Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 31 May 2016.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 31 May 2016 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider whether it is in the public to exclude the public during consideration of the Agenda Item 13 ‘Borough Care Investment Programme Update’ an appendix to which contains information “not for publication” by virtue of Paragraph 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) as it contained information relating to any individual.

RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of information that was ‘not for publication’ by virtue of paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) in that it contained ‘information relating to the financial or business affairs of an individual (including the Council)’, the disclosure of which would not be in the public interest and would breach Data Protection principals, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the appendix to Agenda Item 13 - ‘Borough Care Investment Programme Update.

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 a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The Annual Corporate Performance and Resource Report (CPRR) provides an overview of progress in delivering the Council’s Priority Outcomes and budget during the fourth quarter and across 2015/16, based on the Council Plan and the Medium Term Financial Plan. It includes out-turn budget and performance data where this is available, along with a year-end review of the Corporate Risk Register.

Key decisions resulting from the out-turn position reported are included in the separate Leader’s Report.

The Executive at its meeting on 14 June 2016 considered the report and resolved that in relation to the Annual Corporate Performance and Resources Report for 2015/16 the following be noted:-

·         progress against delivering the Council Plan’s Investing in Stockport outcomes and capital schemes alongside budget and performance outturns contained within the report;

·         the cash limit and non-cash limit outturn positions for 2015/16 as set out in sections 2.3 and 2.6 of the report;

·         the resulting final reserves and balances position of £102.135m;

·         the position on the 2015/16 budget savings programme set out in section 2.4 of the report; and

·         the Retained Schools Budget and Housing Revenue Account outturn positions as set out in sections 2.7 and 2.8 of the report;

·         the outturn position for the 2015/16 Capital Programme as set out in section 3.1 of the report.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the report.

Officer contact: Michael Cullen / Steve Skelton, 0161 474 4631 / 3174, Michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk / steve.skelton@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted the Annual Corporate Performance and Resource Report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided an overview of progress in delivering the Council’s Priority Outcomes and budget during the fourth quarter and across 2015/16, based on the Council Plan and the Medium Term Financial Plan. It includes out-turn budget and performance data where this is available, along with a year-end review of the Corporate Risk Register.

Key decisions resulting from the out-turn position reported are included in the separate Leader’s Report.

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

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The measures introduced to improve the levels of performance in relation to the number of calls to the Contact Centre being answered were noted

·         It was noted that the cost of modernising care homes operated by Borough Care (£20m) through Prudential Borrowing would be met by Borough Care through a commercial agreement and not by the Council.

·         It was noted that a review of the level of reserves held by the Council was currently taking a place and a report would be presented to this Scrutiny Committee for consideration.

·         It was noted that the Council had received a Section 31 Grant to compensate the Council for exemptions introduced by the Government in relation to the NNDR system which had reduced the Council’s income.

RESOLVED (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Deputy Chief Executive be requested to confirm when the library review consultation would be concluded and the timeline for the implementation of the outcomes.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

This Scrutiny Committee requested an annual report on performance of the Safer Stockport Partnership (SSP). This item will consist of a presentation outlining key performance trends in 2015/16 and priorities for 2016/17. The report sets out the proposed changes to governance arrangements for the Partnership.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to consider and comment on:

·         proposed governance arrangements for the SSP set out in section 3 above; and

·         the presentation and proposed themes for 2016/17.

Officer contact Steve Skelton on 0161 474 31714, or alternatively email steve.skelton@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the proposed changes to governance arrangements for the Safer Stockport Partnership. This Scrutiny Committee had requested an annual report on performance of the Safer Stockport Partnership (SSP) at it’s meeting 7 July 2015.

The Scrutiny Committee received a presentation from Superintendent Jo Rogerson and Mr Steve Skelton outlining key performance trends in 2015/16 and priorities for 2016/17.

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

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The intention to strengthen the engagement of Councillors at an Area Committee level to improve relationships and operational intelligence sharing was welcomed including proposals to present data at an area committee level every six months.

·         The Scrutiny Committee noted that the intention to remove community safety from being the responsibility of a single member of the Executive to instead being a collective responsibility would lead to greater accountability without duplication.

·         The Scrutiny Committee expressed concern at the decrease in the number of people who felt their local area was a place where people from different ethnic backgrounds get on well together and the potential increase in ‘hate crimes’ as a result. And welcomed the steps being taken to address this issue.

