Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 1 July 2014

The minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 1 July 2014 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair subject to the deletion of the words “in Stockport” in Minute 9 “ Roles and Responsibilities of the Funding Committee.”

Councillors and officers to declare any interests which they have in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations of interest 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

The report presents updated forecasts for the Council’s finances for the period 2015/16 to 2018/19.

The Scrutiny Committee arte invited to consider the report and make any comments to the Executive.

The Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) presenting a forecast for the Council’s finances for the period 2015/2016 to 2018/2019 taking as its starting point the position set out in the budget reports considered at the Council meeting on 27 February 2014.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The forecasts in the report confirmed the scale of the financial challenge facing the Council in forthcoming years and the demands associated with presenting a balanced budget for 2015/2016.

·         In line with three out of the last four budgets approved by the Council Meeting, the projection for Council Tax increases has been changed to an on-going freeze rather than 2% per annum.

·         The level of airport dividend that the Council could expect.

·         The Council Tax Discount Scheme and holdbacks for the business rates retention safety net and the New Homes Bonus.

·         Forecasting for 2018/2019 was a major challenge as figures for the next spending review period were yet to be negotiated and cover dates beyond the next general election.

·         Pay award assumptions for the period 2016-2019 and impact on pension contributions in light of a reduction in the number of employees.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council.

The report endorses and acknowledges the financial forecasts in the Corporate Director’s report and sets out the Executive’s response. This is in the form of a strategic framework for Investing in Stockport, a single programme for growth and reform over the medium term.

The Scrutiny Committee arte invited to consider the report and make any comments to the Executive.

The Leader of the Council and the Deputy Leader (Executive Councillor for Corporate, Customer and Community Services) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the strategic framework for Investing in Stockport, the single programme for sustainable growth and public service reform in the Borough over the medium term. The report further identified those areas where in order to deliver against the outcome framework described in section 3 of the report, the Executive had asked for investment business cases to be brought forward in August and September 2014.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The development of a two year budget plan for 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 would make it possible to develop far reaching propositions for reform which could take into account the almost certain need for further reductions from 2017/2018 onwards.

·         The Council must ask itself how best it can invest the resources it will retain in future years and how to align these resources with others to achieve the best outcomes.

·         Two significant pieces of work had been undertaken to develop an outcome focused approach – (i) an outcome focused re-design exercise undertaken by the Council’s Senior Management Group and (ii) key partners had been engaged in a series of detailed discussions and the endorsement of the Stockport Partnership Board had been secured for a whole partnership framework that would align public resources over the medium term and provide a vision to which business and community leaders can aspire.

·         Reducing future need for and demand on public services was at the heart of the Investing in Stockport strategy.

·         Digital Stockport was vital to enable citizens to interact with the Council in the easiest and most effective way – the Council will need to review its ICT capability.

·         The need to explore alternative service delivery models to ensure the optimum use of resources. This included the Councils relationship with Stockport Homes, Life Leisure and Solutions SK.

·         It was recognised that substantial demands would be placed on Council employees as the Council changed the way in which it operates in future and that significant work would have to be undertaken to support this change in culture.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive

The report considers proposed revisions to the Council’s Code of Conduct for Officers and the Confidential Reporting Policy and Procedure.

The Working Party is requested to comment on the proposed revisions to the Council’s Code of Conduct for Officers and the Confidential Reporting Policy and Procedure, prior to their consideration by the Corporate, Resource Management and Governance Scrutiny Committee.

Officer Contact: Sue Williams on 0161 474 2175 or email: sue.williams@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Scrutiny Committee to consider revisions to the Constitution in respect to the Council’s Code of Conduct for Officers and the Confidential Reporting policy and procedure.

Councillors identified a number of small drafting errors which needed to be corrected and asked that it be made clear that the documents do not apply to employees of schools unless adopted locally by the School’s Governing Body.

RESOLVED – That the Council Meeting be recommended to approve the amended Code of Conduct for Officers and Confidential Reporting Policy subject to it being made clear that the documents do not apply to school employees unless adopted locally by the School’s Governing Body.

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 planned items for the Scrutiny Committee’s future meeting and Forward Plan items which fell within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.