Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 6 May 2014

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 6 May 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.

No Declarations were made.

To consider call-in items (if any).

There were no call-in items to consider.

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

This item consists of three Annual Reports for 2013/14 presented for consideration by the Committee. These build on the information reported in-year, providing an update and summary of progress in achieving key strategic, corporate and portfolio objectives during the year.

The Annual Leader’s Report highlights a number of the Council’s significant achievements over the last 12 months, along with providing an update on plans for 2014/15 and beyond. These include progress on Investing in Stockport and key decisions at GM level. 

The Annual Corporate Performance and Resource Report (CPRR) which provides an overview of progress in delivering the Council’s Priority Outcomes and budget during 2013/14, based on the Council Plan 2013/15 and the Medium Term Financial Plan 2013/17. It is supported by seven Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports which are published as background papers to this report. 

The Annual Reports provide a summary of key activity during the year, including any updates for the fourth quarter, along with performance and budget out-turns for the full year.

The Executive at its meeting on 17 June 2014 considered the Leader’s Report and CPRR and agreed that:

(1) the progress against delivering Council Plan priorities, portfolio outcomes and capital schemes alongside budget and performance outturns contained within the report be noted.

(2) the virements to the Revenue Budget set out in section 2.2.2 of the report be approved.

(3) the cash limit and non-cash limit forecast outturn positions for 2013/14 as set out in sections 2.3 and 2.6 of the report be noted and the carry forward arrangements for cash limit surpluses set out in paragraph 2.5.1 and the recommended use of non-cash limit surpluses set out in paragraph 2.6.6 of the report be approved.

(4) the review of the budget savings programme set out in section 2.4 of the report be noted.

(5) the approach to providing Minimum and Voluntary Revenue Provision as set out in paragraph 2.6.2 of the report be noted

(6) the approach to financing redundancy costs set out in paragraph 2.6.5 of the report be approved

(7) the Retained Schools Budget and Housing Revenue Account outturn positions as set out in sections 2.7 and 2.8 of the report be noted

(8) the contributions to/from earmarked reserves and balances as set out in section 2.9 of the report be noted and the resulting final reserves and balances positions including the creation of a £6.329m ‘Investing in Stockport’ reserve and a £2.885m ‘Highways Investment’ reserve as set out in paragraph 2.9.4 of the report be approved.

(9) the final position for the 2013/14 Capital Programme as set out in section 3.1 of the report be noted.

(10) the changes to the Capital Programme as set out in 3.1.7 of the report be approved.

(11) the resourcing of the Capital Programme as set out in section 3.4 of the report be approved.

(12) the delegation arrangements for any late adjustments included in the Statement of Accounts, as set out in sections 2.11 and 3.6 of the report be approved.

Scrutiny Committee is asked to:

·         Consider the Annual Leader’s Report, Corporate Performance and Resource Report and Portfolio Performance and Resource Report, 

·         Review the progress against priorities, performance and budgets for 2013/14;

·         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: Christine Buxton, Peter Owston, 0161 474 4124 /                  0161 474 3274, Christine.buxton@stockport.gov.uk / peter.owston@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted three Annual Reports for 2013/14 (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update and summary of progress in achieving key strategic, corporate and portfolio objectives during the year.

The Annual Leader’s Report highlighted a number of the Council’s significant achievements over the last 12 months, along with providing an update on plans for 2014/15 and beyond. These included progress on Investing in Stockport and key decisions at Greater Manchester level. 

The Annual Corporate Performance and Resource Report (CPRR) provided an overview of progress in delivering the Council’s Priority Outcomes and budget during 2013/14, based on the Council Plan 2013/15 and the Medium Term Financial Plan 2013/17. It was supported by seven Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports which had been published as background papers to the report. 

The Annual Reports provided a summary of key activity during the year, including any updates for the fourth quarter, along with performance and budget out-turns for the full year.

It was reported that the report had been considered by the Executive at its meeting on 17 June 2014.and agreed the recommendations in the reports.

The Deputy Executive Leader and Portfolio holder for Corporate, Customer and Community Services (Councillor Iain Roberts) attended the meeting to answer member’s questions.

The following comments/ issues were made:

·         The Scrutiny Committee noted that further information in relation to the Investing in Stockport Programme would be submitted to Scrutiny Committees over the summer.

·         It was noted that the report referred to “reduced capacity coupled with increased demand in some services was beginning to impact on performance” and requested that these be identified in future reports.

·         The Scrutiny Committee asked whether it was possible to identify costs to Council Tax payers of the recent issues in North Reddish.

·         The Scrutiny Committee requested further information on sickness absence including a breakdown and trends.

·         The Scrutiny Committee requested further information on the Payment By Results pilot scheme including the level of performance agreed, how targets are set and payments made.

·         The Scrutiny Committee requested further information in relation to the increase in waiting times for debt advice, including trends, volume of demand and average waiting times.

