Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 27 January 2015.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 7 January 2015 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.

No declarations were made.

To consider call-in items (if any).

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider the final report of the Scrutiny Review Panel – Community Use of Community Buildings

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment upon the draft Final Report prior to its submission to the Executive.

Officer contact: Craig Ainsworth on 474 3204 or email: craig.ainsworth@stockport.gov.uk

Councillor Peter Burns introduced the final report on the draft Scrutiny Review on the Community use of Public Buildings in the Borough.

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

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The recommendations of the Review Panel should inform the work currently being undertaken in relation to the ‘Locality Operating Model’ as part of Investing in Stockport Programme.

·         A number of pavilions within parks were well used by community groups and should have been included in the scope of the Review.

·         Councillors should be encouraged to become involved in the Voluntary Management Committees in relation to community buildings.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the comments of the Scrutiny Committee be referred to the Executive for consideration and that the Executive be informed that this Scrutiny Committee supports the recommendations detailed in the report.

(3) Councillors be encouraged to become involved in the Voluntary Management Committees in relation to community buildings.

(4) That a report in relation to ‘Locality Operating Model’ as part of Investing in Stockport Programme be submitted to this Scrutiny Committee early in the next municipal year.

This item consists of four reports providing an overview of progress in delivering key strategic, corporate and portfolio objectives during the third quarter, along with updated projections and forecasts for full year performance

·         The Leader’s Report provides an update on the Investing in Stockport Programme. It also highlights a number of the Council’s achievements over the third quarter, along with some of the key decisions at Greater Manchester level including the devolution agreement.

·         The Final Update Corporate Performance and Resource Report (CPRR) provides an overview of progress in delivering the Council’s Priority Outcomes and budget during the third quarter of 2014/15. This is based on the Council Plan 2013/15 and the Medium Term Financial Plan 2013/17. The Corporate Report is supported by seven Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs), which were published as background papers to the Executive report of 10 February.

·         The Final Update Report for the Corporate, Customer and Community Services Portfolio provides a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, budgets and capital programmes since the Mid-Year Report, and includes full-year forecasts for performance and financial data for the Portfolio. The report is based on the 2014/15 Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreement (PPRA).

The Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted the Leader’s Third Quarter Report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the Investing in Stockport Programme. It also highlighted a number of the Council’s achievements over the third quarter, along with some of the key decisions at Greater Manchester level including the devolution agreement.

It was reported that the report had been considered by the Executive at its meeting on 10 February 2015.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Sue Derbyshire) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         It was noted that there had been a number of developments in relation to the devolution to Greater Manchester including budgets in relation to Health and Social Care and there was a need to ensure there were appropriate governance and accountability structures in place before April 2016.

·         The Council Meeting had now set its budget for 2015/16 based on the Executive budget proposals.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That this Scrutiny Committee would wish to receive regular reports in relation to the proposed Governance and Accountability structures in relation to the Greater Manchester Devolution arrangements.

The Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted the Third Quarter Corporate Performance and Resource Report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of progress in delivering the Council’s Priority Outcomes and budget during the third quarter of 2014/15. This was based on the Council Plan 2013/15 and the Medium Term Financial Plan 2013/17. The Corporate Report was supported by seven Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs), which had been published as background papers.

It was reported that the report had been considered by the Executive at its meeting on 10 February 2015.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Sue Derbyshire) and the Deputy Executive Leader and Portfolio holder for Corporate, Customer and Community Services (Councillor Iain Roberts) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The Scrutiny Committee noted the proposed changes as part of the ‘Digital by Design’ initiative as part of the Investing in Stockport Programme to make it easier for members of the public to transact business with the council ‘on-line’.

·         There was a need to retain delegated budgets to Area Committees although perhaps these could be more effective in supporting local groups.

·         The importance of the Council working closely with the third sector especially as there was a reliance within the Investing in Stockport Programme on greater partnerships with the voluntary sector.

·         Reference was made to the number of applications still to be progressed under the Deprivation of Liberty Standards (DOLS).

·         It was confirmed that any significant changes to the Capital Programme would be submitted to this Scrutiny Committee for consideration.

·         It was noted that Carillion/ CBRE were currently undertaking a staff restructuring exercise, although these staff were not employees of the Council.

·         Progress being made in relation to the processing of the backlog of invoice payments was noted.

