Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 22 November 2022

The minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 22 November 2022 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 which they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

The following interests were declared:

Personal interests

To consider call-in items (if any)

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Section 151 Officer) and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources.

The report provides an update on the revenue budget forecast outturn for the period to the end of November 2022 (Quarter 2+). The report also provides an update on the Dedicated Schools Grant, Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and updates to the Capital Programme.

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

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

A representative of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided a update on the revenue budget forecast outturn for the period to the end of November 2022 (quarter 2), and on the Dedicated Schools Grant, Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and updates to the Capital Programme.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources (Councillor Malcolm Allan) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:

·         It was noted that the number of Looked After Children in placements had decreased but costs had increased. Members were advised that the increase was due to the complex needs of the cohort, as well as the increase in cost of living generally.

·         Members were advised that the Covid-19 Financial Scarring Impact Contingency fund to alleviate the impact of covid-19 would continue to be used in light of ongoing impact.

·         Information as to whether the council could increase income through taxi services registered in other local authority areas and working in the borough was requested, and a written response would be circulated to members via email in due course.

·         Concerns were raised around targeted monies for youth support coming to an end and the impact this would have on service provision. It was advised that the targeted provision had had good input and would have ongoing benefit.

·         It was suggested that further granularity of detail on the 2022/ 23 Forecast Revenue Outturn would be useful in providing members with a more comprehensive understanding of specific services. It was noted that this information was contained within each of the portfolio dashboards which were available to view on the website.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The Council Plan has been developed by Cabinet, 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. Though the plan includes an overview of council services, it does not attempt to describe everything the council does, focussing instead on those things that are of crucial importance in a specific year. 

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

Officer contact: Kathryn Rees, Kathryn.rees@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which set out the council plan 2023/ 2024, including priorities for the future.

Service Director for Corporate and Support Services, Kathryn Rees, attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:

·         A council plan was drafted annually and set out the council’s ambitions for the year ahead. There was a particular focus on education, work and skills this year in light of the cost of living crisis.

·         A new Director of Education, Work and Skills, Tim Bowman, had been appointed to Stockport Council in December 2022.

·         It was suggested that the importance of strategic partnerships and the interplay between the council and partners be strengthened in the plan.

·         The council were working closely with the Department for Education to deliver school places in borough for local children.

·         It was also suggested that the document be reviewed in terms of accessibility.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources.

Within this report and appendix it provides a further update on the strategic approach in responding to the review of the medium-term financial plan. This follows on from the report presented at the Cabinet meeting on the 28th September 2022 and scrutiny committees during October. In particular it includes updated proposals within the appendix for scrutiny comment ahead of budget council in February.

The report outlines the budget proposals being considered by the Cabinet to address financial and demand challenges, enable longer term transformation, and ensure the delivery of shared strategic partnership ambitions.

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

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

A representative of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided a further update on the council’s strategic approach in responding to the review of the medium-term financial plan.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources (Councillor Malcolm Allan) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:

·         The report outlined the budget proposals being considered by Cabinet to address financial and demand challenges, enable longer term transformation, and ensure the delivery of shared strategic partnership ambitions. In particular, it included updated proposals within the appendix for comment ahead of budget council scheduled to be held on 23 February 2023.

·         The report was previously presented at the Cabinet meeting 28 September 2022 and Scrutiny Committee meetings during October 2022. It was noted that changes to the proposals since the last report had not varied significantly, however more detail had been included in relation to areas of savings.

·         It was noted that identified savings to be made were £4.3m.

·         Concerns were raised over the low level of response to the budget options consultation. The importance of engaging the people of Stockport in the work that the council wanted to do on their behalf was stressed. It was suggested that the language used in the consultation be made more accessible, and that engaging community groups and organisations directly could be a useful exercise to increase response levels.

·         In relation to a changing and/ or reduction in workforce, members were advised that changes were taking place across the board and did not focus on one or two departments. It was note that there would be no staffing reductions in the Adult Social Care department.

·         Members were advised that changes in the national landscape and external factors, for instance, the national leadership crisis, fuel prices and the cost of living crisis, had affected the budget.

·         It was confirmed that the Cabinet agenda would be published on Monday 23 January 2023 and taxation would form a part of those reports.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Children’s Services.

The report sets out how we will carry out our responsibility, in line with the commitments made in the One Stockport Borough Plan to ensure there are sufficient places in good and improving local inclusive schools at the heart of the community that children and families want to go to. This means having the right number and type of school places, in the right place, at the right time to meet demand.

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

Officer contact: Christopher Harland on 0161 521 1707 or by email at christopher.harland@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Director of Children’s Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which set out the council’s plan in ensuring sufficient school places for children in Stockport in order to meet demand.

Strategic Head of Estates and Asset Management, James Kington, attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:

·         The report detailed progress made over the last 12 months against the backdrop of a changing local and national landscape, including the government’s education white paper and plans for academisation, as well as the council’s aims for the next 12 months.