·         The Scrutiny Committee requested information on Contact Centre call volumes, aborted calls, staffing levels and average waiting times. It was suggested that an initial response be circulated outlining the data available and this information is reported as background to the Q1 report. It was suggested that there was a need to make it much easier to contact the council online and that an education programme should be put in place.

·         The Scrutiny Committee asked for clarification regarding which section was merging with the Community Safety Unit 

RESOLVED – (1) That the Annual Leader’s Report, Corporate Performance and Resource Report and Portfolio Performance and Resource Report be noted.

(2) That the progress against priorities, performance and budgets for 2013/14 be noted.

(3) That the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services be requested  to submit a report to this Scrutiny Committee on sickness absence including a breakdown and trends to accompany the mid-year Portfolio Report.

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

The Council is required through regulations issued under the Local Government Act 2003 to produce an annual treasury report reviewing treasury management activities and the actual prudential and treasury indicators for 2012/13. This report meets the requirements of both the CIPFA Code of Practice on Treasury Management (the Code) and the CIPFA Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities (the Prudential Code).

The report will be considered by the Executive at its meeting on 15 July 2014 and will be asked to recommend that the Council meeting on 11 September 2014:

·         Approve the actual 2013/14 prudential and treasury indicators in this report;

·         Note the annual treasury management report for 2013/14;

·         Note that no fundamental changes have been made during 2013/14 to the Treasury Management Policy Statement and Practices approved at the Council meeting on 12 September 2013.

The Scrutiny Committee are invited to comment on the report.

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 the Annual report in relation to the Treasury Management function.

It was reported that the Executive would consider the report at its meeting on 15 July and the Council Meeting on 11 September 2014.

The Scrutiny Committee noted that hat no fundamental changes had been made during 2013/14 to the Treasury Management Policy Statement and Practices approved at the Council meeting on 12 September 2013.

The Deputy Executive Leader and Portfolio holder for Corporate, Customer and Community Services (Councillor Ian Roberts) attended the meeting to answer member’s questions.

RESOLVED – (1) That the annual treasury management report for 2013/14 be noted.

(2) That the actual 2013/14 prudential and treasury indicators identified in this report be noted.

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

The Council Meeting on 27 February 2014 approved the 2014/15 Revenue Budget, Capital Programme and Medium Term Financial Plan. On 3 April, following consideration by this Scrutiny Committee and Executive, it also approved a refreshed version of the 2013/15 Council Plan, setting out priority outcomes and objectives that will shape the Council’s activities.  These high-level documents outline the Council’s key priorities, objectives and spending plans, providing the basis for performance and resource monitoring over the next 12 months.

These are reflected within Portfolio responsibilities, which were confirmed for 2014/15 by the Annual Council Meeting on 10 June. A Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreement (PPRA) has been drafted for the Corporate, Customer and Community Services (Deputy Leader’s) Portfolio which remains within the remit of this Scrutiny Committee.

As with the Council Plan, the Agreement has been updated and refreshed with only minor changes to the format for 2014/15

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to consider and comment on the draft Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreement.  

Officer contact: Christine Buxton, Peter Owston, 0161 474 4124 /                  0161 474 3274, Christine.buxton@stockport.gov.uk / peter.owston@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted the draft Corporate Customer and Community Services Portfolio Agreement for 2014/15 (copies of which had been circulated).

The Council Meeting on 27 February 2014 had approved the 2014/15 Revenue Budget, Capital Programme and Medium Term Financial Plan. On 3 April, following consideration by this Scrutiny Committee and the Executive, the Council Meeting had also approved a refreshed version of the 2013/15 Council Plan, setting out priority outcomes and objectives that will shape the Council’s activities.  These high-level documents outlined the Council’s key priorities, objectives and spending plans, providing the basis for performance and resource monitoring over the next 12 months.

These were reflected within Portfolio responsibilities, which had been confirmed for 2014/15 at the Annual Council Meeting on 10 June. A Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreement (PPRA) had been drafted for the Corporate, Customer and Community Services (Deputy Leader’s) Portfolio which remains within the remit of this Scrutiny Committee.

As with the Council Plan, the Agreement had been updated and refreshed with only minor changes to the format for 2014/15

The Deputy Executive Leader and Portfolio holder for Corporate, Customer and Community Services (Councillor Iain Roberts) attended the meeting to answer member’s questions.

RESOLVED – That the draft Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreement be noted.

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

The report provides an overview of complaints, as at the 4^th quarter (January - March) 2013/2014. The report also compares complaints received in 2013/14 with 2012/13.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to:

a)      Review performance information contained in this report, and

b)      Comment on the performance measures reported and suggest any additional information that might be collected in future.

Officer contact: Anwar Majothi, 0161 474 3182, anwar.majothi@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of complaints, as at the 4^th quarter (January - March) 2013/2014. The report also compared complaints received in 2013/14 with 2012/13.

