Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 23 November 2021.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 23 November 2021 were approved as 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 which they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

The following interests were declared:-

Personal Interests

To consider whether it is in the public interest to exclude the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the following item:

RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of information which was not for publication relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority), the disclosure of which would not be in the public interest, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the exempt information in the ‘not for publication’ appendices to agenda item 13 ‘Active Communities: Update on Transition to New Arrangements for Operation of Council-Owned Leisure Centres and Delivery of Active Communities Programmes’.

To consider call-in items (if any)

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council and the Deputy Leader of the Council

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

The plan had been developed by the Cabinet, supported by Officers, and is 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 2022/23 Council Plan has been aligned with the key themes and ambitions from our new ONE Stockport Borough Plan framework, namely ONE Heart, ONE Home and ONE Future.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to:-

·         Consider and comment on the draft 2022/23 Council Plan and Equality Impact Assessment; and

·         Note the key issues and processes outlined in the report.

Officer Contact: Holly Rae on 0161 474 3014 or email: holly.rae@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director (Corporate & Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the Council Plan which accompanied the budget and provided a high-level framework for decision making throughout the financial year. It was a public-facing summary document that sat above annual detailed Portfolio Agreements.

The plan had been developed by the Cabinet, supported by Officers, and was an opportunity to reflect on performance to date and policy priorities for the future. Priorities in the plan were included by exception. The plan did not attempt to describe everything the Council did, only those things that were of crucial importance in a specific year.

The 2022/23 Council Plan had been aligned with the key themes and ambitions from the Council’s new ONE Stockport Borough Plan framework, namely ONE Heart, ONE Home and ONE Future.

The Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance (Councillor Tom McGee) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issue raised:-

·         There were elements of repetition in the plan with some of the earlier comments superfluous as a result of comments made later on in the document.

·         In the section on page 29 of the Plan with regard to ‘Ambitions and Priorities’, there should be greater reference to school admissions and places. Under the reference to empowering families under ‘enhance our early help offer’, there should be reference to how this was being achieved.

·         The ambition to increase the number of publicly accessible electric charging points under ‘A climate friendly and sustainable borough’ should be amended to rapid electric charging points.

·         The inclusion of an Environmental Impact Assessment for the Plan (with key links to the Stockport Climate Action Now (CAN) Strategy and Digital Strategy) was welcomed, but it was felt that that the Committee should explore at a future meeting how to get the best use from such assessments.

·         The importance of working with local communities was emphasised, for example Friends of Parks groups.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a joint report of the Cabinet Members for Resources, Commissioning & Governance and Citizen Focus & Engagement

The Cabinet has previously set out its approach to responding to the opportunities, challenges and uncertainty outlined within the review of the medium-term financial plan at its meeting on 21st September 2021. This was shared for further discussion and comment with scrutiny committees in October 2021.

Following these discussions further development of proposals have been undertaken and these are now being shared again with Scrutiny for comment and consideration.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the proposals within the four business cases alongside feedback from consultation and equalities analysis.

Officer contact: Holly Rae on 0161 474 3014 or email: holly.rae@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director (Corporate & Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the Cabinet’s proposed approach to responding to the opportunities, challenges and uncertainty outlined within the review of the Medium Term Financial Plan presented at the Cabinet meeting on the 21 September 2021.  The Scrutiny Committee had been provided with an opportunity to make initial comments on the proposals at its meeting in October 2021.  Following these discussions further development of the proposals had been undertaken and these were now being shared again with the Committee for comment and consideration.

The Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance (Councillor Tom McGee) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Concern was expressed in relation to the proposal to remove the Area Committee’s delegated budgets which currently allowed local Members the opportunity to determine spending priorities for their own wards. 

·         In response, it was stated that there remained significant underspends within the budget which may demonstrate that the current process might not represent the most efficient way of allocating funding for minor projects. It was acknowledged that in some instances wards had accrued funds in order to be able to fund a larger project in the subsequent financial year, but further work was required to identify why some wards had accrued more funding than others within their budgets.

·         With regard to adult social care funding, it was disappointing that there had not been a multi-year settlement from the Government to help the Council manage future demand.

·         Following a request from Members, the Cabinet Member agreed to provide information setting out the changes to the proposals from the previous time they had been considered by the Scrutiny Committee in October 2021.

·         The reduction in AGMA fees were supported.

·         The removal of the provision for tea and coffee for officer meetings in the Town Hall complex seemed a minor saving which could make staff feel undervalued.

MOVED AND SECONDED – That the Cabinet be recommended to not put forward a proposal to cut the Area Committee’s Delegated Budget (Highways Discretionary Budget) to zero, plus savings on related staffing.

For the motion 6, abstentions 3

MOTION CARRIED

It was then

RESOLVED – (6 for, 3 abstentions) That the Cabinet be recommended to not put forward a proposal to cut the Area Committee’s Delegated Budget (Highways Discretionary Budget) to zero, plus savings on related staffing.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive

The report provides an update on variations to the revenue budget forecast outturn and the Capital Programme since the Q2 Mid-Year update report. The report also includes an update on the Dedicated Schools Grant, the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and Collection Fund.