·         The priority was to ensure the delivery of sufficient school places whilst maintaining the safety and condition of Stockport’s school buildings.

·         The team were working closely with the Planning Department as prospective developments, especially large developments, could impact school infrastructure. It was suggested that significant developments in other local authority areas near to the border of Stockport be considered in place planning.

·         It was also suggested that a longer term look at the impact and challenges of future academisation be considered.

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 insights about the Council’s workforce over the 18 month period for the full year 2021/22 and the first half of 2022/23. The report presents a more holistic perspective of our workforce than previous reports which focussed primarily upon sickness absence and associated issues.

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

Officer contacts: Kathryn.Rees@stockport.gov.uk  or Graham Charsley on Graham.Charsley@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided insights about the council’s workforce over the last 18 month period.

Interim Head of HR and OD, Graham Charsley, attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:

·         The report provided a holistic perspective of the council’s workforce which included but was not limited to, analysis on recruitment and retention, learning and development, performance and development reviews, as well as sickness absence and associated occupational health support.

·         In relation to learning and development, the importance of ‘growing your own’ was stressed. Work was being done around development opportunities for staff in supporting recruitment and retention.

·         Staff surveys were an effective tool in understanding how staff were feeling.

·         Hybrid working provided benefits to individuals and the organisation. It was noted that communication was key in supporting staff mental health and wellbeing in a hybrid model of working.

·         Members were advised that managers were much more robust in recording and tracking sickness absence.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

Following the Council’s inspection by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office (IPCO) on 15 November 2022, the Council’s Policy and Code of Practice were updated (enclosed in the attached document). The inspection was undertaken to assess the Council’s level of compliance with the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) and the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (IPA)  in respect of its use and management of covert surveillance, covert human intelligence sources and communications data.

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

Officer contact: Michelle Dodds on 0161-474-3257 or by email at michelle.dodds@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which set out an updated Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) policy and code of practice following the council’s inspection by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office (IPCO) on 15 November 2022.

Assistant Director for Legal and Democratic Governance, Vicki Bates, attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:

·         Detail of the successful investigation and outcome was appended to the report.

·         Assessment of the council’s use of RIPA powers took place three times a year; the Scrutiny Committee considered reports on an annual basis.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a joint report of the Director of Place Management and the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Governance.

The report details a proposal to establish a Greater Manchester Joint Scrutiny Committee to scrutinise decisions of the Clean Air Charging Authorities Committee and the Clean Air Administration Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on the report as appropriate and to:-

(1)  Note the request to Cabinet to the establishment of a GM Clean Air Joint Scrutiny Committee.

(2)  Note the request to Cabinet to agree the Terms of Reference of the Committee as set out in Appendix A.

(3)  Note the request to Cabinet to agree to appoint a member and substitute to the Committee.

Officer contact: Vicki Bates on 0161 474 3219 or email: vicki.bates@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Director of Place Management and the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Governance submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which set out the intention to establish a Greater Manchester (GM) Joint Scrutiny Committee to scrutinise decisions of the Clean Air Charging Authorities Committee and the Clean Air Administration Committee.

Assistant Director for Legal and Democratic Governance, Vicki Bates, attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

It was noted that the report had also been considered by members of the Communities and Housing Scrutiny Committee on 16 January 2023.

RESOLVED – (1) That the request to Cabinet to the establishment of a GM Clean Air Joint Scrutiny Committee be noted.

(2) – That the request to Cabinet to agree the Terms of Reference of the Committee as set out in Appendix A be noted.

(3) That the request to Cabinet to agree to appoint a member and substitute to the Committee be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Strategy.

The report builds on the previous report dated 6th September 2022. It provides an update on the Integrated Care System arrangements and the proposal to formally establish and constitute the One Stockport Health and Care Board (Locality Board) as a hybrid committee to undertake delegations of the GM ICB and local partners such as the Council so that it can proceed to take its own decisions rather than such decisions having to continue to be taken via the ICB’s delegated authority which is in place to the Stockport Place Based Lead (Caroline Simpson).

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

Officer contact: Vicki Bates on Tel: 0161 474 3219 or by email on vicki.bates@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Director of Strategy submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided an update on the Integrated Care System arrangements and the proposal to formally establish and constitute the One Stockport Health and Care Board (Locality Board) as a hybrid committee to undertake delegations of the GM ICB and local partners such as the council so that it can proceed to take its own decisions rather than such decisions having to continue to be taken via the ICB’s delegated authority which is in place to the Stockport Place Based Lead (Caroline Simpson).

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 on the  Portfolio Performance Dashboard website.

The Scrutiny Committee considered the portfolio dashboards for the Corporate Performance and Resources and the Citizen Focus & Engagement and Resources, Commissioning & Governance portfolios.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Assistant Director for Legal and 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: Charles Yankiah on 0161 474 3206 or email: charles.yankiah@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Assistant Director for Legal and 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 relevant forward plan items.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.