Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 5 July 2016.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 5 July 2016 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 a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

This item relates to the First Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs) for the Reform & Governance and Communities & Housing Portfolios. These provide an early update on progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects during the first quarter (April to June) of 2016/17. They include forecast performance data (where this is available) and projected financial data for the Portfolio, along with an update on portfolio savings programmes. 

The Reports are based on the 2016/17 Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreements (PPRAs). These were considered by the Committee on 5 July 2016 and approved by the Executive on 19 July 2016.

In addition to the Reform and Governance Portfolio Report, the Committee is asked to review the Neighbourhoods and Community Safety elements of the Communities and Housing Portfolio Report, with the remainder of this being considered separately by the Adult Care Services & Housing and Environment & Economy Scrutiny Committees. Whilst other information within the portfolio may provide useful context, questions relating to this information should be addressed to the appropriate Scrutiny Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to:

·         Consider the First Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports;  

·         Review the progress against delivering key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 2016/17;

·         Highlight key areas of and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any performance or resource issues

·         Highlight any significant issues or changes to be fed back to the Executive alongside the Corporate Performance and Resource Report;

·         Identify how areas of strong performance and good practice can be shared in other services.

Officer contact for accessing background papers and discussing the report; - Peter Owston, Policy, Performance and Reform (CSS), peter.owston@stockport.gov.uk (474 3274) and Susan Wood, Head of Management Accounting susan.wood@stockport.go.uk (218 1032)

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the Portfolio Performance and Resources Report for the Reform & Governance and Communities & Housing Portfolios providing an update on key activity during the first quarter of 2017, with a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priority outcomes through the Council’s investment programmes.  It also included forecast performance data and projected financial data for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programme.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Alex Ganotis) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

Reform & Governance

·         It was commented that a resident had complained to their local councillor following the difficulties they had encountered when trying to amend their direct debit details for the payment of Council Tax online.  It was stated that the online transaction had to be aborted part way through the process when it became clear that the resident did not have all of the information required to complete the transaction electronically.  In response it was stated that as part of the work being undertaken to redesign the Council’s website, a list of pre-requisites will be displayed prior to the user starting to complete an online form.

·         In response to a concern about the limited range of transactions that could be completed online, it was stated that work was being undertaken to broaden these as part of the website redesign.

·         It was stated that the Council was working with a small team from KPMG to grow future income streams by developing some of the marketing that would be needed to fully exploit the traded services provided by the Council which may in the future also include services such as health and safety and DBS checks.

·         Further information was requested in relation to the business and community partnership being developed between the Stockport Economic Alliance, Manchester Airport Group (MAG), Marketing Stockport and the  Council.

·         It was stated that the Executive Councillor for Reform & Governance had previously reported that a review of the library service would be undertaken and the detail of the timetable for that review was requested.

·         It was requested that a report be brought to a future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee detailing the current level of business rates appeals within Stockport.

·         Works were progressing on schedule for the construction of a replacement clubhouse at the Woodbank Athletics Stadium.

Communities & Housing (Neighbourhoods and Community Safety)

·         Concern was expressed in relation to the significant variations in the level of crime in different parts of the Borough.  In response it was stated that the police targeted their resources in response to this data.

·         It was commented that the introduction from Executive Councillor which normally formed part of the report had been omitted on this occasion.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive

At the last Scrutiny Committee, members considered a report and presentation from the Safer Stockport Partnership (SSP) on key performance trends, proposed SSP priorities for 2016/17 and recently agreed changes to governance arrangements for the Partnership.   The comments made by the Committee were used to inform the latest draft Plan, which was approved by the Partnership Board on 22 July. This is now being presented to the Scrutiny Committee, ahead of being submitted to the Executive on 16 August.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to consider and comment on the draft Safer Stockport Partnership strategic plan for 2016/17.