·         It was suggested that further information should be provided in relation to children running away from children’s homes in the borough e.g. did the statistics relate to a small number of children’s homes and the same individuals.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That Superintendent Jo Rogerson and Mr Steve Skelton be thanked for their presentation.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The Leader’s report outlines the key priorities for the new Executive, along with responding to some of the challenges highlighted in the Corporate Performance and Resources Report.

The Executive at its meeting on 14 June 2016 considered the report and resolved, that in relation to the relevant sections of the Corporate Performance and Resource Report (Minute 9 refers), the following be approved:

·         virement to the Revenue Budget (set out in section 2.2.3 of the CPRR);

·         the approach to financing redundancy costs (2.6.2);

·         contributions to/from earmarked reserves and balances (2.9);

·         delegation of changes to the outturn, reserves and/or balances position that may arise from the audit of the statement of accounts (2.11) to the Borough Treasurer, in conjunction with the Leader of the Council;

·         changes to the Capital Programme (3.1.5); and

·         proposals for resourcing the Capital Programme (3.3).

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the report.

Officer contact: Steve Skelton, 0161 474 3174, steve.skelton@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted the Leader’s report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the key priorities for the new Executive, along with responding to some of the challenges highlighted in the Corporate Performance and Resources Report.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Alexander Ganotis) attended the meeting and in response to a question, confirmed that the £350,000 allocated for the feasibility study in relation to the extension of the A6 to Manchester Airport relief road from the M60 at Bredbury to the A6 at Hazel Grove would not be spent on other projects.

RESOLVED – That the Leader’s Report be noted.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of complaints, as at the 4th quarter (January - March) 2015/16. The report also compares complaints received in 2015/16 with the previous year’s complaints.

Executive at its meeting on 14 June 2016 considered the report and agreed that performance in relation to complaints received in the fourth quarter of 2015/16 be noted.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the report.

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

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Scrutiny Committee with an overview of complaints received in the fourth quarter of 2015/16 and outlining any lessons learnt as a consequence.

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

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The Scrutiny Committee noted the various ways in which formal complaints could be made in addition to the Contact Centre.

·         The Scrutiny Committee sought reassurance that the ‘lessons learnt’ from the 400 complaints made in 2015/16 extended beyond the examples provided in the report.

·         It was suggested than an analysis needed to be undertaken of issues ‘logged’ not just formal complaints to identify whether there were particular concerns relating to individual council services and this information be included in future reports.

RESOLVED – That performance in relation to complaints received in the fourth quarter of 2015/16 be noted.

To consider a joint report of the Deputy Chief Executive

The report presents the draft 2016/17 Agreements for the Reform and Governance, Communities and Housing and Leader’s Portfolios (Appendices 1 & 2) for consideration and comment by the Committee.

Policy priorities for the year ahead are set out within the Agreements, incorporating the existing Council and Borough Plan priority outcomes alongside specific priorities of the new Executive.

The Agreements will form the basis for regular in-year reporting. Portfolio and Corporate Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs and CPRRs) will assess progress against key objectives, priorities, outcomes and budgets, enabling Scrutiny Committees to hold the Executive to account and for the Executive to identify current and future risks to delivery.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to review and comment on the draft Portfolio Agreements.

Officer contacts: Peter Owston/ Susan Wood on 474 3274/ 218 1032 or email: peter.owston@stockport.gov.uk/ susan.wood@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the draft 2016/17 Agreements for the Reform and Governance, Communities and Housing and Leader’s Portfolios (Appendices 1 & 2) for consideration and comment by the Scrutiny Committee.

The policy priorities for the year ahead were set out within the Agreements, incorporating the existing Council and Borough Plan priority outcomes alongside specific priorities of the new Executive.

The Agreements would form the basis for regular in-year reporting. Portfolio and Corporate Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs and CPRRs) and would assess progress against key objectives, priorities, outcomes and budgets, enabling Scrutiny Committees to hold the Executive to account and for the Executive to identify current and future risks to delivery.

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

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The different levels of support available to residents in relation to the redesign of services so that they can maximise the opportunities afforded by digital solutions was noted.

RESOLVED – That the proposed Agreements for the Reform and Governance, Communities and Housing and Leader’s Portfolios be noted.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer

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 2015/16. 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 Scrutiny Committee are invited to comment on the report.

Officer contact John Parkinson   on Tel: 0161 218 1757 or by email on john.parkinson@stockport.gov.uk

The Borough Treasurer submitted the Treasury Management Annual Report for the financial year 2014/15 (copies of which had been circulated)

The Council was 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 2015/16. This report met 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 Leader of the Council (Councillor Alex Ganotis) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

RESOLVED – That the Council Meeting be recommended to approve the Treasury Management Annual Report for the financial year 2015/16.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive.