The Deputy Executive Leader and Portfolio holder for Corporate, Customer and Community Services (Councillor Ian Roberts) attended the meeting to answer member’s questions.

It was reported that the report had been considered by the Executive at its meeting on 17 June 2014.

RESOLVED – (1) That performance in relation to complaints received in the fourth quarter of 2013/14 be noted.

(2) That The Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services be requested to provide members of this Scrutiny Committee with further information regarding the “delay in responding to correspondence” as reported in paragraph 3.1 of the report.

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

The report sets out the Executive’s a draft response to the recommendations made by the Corporate, Resource Management & Governance and Adult Care Services & Housing Scrutiny Committees as part of its Scrutiny Review "Impact of Welfare Reform”

The Executive Meeting had considered the response at its meeting on 17 June 2014 and the Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services) (Councillor Iain Roberts) had reported that Stockport Local assistance scheme (SLAS)  is working on a partnership agreement with the Credit Union which would build capacity to enable the provision of more affordable sources of credit.  SLAS is developing proposals for a one off developmental grant to enable the Credit Union to establish the necessary infrastructure to deliver this. The aim was to enable the Credit Union to be a credible alternative to loan sharks. To do this they needed the capacity to make on the spot decisions about a loan rather than taking a number of days as the current situation.  

He had also reported that The Executive supported the idea of providing free Wi-Fi access in all Council and other public buildings and he had asked officers to report back to him of the feasibility of such a development.

The Executive approved the response subject to the inclusion of amendments reported at the meeting by the Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services) and requested that its gratitude and appreciation be recorded for the work undertaken by members of the scrutiny review panel and supporting staff involved in the review.

Officer contact: Alison Blount, 0161 474 5107, alison.blount@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the Executive’s a draft response to the recommendations made by the Corporate, Resource Management & Governance and Adult Care Services & Housing Scrutiny Committees as part of its Scrutiny Review "Impact of Welfare Reform”

It was reported that the Executive at its meeting on 17 June 2014 had approved the response and requested that its gratitude and appreciation be recorded for the work undertaken by members of the scrutiny review panel and supporting staff involved in the review.

The Deputy Executive Leader and Portfolio holder for Corporate, Customer and Community Services (Councillor Ian Roberts) attended the meeting to answer member’s questions.

The following comments/ issues were made:

·         There was a need for more qualitative data on the impact of welfare reform.

·         The Scrutiny Committee requested an update on discussions with the Strategic Housing Partnership about extending SHL initiatives

·         The Scrutiny Committee requested more information about improvements to accessing information about the SLAS on the Council website

·         The Scrutiny Committee welcomed the support given to Penny Lane Pantry and would wish to see the model extended further.

·         The Scrutiny Committee requested more specific information about how the capacity of the Credit Union is being developed

·         The Scrutiny Committee requested an update on the feasibility of providing free Wi-Fi access in all public buildings.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Executive’s response be noted.

(2) That the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services be requested to submit a further report in relation to the implementation of the recommendations to this Scrutiny Committee on 27 January 2015.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive

Following a review of a number of the Council’s partner organisations, the Council Meeting in May 2013 decided not to appoint representatives to those bodies. Instead the Council meeting created an inclusive cross party Committee to look at monitoring the performance of these organisations. This report sets out the arrangements for this Committee when considering the performance of Life Leisure.

The comments of the Funding Committee on 26 June will be reported at the meeting.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to note the draft terms of reference.

Officer contact Parveen Akhtar   on Tel: 0161 218 1450 or by email on Parveen.Akhtar@stockport.gov.uk

The Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the arrangements for the ‘Funding Committee’ when considering the performance of Life Leisure.

Following a review of a number of the Council’s partner organisations, the Council Meeting in May 2013 had decided not to appoint representatives to those bodies. Instead the Council meeting created a number of inclusive cross party Committees to look at monitoring the performance of these organisations.

It was reported that the ‘Funding Committee’ at its meeting on 26 June it was resolved:-

That the draft terms of reference as set out in the report be approved in so far as this Committee is concerned subject to the rewording of point 3 as follows and the deletion of point 11:

“3. To consider and approve or otherwise as necessary the Partnership Delivery Plan. (The Plan is a detailed service delivery plan setting out LL's proposals for the 3 year period.  LL's pricing policy must be included in the Plan, and it should identify clearly how it will ensure facilities remain accessible to all sections of the community and safeguard concessionary rates for identified target groups. The Plan should include how LL contributes to improving

RESOLVED - That the draft terms of reference as set out in the report be noted and that this Scrutiny Committee would wish to see a reference to Life Leisure being under an obligation to report to the Funding Committee and potential risks with regard to their operations in Stockport.

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.

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 reports on the following be programmed for a future meeting of this Scrutiny Committee:

·         Sickness absence including a breakdown and trends to accompany the mid-year Portfolio Report.

·         A further report in relation to the implementation of the recommendations to this Scrutiny Committee on 27 January 2015.

·         The Contact Centre