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

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the draft Safer Stockport Partnership Plan 2016/17 which had been developing following comments received from scrutiny committees during July 2016.  The final Plan document would be submitted to the Executive on 16 August 2016 for approval.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Alex Ganotis) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Further work needed to be done to investigate and understand the reasons why young people were absconding from care homes.

·         It was suggested that incidences of cybercrime needed to be reported as a separate category of crime due to widespread reports of increases in its prevalence throughout Greater Manchester.

·         Further information was requested in relation to the size and impact of serious organised crime within Stockport.

·         Notwithstanding reports that hate crime had increased following the recent referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union, there had been no significant variation in the level of such crime within Stockport.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The report provides the Scrutiny Committee with details on plans for the Council to procure some framework contracts to deliver construction works, particularly for works relating to capital projects and schools which are not capable of being delivered under the Alliance Agreements with Carillion.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to comment on the recommendations to the Executive, namely:

·         note the contents of this report and approve the progression of the procurement in conjunction with STAR

·         note that the award of each of the three framework contracts is to be reported to the Executive with a recommendation to delegate authority to the Borough Treasurer to finalise and agree the framework following consultation with Executive Member for Reform and Governance

·         approve the recommendation to delegate authority of subsequent call-off contracts under the frameworks to the Deputy Chief Executive or Borough Treasurer in consultation with the Executive Councillor (Reform & Governance)

Prior to final appointments to the frameworks, this Scrutiny Committee will be provided with a further update.

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

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing plans for the Council to procure framework contracts to deliver construction works, particularly for works relating to capital projects and schools which are not capable of being delivered under the Alliance Agreements with Carillion.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Alex Ganotis) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The use of undefined acronyms was widespread throughout the report which made it difficult to understand.  It was recommended that this should be rectified before it was submitted to the Executive.

·         There needed to be an appropriate balance between price and quality in commencing any procurement exercise.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The purpose of the report is to update the on progress with the Estates workstream which forms part of the Enabling Better Care priority of the Health and Social Care Strategic Plan. In particular it recommends the Council approve its participation in the Memorandums of Understanding as detailed in the report.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to comment on the recommendation to the Executive to approve the MOU’s to enable GM to work with local partners and Central Government to enable us to effectively deliver the estates strategy.

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

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update the on progress with the Estates workstream which formed part of the Enabling Better Care priority of the Health and Social Care Strategic Plan.  In particular it recommended the Council approve its participation in the Memorandums of Understanding as detailed in the report.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Alex Ganotis) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         There was no capital element within the GM Transformation Fund which would mean that a new approach to capital funding would be needed to drive the transformation of estates.

·         In response to a question, it was stated that by not signing the memorandum there would be no obligation on the part of partners to share their plans for their estates and the Council would not get the benefit of the wider partnership within Greater Manchester. 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager

The report sets out the Executive’s response to the recommendations made by this Scrutiny Committee as part of its Scrutiny Review into the ‘Member Development & Support’.

The Executive at its meeting on 19 July 2016 adopted the response as set out in the report.

 The Scrutiny Committee is invited to note the Executive response.

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

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Alex Ganotis) submitted the Executive’s response to the recommendations made in the Scrutiny Committee’s Review in respect of ‘Member Development & Support’ (copies of which had been circulated) that had been agreed by the Executive on 19 July 2016.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was commented that a number of the recommendations within the report were tangential to the core review topic.  In response it was stated that a number of these recommendations aimed to improve the support and information that members received to assist them in their roles through improvements in political awareness and the information provided in reports.

·         The development of eLearning modules for councillors was welcomed.

·         A discussion took place in relation the practicalities of making additional training mandatory for councillors. 

·         The proposal to provide further assistance with the management of members’ casework was welcomed.

·         It was suggested that consideration should be given to undertaking Personal Development Plans for councillors.

RESOLVED – That the Executive’s response to the Scrutiny Committee’s Review in respect of ‘Member Development & Support’ be welcomed.

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.