final Report had been agreed at the final Review Panel Meeting on 25 March 2021.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Reference was made to the section of the report highlighting Early Years as an example of good practice in how decisions were made and a Member felt that this could be highlighted in the recommendations.

·         With regard to recommendation 1 requesting that data sharing and information governance arrangements be reviewed across partners, it was acknowledged that the confidentiality and security of people’s personal data was likely to be a barrier.

·         Support was given to the strengthening of the approach identified in recommendation 3 – ie a ‘named individual or keyworker’ approach which put the resident first

RESOLVED – That the draft Final Report be approved for submission to the Cabinet.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Place) and Deputy chief Executive

The report sets out details of the exploration of four rail stations in Stockport as part of the Stockport Stations Alliance programme under One Public Estate (OPE) 6. These proposals are at an early stage, but it is important that each of the opportunities are explored in detail to maximise the benefit to the Council and residents.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on and note the report.

Officer Contact: Andy Prideaux on 0161 217 6926 or email: andrew.prideaux@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director (Place) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out detailing of the exploration of four rail stations in Stockport as part of the Stockport Stations Alliance programme under One Public Estate (OPE) 6. The proposals were at an early stage, but it was important that each of the opportunities were explored in detail to maximise the benefit to the Council and residents.

The Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning and Governance (Councillor Tom McGee) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Members enquired what criteria was used to choose the particular stations, given that no firm view had been taken as to what developments would take place.

·          Nothing had been decided with regard to what development would take place and discussions were at a very early stage with the Local Planning Authority.

·         Concern was expressed that local Members had been informed of the proposals from a source other than the Council.

·         It was important to see how the proposals fitted in with the Greater Manchester Rail Prospectus.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That this Scrutiny Committee recommends that the Cabinet engages with members of the public at an early stage of the process.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Place) and Deputy Chief Executive, and Corporate Director (Corporate & Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive

The report provides an update on the Greater Manchester Brownfield Housing Fund and on those projects that had have been successfully allocated so far.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer Contact: Paul Richards on 0161 474 2940 or email: paul.richards@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director (Place) submitted a joint report with the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the Greater Manchester Brownfield Housing Fund and on those projects that had been successfully allocated funding so far.

The Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning and Governance (Councillor Tom McGee) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Place) and Deputy Chief Executive.

This report provides an interim update to Scrutiny on the establishment of Stockport Active Community Interest Company (CIC) and progress towards transitioning leisure and active communities services into the new organisation.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Paul Richards on 0161-474-2940 or email: paul.richards@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director (Place) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided an interim update report on the establishment of Stockport Active Community Interest Company (C.I.C) and progress towards transitioning leisure and active communities services into the new organisation.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The Scrutiny Committee thanked the Cabinet for taking note of its previous comments.

·         Members wished to see an enhanced level of scrutiny of the finance and governance of the C.I.C than had taken place with the Board of Life Leisure.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance)               

The report sets out planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items that fall within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

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

Officer Contact: David Clee on 0161 4764 3137 or email: david.clee@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and any Forward Plan items.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That next year’s Scrutiny Committee be recommended to consider examining the issue of Neighbourhood Working.

(3) That the new Portfolio Agreements be submitted as soon as possible to the Scrutiny Committee in the new Municipal Year.