Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 17 September 2013.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 17 September 2013 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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

The following interests were declared:-

Personal Interests

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider whether it is in the public interest to exclude the public during consideration of item 8 “GM Broadband”, which contains information ‘not for publication’ in Appendix by virtue of Category 3 ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority)’ as set out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RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of information which was not for publication relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority)’ as set out in the Local Government Act 1972 by virtue of Category 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended) the disclosure of which would not be in the public interest, would not be fair and would be in breach of Data Protection principles, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Agenda item 8 “GM Broadband”.

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

This report provides the Scrutiny Committee with a mid-year review of the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy for 2013/14 approved by Council on 5 March 2013 and had been prepared in accordance with the CIPFA Code of Practice for Treasury Management in the Public Services.

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

Officer contact Lorna Salvage    on Tel: 0161 474 4026 or by email on lorna.salvage@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Scrutiny Committee to consider performance in the mid-year Review report in relation to the Treasury Management function.

It was reported that the Executive would consider the report at its meeting on 12 November and the Council Meeting on 28 November 2013.

RESOLVED – That, in line with best practice guidelines, the report be received and performance in respect of the Treasury Management function be noted.

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

The Scrutiny Committee is asked for their views and comments on this proposal and these will be fed into the final report to the Executive to consider on 12 November 2013.

Officer contact, Christine Buxton, Head of Finance, telephone number 0161 474 4124, email: christine.buxton@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) informing the Scrutiny Committee of proposals to establish a shared procurement service with Trafford and Rochdale Councils.

It was reported that the Executive would consider the report at its meeting on 12 November 2013.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted

(2) That this Scrutiny Committee would wish to receive reports on the STaR as it progresses.

To consider a report of the Council Solicitor

The Council’s Code of Practice for carrying out surveillance under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) specifies that quarterly reports will be taken to this Scrutiny Committee to demonstrate that the Council is complying with its own Code of Practice when using RIPA.

This report covers the second quarter of 2012/13 to bring the reports up-to-date.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to note this report.

Officer contact: Simon Oldfield, Data Protection and Freedom of Information Officer on simon.oldfield@stockport.gov.uk or 0161 474 4048.

The Council Solicitor submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) reminding the Scrutiny Committee that the Council’s Code of Practice for carrying out surveillance under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) specified that quarterly reports would be taken to this Scrutiny Committee to demonstrate to elected members that the Council was complying with its own Code of Practice when using RIPA.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted

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

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to note the report

Officer contact: Barry Khan, 0161 474 3202, barry.khan@stockport.gov.uk

A joint report (copies of which had been circulated) of the Corporate Director for Place and the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services was submitted provides an update on Greater Manchester’s revised approach to delivering the GM Broadband Programme, with a particular focus on the roll-out of broadband infrastructure across Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan and the requirement to approve match funds in order to secure ERDF and BDUK investment.

It was reported that subject to the comments of this Scrutiny Committee the Executive at its meeting on 12 November 2013 would be asked to:

·         approve that Stockport Council would be the Lead Authority for this project as identified in the report.

·         agree to fund £312,500 as an equal contribution to the Match Funding, subject to the other seven AGMA authorities agreeing to contribute identical amounts and subject to obtaining external funding

·         delegate to the Council Solicitor the ability to enter into any relevant legal agreements and make any necessary decisions to implement the scheme as identified in the report.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.               

The report sets out planned agenda items for the next meeting 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: Craig Ainsworth, Democratic Services Manager, telephone number 474 3204, email: craig.ainsworth@stockport.gov.uk

The Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out planned agenda items for the Committee’s future meetings and Forward Plan items which fell within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee and progress with resolutions made by the Scrutiny Committee at previous meetings.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services be requested to submit a report to the next meeting of this Scrutiny Committee in relation to “Contact Centre – Staffing and Response Times”.