Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on4 March 2014.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 4 March 2014 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 interest was declared:-

Personal and Prejudicial Interest

To consider call-in items (if any).

There were no call-in items to consider.

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: Craig Ainsworth, Democratic Services Manager, telephone number 474 3204, email: craig.ainsworth@stockport.gov.uk.

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

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Democratic Services Manager be requested to clarify when the Executive’s Response to the Scrutiny Review on the Impact of Welfare Reform had been scheduled for consideration by the Scrutiny Committee.

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

The purpose of this report is to provide members of the Scrutiny Committee with an update on the progress of the review and redesign exercise. At the time of writing it is expected that the new structure and working arrangements will be introduced on 1 June 2014, in line with the agreed timescale.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to note the report.

Officer contact: Steve Houston on telephone number 0161 474 4001 or alternatively email steve.houston@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the progress of the review and redesign exercise that had been undertaken with the Corporate and Support Services Directorate and which was due to be introduced on 1 June 2014.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The principles underpinning the review and redesign of Corporate and Support Services were sound and the measures undertaken to consult with staff had been robust and effective.

·         Although there had been a move to create new generic posts to provide additional flexibility in the future deployment of the directorate’s staffing resource, there was a recognition that it was important to place people where they could do the best job within their range of experience.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services be requested to submit a report to a future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee providing a further update on the implementation of the review and redesign of Corporate and Support Services at such a time that the new arrangements were in place and operational.

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

The report details the proposed transfer of a former Council occupied building located within the grounds of the Reddish Vale High School campus to Reddish Vale High School.

The Executive will consider the proposal at their meeting on 22 April 2014

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the proposed transfer of this building to the Reddish Vale High School for the purposes stated in the report and make any recommendations for consideration by the Executive.

Officer contact Murray Carr on Tel: 0161-474-3019 or by email on murray.carr@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the proposed transfer of a former Council occupied building located within the grounds of the Reddish Vale High School campus to Reddish Vale High School.

The Executive Councillor for Corporate, Customer and Community Services (Councillor Mark Weldon) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The final terms of the proposed transfer had not yet been determined but could include transfer for a nominal sum or by way of a long lease.

·         A discussion took place with relating to the conditions that would be attached to the proposed transfer with particular regard to the condition of the property should it return to the Council at a future date.

·         The use of the building would be restricted to educational purposes and should its future use change, the Council would be able to invoke conditions in the transfer agreement to revert the building to Council control.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.