·         The Scrutiny Committee noted that capacity and resources had been made available in relation to the ‘Cheadle Pilot’ and that a report setting out the detail of the pilot would be submitted to the Scrutiny Committee.

·         It was confirmed that funding had been included within the Portfolio for Children and Young People to ensure that robust arrangements were in place in relation to Child Sexual Exploitation.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted the Portfolio Performance and Resources – Third Quarter Update Report 2014/15 (copies of which had been circulated) providing a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, budgets and capital programmes since the Mid-Year Report, and included full-year forecasts for performance and financial data for the Portfolio. The report was based on the 2014/15 Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreement (PPRA).

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Sue Derbyshire) and the Deputy Executive Leader and Portfolio holder for Corporate, Customer and Community Services (Councillor Iain Roberts) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The Scrutiny Committee noted the update provided in relation to the Stockport Local Assistance Scheme.

·         The Council was looking to strengthen corporate communications by ensuring that campaigns were communicated effectively including the most appropriate medium to communicate corporate messages.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out progress on the actions outlined in the Executive response to the Welfare Reform Scrutiny review which was presented to the Scrutiny Committee on 1 July 2014.

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

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         There was a need to ensure that appropriate privacy arrangements are in place for members of the public using public computers to complete application forms.

·         It was noted that the audit of current progress in relation to preparing for Universal Credit (Appendix B to the report) was a national document and therefore information would not be available in relation to Stockport.

·         The Council was considering ways to ensure that the needs of tenants in social housing not operated by Stockport Homes were being met.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That a further progress report be submitted to this Scrutiny Committee on 22 September 2015.

RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of information that was not for publication, 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 the following item in accordance with Paragraph 3 ‘Information relating the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority)’ as set out in Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

To consider a joint report of the Corporate Directors, Services to People and Corporate and Support Services.

The report provides a specific update for the Scrutiny Committee on the financial support arrangements for Cheadle and Marple College (the College) and on the emerging work to consider the possibility for collaborative work with the Higher and Further Education Sector.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the report and within the constraints of restricted information available due to commercial sensitivity, provide any comments which can be considered by the Executive at its meeting of 17 March 2015.

Officer Contact, Simon Finch, telephone 0161 474 4019, email simon.finch@stockport.gov.uk

A joint report (copies of which had been circulated) of the Corporate Directors, Services to People and Corporate and Support Services was submitted providing an update to the Scrutiny Committee on the financial support arrangements for Cheadle and Marple College and on the emerging work to consider the possibility for collaborative work with the Higher and Further Education Sector.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Sue Derbyshire) and the Deputy Executive Leader and Portfolio holder for Corporate, Customer and Community Services (Councillor Iain Roberts) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The report sets out proposed changes to the Council Constitution together with the recommendations of the Constitution Working Party.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to endorse the changes agreed as part of the Scrutiny Review of Planning together with the additional minor changes which have been outlined.

Officer contact: Craig Ainsworth, telephone number 0161 474 3204, email: craig.ainsworth@stockport.gov.uk

The Monitoring Officer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out proposed changes to the Council Constitution in relation to the following, together with the recommendations of the Constitution Working Party:

·         Proposed changes to the Schedule of Delegation Arrangements for Development and Related Matters

·         Change in the appointment process for Local Authority school governors

·         Incidental changes

The Democratic Services Manager reported that Monitoring Officer had further recommended that the Leader of the Council approves an amendment to item 12 of the Individual Member Functions in Appendix 3 to Part 3 of the Constitution to read: “The Executive Councillor with responsibility for school management/governance is authorised to make nominations on behalf of the Council to School Governing Bodies and when permitted by law to appoint such nominees after consultation with the Governor Representative Group”

The effect of these changes would be to enable the Executive Councillor (Lifelong Learning and Achievement) to appoint local authority school governors as necessary until the new regime comes into force on 1 September 2015. The Executive Councillor would be able to take into account any new protocol suggested by the Governor Representative Group during the interim period and enable flexibility during a period of change.

RESOLVED – (1) That the recommendations of the Constitution Working Party be endorsed for consideration by the Council Meeting on 2 April 2015.

(2)  That the Leader of the Council be recommended to approve an amendment to item 12 of the Individual Member Functions in Appendix 3 to Part 3 of the Constitution to read: “The Executive Councillor with responsibility for school management/governance is authorised to make nominations on behalf of the Council to School Governing Bodies and when permitted by law to appoint such nominees after consultation with the Governor Representative Group”

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 – That the report be noted.