Th report acts as an intermediary to the Quarter 3 Update reports that will be presented to scrutiny committees at the end of February and beginning of March. As these reports follow the Full Council Budget meeting on 24 February 2022, it is necessary to provide a Quarter 2+ update to help inform the budget setting process. 

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer Contact: Jonathan Davies on 0161 218 1025 or email: jonathan.davies@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) & Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on variations to the revenue budget forecast outturn and the Capital Programme since the Quarter 2 Mid-Year Update Report. The report also included an update on the Dedicated Schools Grant, the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and the Collection Fund.

The report acted as an intermediary to the Quarter 3 Update reports that would be presented to scrutiny committees at the end of February and beginning of March. As these reports followed the Budget Council meeting on 24 February 2022, it would be necessary to provide a Quarter 2+ update to help inform the budget setting proves.

The Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning and Governance (Councillor Tom McGee) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         More details were requested on the Council’s arrangements with its current energy providers.

·         Concern was expressed that there was a surplus within the Social Care Locality Team staffing budgets of £0.154m as a result of the service currently carrying approximately twenty vacancies, a combination of social worker and senior practitioner posts. The Scrutiny Committee was advised that work on proposals to ensure robustness and retention of social work staff was continuing.

·         In response to a Member’s question, the Scrutiny Committee was advised that the vacant posts in the Social Care Locality Team had been vacant for some time and were not necessarily frontline staff, and that the Council had invested in targeted, preventative social care measures aimed at promoting independence.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive

The report outlines how the Council is developing its ambitions for the next phase of our digital journey, including an overview of our priorities for the year ahead and how we intend to approach develop an inclusive, robust and ambitious digital strategy.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer Contacts: Holly Rae, Craig Hughes or Adrian Davies on telephone number 07800 617 550 or alternatively email on holly.rae@stockport.gov.uk / craig.hughes@stockport.gov.uk / adrian.davies@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director (Corporate & Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining how the Council was developing its ambitions for the next phase of its digital journey, including an overview of its priorities for the year ahead and how the Council intended to develop an inclusive, robust and ambitious digital strategy.

The Cabinet Member for Citizen Focus & Engagement (Councillor David Sedgwick) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

• The growth of Stockport Jobs Match, with 55,000 jobs advertised since August 2021 and 1,500 new jobseekers registered in November, required a measurement of how effective it had been and what it had achieved.
• With regard to the proposal to establish a pilot for Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in the early part of this year, a request was made for more information on the aims and budget for the pilot, and the technology that was being used.
• The work on digital literacy needed to be considered alongside work on general literacy levels so that people who were illiterate were not disadvantaged in accessing services.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive

The report provides an update to the Scrutiny Committee on the One Team People Plan and the underpinning work to ensure an engaged, resilient and productive workforce.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to:-

·         Comment on the contents of the report and progress made during 2021

·         Comment on the plans outlined for 2022

Officer Contacts: Kathryn Rees/Jennie Neill on: kathryn.rees@stockport.gov.uk/jennie.neill@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) & Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update to the Scrutiny Committee on the One Team People Plan and the underpinning work to ensure an engaged, resilient and productive workforce.

The Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning and Governance (Councillor Tom McGee) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The fact that 25% of the workforce had attended wellbeing sessions was welcomed.

·         A request was made to extend the provision of the employee telephone support line to Members.

·         More information was requested on how the appointment of graduates and apprentices extended into succession planning.

·         A Member enquired how exit interviews had led to improvements in the Workforce Plan.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy chief Executive

The reporthighlightsthe councils (excluding Schools) sickness absence performance attheyear-end point,(1 April 2020 to31 March 2021). Given the time of the reporting cycle, the mid-year position of 2021/2022 is also included.

The actionsthat are being undertaken to support colleagues and addresssickness absence are also outlined along with anoverviewoffuture plans.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

·         note and comment onthe year-end outturn for 2020/21 of 8.14days per FTE which is 14.3% belowthe council target of9.5 days and is the lowest sickness figure reported since 2008.

·         comment ontheactivityrelated to supportingthe effective managementofsickness absence along withsupportingthe Health,Safetyand Wellbeing oftheworkforce asoutlined in sections 6 and 7.

Officer Contacts: Kathryn Rees or Jennie Neill: kathryn.rees@stockport.gov.uk / jennie.neill@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) & Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) highlighting the Council’s (excluding Schools) sickness absence performance at the year-end point (1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021). Given the time of the reporting cycle, the mid-year position of 2021/2022 was also included.

The actions being taken to support colleagues and address sickness absence were also outlined along with an overview of future plans.

The Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning and Governance (Councillor Tom McGee) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Members noted that the short-term absence average days lost had reduced from 5.71 FTE days lost in 2019/20 to 4.03 days in 2020/21 and the long absence figure had increased slightly from 3.88 FTE days lost in 2019/20 to 4.10 days in 2020/21. However, by the mid-point of 2021/22 the long term absence had decreased to 3.64 FTE days. The top reason for sickness absence continued to be mental health reasons (stress, depression, anxiety).

