Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 6 December 2016

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

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests 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 Deputy Chief Executive.

The Final Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs) for the Reform & Governance and Communities & Housing Portfolios are presented for consideration by the Committee. These provide a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects since the mid-year report, with a focus on the third quarter of the year (October to December). They include forecast performance data (where this is available) and projected financial data for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programmes.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to:

·         Consider the Final 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 contacts:

Peter Owston, Policy, Strategy and Performance Manager peter.owston@stockport.gov.uk (474 3274)

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) providing the Scrutiny Committee with the Final Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs) for the Reform & Governance and Communities & Housing Portfolios.

These reports provided a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects since the mid-year report, with a focus on the third quarter of the year (October to December). They included forecast performance data (where this was available) and projected financial data for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programmes.

Councillor Sedgwick reported that consultation with Area Committees on the Executive Savings Proposals had been helpful and that Area Committees would continue to be involved in the budget setting process.

The Executive Councillor for Reform & Governance (Councillor David Sedgwick) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:

·         It was confirmed that the Council was looking to offer services to other organisations and this would be covered in the Business Case in relation to ‘Traded Services’.

·         As the Digital by Design Programme is rolled out there was a need to ensure that all residents were able to contact the Council by telephone.

·         It was noted that the although there was a current shortfall in relation to savings within Corporate and Support Services, it was expected that the savings target would be achieved.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) The number of residents who had registered for the ‘out of hours service’ at Bramhall Library be provided to members of this Scrutiny Committee.

(3) The table relating to ‘Earmarked Reserves’ in para 2.1.3 of the report be updated to reflect the correct figures prior to consideration by the Executive.

(4) That the cost of replacing ‘pay and display’ metres be circulated to members of this Scrutiny Committee.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The Council Plan accompanies the budget and sets a high-level framework for decision making throughout the financial year. It is a public-facing summary document that sits above more detailed annual Portfolio Agreements.

The Plan is developed by the Executive, supported by officers, and is an opportunity to reflect on performance to date and policy priorities for the future. Priorities in the Plan are included by exception. The Plan doesn’t attempt to describe everything the Council does; only those things that are of crucial importance in a specific year.

The 2017/18 Council Plan continues to be aligned with the longer-term vision and shared outcomes set out in the 2015-20 Investing in Stockport Borough Plan. It incorporates the key principles.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to:

·         Consider and comment on the draft 2017/18 Council Plan and EIA,

·         Note the key issues and processes outlined above.

Officer Contact: Steve Skelton, Head of Policy, Performance and Reform 474 3174 steve.skelton@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) in relation to the Council Plan for 2017/18.

The Council Plan accompanies the budget and sets a high-level framework for decision making throughout the financial year.  The 2017/18 Council Plan continued to be aligned with the longer-term vision and shared outcomes set out in the 2015-20 Investing in Stockport Borough Plan. It incorporates the key principles.

The Plan had been developed by the Executive, supported by officers, and provided an opportunity to reflect on performance to date and policy priorities for the future.

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

The following comments were made/ issues raised:

·         The narrative in relation to  how the ‘Transport priorities to 2040’ will be delivered should be amended to provide specific detail as to the outcomes.

·         It was noted that a report would be submitted to the Budget Council Meeting on 23 February in relation to ‘Stockport Together’.

·         Further details should be included in relation to the delivery of ‘bus deregulation’.

·          It was noted that the Greater Manchester Combined Authority at its meeting on 27 January would be considering a report in relation to a single travel card  for use on all public transport within Greater Manchester.

RESOLVED -  That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer.

The purpose of this report is to outline the options available to the Council when setting its employer pension contribution rates for 2017/18 to 2019/20. Following the actuarial review of the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF), the Actuary has advised the Council of its recommended employer pension contribution rates in order to maintain the pension liability funding level over the next 3 years.

The advised contribution rates include an element for monies to be set aside to meet the costs of non-ill health early retirements (ER) during the period. The Actuary has used a rate 1% to set aside provision with the pension fund. The Council is able to adjust the ER rate (if it wishes) to set the employer pension contribution rate over the next 3 years in line with the MTFP assumptions presented to the Executive in October 2016.