The changes required to implement the devolution agreements are being dealt with in two phases:

Phase 1 will deal with most issues other than those relating to the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRA).  Order(s) will need to be laid by July 2016 and implemented by November 2016.

Phase 2 will address issues relating to Fire and Rescue services.  This will enable Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) members to give further consideration to the requirements arising from the transfer of GMFRA responsibilities to the elected Mayor.  As part of Phase 2 GMCA members will also consider whether they wish to pursue the transfer of Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority responsibilities to the GMCA and will review Overview and Scrutiny arrangements in relation to GMCA and mayoral functions.  Order(s) will need to be laid by September 2016 and implemented by February 2017.  All issues to be dealt with in Phase 2 will need to be resolved by June 2016 to enable sufficient time for the drafting of detailed proposals.

The ten Greater Manchester Authorities need to consent to the draft Orders for Phase 1 and Phase 2. At the present time, the GMCA does not have a draft of the Orders and delegated authority is therefore requested to enable consent to be provided by the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council to the content of the Orders before they are laid in Parliament.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the following recommendations:

·         To note that the Cities and Local Government Act is now in place and note the next steps required for implementation of the Greater Manchester devolution deals.

·         To delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council to consent to the terms of all Orders required to implement the current devolution deals.

Officer Contact: Celia Tierney on Tel: 474 3230 or email: celia.tierney@stockport.gov.uk

The Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out changes required to implement the devolution agreements which were being dealt with in two phases:

Phase 1 would deal with most issues other than those relating to the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRA).  Order(s) would need to be laid before Parliament by July 2016 and implemented by November 2016.

Phase 2 would address issues relating to Fire and Rescue services.  This would enable Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) members to give further consideration to the requirements arising from the transfer of GMFRA responsibilities to the elected Mayor.  As part of Phase 2 GMCA members would also consider whether they wished to pursue the transfer of Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority responsibilities to the GMCA and would review Overview and Scrutiny arrangements in relation to GMCA and mayoral functions.  Order(s) would need to be laid before Parliament by September 2016 and implemented by February 2017.  All issues to be dealt with in Phase 2 would need to be resolved by June 2016 to enable sufficient time for the drafting of detailed proposals.

The ten Greater Manchester Authorities needed to consent to the draft Orders for Phase 1 and Phase 2. At the present time, the GMCA did not have a draft of the Orders and delegated authority was therefore requested to enable consent to be provided by the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council to the content of the Orders before they are laid in Parliament.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Alex Ganotis) reported that he had expressed concerns to the Interim Mayor regarding the proposed governance arrangements following the transfer of the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority responsibilities to the GMCA/ elected Mayor. In particular he hoped that this Council would be able to continue to appoint sufficient members to reflect the political balance of the Council.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That this Scrutiny Committee would support the representations made by the Leader of the Council to ensure that in relation to the transfer of the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority responsibilities to the GMCA/ elected Mayor this Council would continue be able to continue to appoint sufficient members to reflect the political balance of the Council.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The report sets out the process for the selection of Scrutiny Review topics by Scrutiny Committees to be carried out during the 2016/17 municipal year.

The Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee at its meeting on 13 June 2016, agreed that the report be noted and it be circulated to all Scrutiny Committees for consideration.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the selection of Scrutiny Review topics to be carried out during the 2016/17 municipal year.

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 process for the selection of Scrutiny Review topics by Scrutiny Committees to be carried out during the 2016/17 municipal year.

RESOLVED – (1) That a Review be undertaken into “The Council’s Approach to Consultation”

(2) That the following members be appointed to the Review Panel:

            Councillor Roy Driver

Councillor Mike Hurleston

Councillor Wendy Meikle

Councillor John McGahan (Lead Member)

Councillor Suzanne Wyatt

(3) That following the conclusion of the above Review and should there be sufficient time, a further Scrutiny Review be undertaken in relation to Business rate and rent collection from industrial and commercial premises owned by the Council.

The report provides an update on progress of the Borough Care Investment Programme and proposes that land at Booth Street (Edgeley) be released for the development of a new care home as it is critical to the success of the Borough Care Investment Programme.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to note the contents of the report and provide any comments.

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

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) report providing an update on progress of the Borough Care Investment Programme and proposing that land at Booth Street (Edgeley) be released for the development of a new care home as it was critical to the success of the Borough Care Investment Programme.

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

RESOLVED – That the report be noted

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 next meeting and Forward Plan items which fell within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.