·         A Member enquired whether any patterns had emerged from sickness taken for one or two days by members of staff.

·         The issue was raised with regard to how the recording of absences for a bereavement aligned with formal absences following a bereavement as permitted under the Council’s procedures.

RESOLVED - That the report be noted.

The Scrutiny Committee has the opportunity to consider the portfolio dashboards for Corporate Performance and Resources and the Citizen Focus & Engagement and Resources, Commissioning & Governance portfolios and raise any issues with regard to performance.

Members can view the portfolio dashboards by visiting the following pages:-

Corporate Performance and Resources:

Citizen Focus and Engagement

Resources, Commissioning and Governance

Members considered the portfolio dashboards for the Corporate Performance and Resources, Citizen Focus & Engagement, and Resources, Commissioning & Governance Portfolios, the link to which was provided on the agenda front sheet.

The Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance (Councillor Tom McGee) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

RESOLVED – That further learning and refresher sessions be arranged on how to use the dashboard for both new Councillors and existing Councillors.

To consider a report of the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance)              

The report sets out planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items that fall within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the information in the report and put forward any agenda items for future meetings of the Committee.

Officer Contact: David Clee on 0161 474 3137 or email: david.clee@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and any Forward Plan items.

It was reported that the Scrutiny Review Panel on ‘The Council’s Property Portfolio – The next 5/10 Years’ aimed to conclude its review by the end of April 2022 and report to the meeting of this Scrutiny Committee and the Cabinet in June.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Place) and Deputy Chief Executive.

The report provides an update on the transition to new arrangements for the operation of Council-owned leisure centres and delivery of programmes to improve physical activity amongst the least active in the Borough from Stockport Sports Trust (trading as Life Leisure) to Stockport Active CIC, who will retain the trading name Life Leisure.

The report provides updates on how the different areas of Life Leisure’s work will be monitored by the Council in future, how they will be scrutinised by Members and the governance structures which will be in place between Life Leisure and the Council.

The report provides an indication of the level of management fee which is likely to be required to support Life Leisure in 2022/23 and in the following two years (2023/24 and 2024/25), subject to their trading performance.

(NOTE: The report contains a confidential appendix that has been circulated to members of the Scrutiny Committee only).

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the approach proposed above and is recommended:-

(a)       To note the transition to new arrangements for the operation of Council-owned leisure and delivery of programmes to improve physical activity amongst the least active in the Borough from Stockport Sports Trust (trading as Life Leisure) to Stockport Active CIC, who will retain the trading name Life Leisure.

(b)       To note the arrangements for how the different areas of Life Leisure’s work will be monitored by the Council in future, how their will be scrutinised by Members and the governance structures which will in place between Life Leisure and the Council.

(c)       To note the indicative level of management fee which is likely to be required to support Life Leisure in 2022/23 and in the following two years (2023/24 and 2024/25), subject to their trading performance.

Officer contact: Peter Ashworth on 0161 474 2392 or email: peter.ashworth@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Development & Regeneration submitted a report (copes of which had been circulated) providing an update on the transition to new arrangements for the operation of Council-owned leisure centres and delivery of programmes to improve physical activity amongst the least active in the Borough from Stockport Sports Trust (trading as Life Leisure) to Stockport Active CIC, who would retain the trading name Life Leisure.

The report provided updates on how the different areas of Life Leisure’s work would be monitored by the Council in future, how they would be scrutinised by Members and the governance structures which would be in place between Life Leisure and the Council.

The report provided an indication of the level of management fee which was likely to be required to support Life Leisure in 2022/23 and in the following two years (2023/24 and 2024/25), subject to its trading performance.

The Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance (Councillor Tom McGee) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

(NOTE: The report contained a confidential appendix that has been circulated to members of the Scrutiny Committee only).

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         It was pleasing to see the progress on the transition to the new arrangements for the operation of Council-owned leisure centres and delivery of programmes.

·         The Scrutiny Committee had previously recommended that there should be an independent director on the Board of Stockport Active CIC and Members were given assurances that this was still the intention. Members requested an update on this issue next time a report on the transition to new arrangements for the operation of Council-owned leisure centres and the delivery of active communities programmes was considered by the Scrutiny Committee.

·         Members expressed concern about the number of Scrutiny Committees who would still need to consider reports under the proposed monitoring and reporting arrangement for Life Leisure, and the associated costs in terms of senior Officer time. It was requested that other possibilities be considered, for example submitting the report to fewer Scrutiny Committees or submitting an overarching report to this Scrutiny Committee and a tailored report to other Scrutiny Committees.

·          It was felt that financial reports should be submitted to this Scrutiny Committee on a more regular basis than proposed, for example quarterly reports with regard to expenditure against budget and that the Board of Stockport Active CIC be requested to produce half yearly accounts.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.