Following discussions with colleagues at GMPF, a further option is available to the Council whereby an advance payment of its pension contributions can be made to GMPF. This will result in the Council receiving a discount from GMPF on the Actuaries advised contribution rates generating a cost saving for the Council when compared to the previously reported MTFP forecasts.

The level of discount and resulting cost saving achieved by the Council is dependent upon the length of the advance payment made.

The Corporate Resource, Management and Governance Scrutiny Committee are asked to comment on the matters raised in the report.

Officer contact Michael Cullen    on Tel: 0161 474 4631 or by email on michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk

The Borough Treasurer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the options available to the Council when setting its employer pension contribution rates for 2017/18 to 2019/20. Following the actuarial review of the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF), the Actuary had advised the Council of its recommended employer pension contribution rates in order to maintain the pension liability funding level over the next 3 years.

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

The following comments were made/ issues raised:

·         It was noted that Bury, Oldham and Rochdale Council’s were looking to adopt the same approach as recommended in the report and the remaining Council’s with Greater Manchester were considering their position.

·         The Scrutiny Committee discussed the operation of the current Greater Manchester Superannuation Scheme.

RESOLVED – (1) That the recommendations to the Executive be supported.

(2) That the Borough Treasurer be requested to provide further information to the Scrutiny Committee in relation to the operation of the current Greater Manchester Superannuation Scheme and the constraints placed on the Council in relation to any possible changes.

To receive consider a report and receive a presentation from the Deputy Chief Executive.

This Scrutiny Committee has received regular reports on progress of the Council’s Digital by Design (DbD) programme, most recently in April 2016. 

This report, by way of a series of accompanying documents, provides an account of spend, delivery, benefit and communications issues at the mid-point of the delivery stage of the Digital by Design programme.  These documents are:

Annex A – Programme finances and risk

Annex B – Programme benefits and roadmap of future delivery

Annex C – Marketing and communicating the new digital offer

The report flags up key messages and issues from the work for the Committee to discuss.  It will be accompanied by a presentation and briefing that highlights aspects from the accompanying documentation and provides short demonstrations and video summaries of forthcoming digital improvements.

The Scrutiny Committee are asked to discuss the information provided and to ask for any further work as necessary. 

Officer contact Steve Skelton on 0161 474 3174

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) provided an account of spend, delivery, benefit and communications issues at the mid-point of the delivery stage of the Digital by Design programme

This Scrutiny Committee had received regular reports on progress of the Council’s Digital by Design (DbD) programme, most recently in April 2016.

Members received a presentation in relation to:

·         Programme finances and risk

·         Programme benefits and roadmap of future delivery

·         Marketing and communicating the new digital offer

The Executive Councillor for Reform & Governance (Councillor David Sedgwick) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:

·         It was anticipated that the spend/ benefit relationship would be demonstrated by the end of the current programme.

·         A defective street light can be reported by post code or address.

·         The approach to recruitment had been changed in view of the particular skills required.

·         There would be a need to continue to invest in technology to ensure the solutions  put in place remained up to date.

·         It would be helpful if planning applications received could be searched by ward and area committee on the council website.

RESOLVED – That the report and presentation be noted.

To consider a report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Governance.

The Council’s Code of Practice for carrying out surveillance under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) specifies that quarterly reports will be taken to this Scrutiny Committee to demonstrate to elected members that the Council is complying with its own Code of Practice when using RIPA. This report provides an update in relation to the third quarter of the 2016-2017 financial year.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to note the report.

Officer contact, Joy Morton, joy.morton@stockport.gov.uk or 0161 474 3219.

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update in relation to the second quarter of the 2016-2017 financial year.to demonstrate that the Council’s use of directed surveillance and covert human intelligence sources complied with its own Code of Practice when using the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

The Democratic Services Manager reported that there had been no authorisations during the third quarter to use directed surveillance and covert human intelligence sources.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider the final report of the Scrutiny Review Panel – Council Consultation.

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 John McGahan introduced the final report on the draft Scrutiny Review – Council Consultations and Support (copies of which had been circulated).

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the report 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) That the thanks of this Scrutiny Committee be extended to members of the Review Panel for the in-depth review undertaken.

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.