Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 18 September 2014.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 18 September 2014 were approved as a correct record.

Councillors and Officers were invited to declare any interests which they had in

any of the agenda items 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 Leader of the Council and the Deputy Leader (Executive Councillor for Corporate, Customer and Community Services)

In September, Scrutiny Committees received a report on the Investing in Stockport business case working papers brought forward at the August Executive. At its meeting on 30 September the Executive brought forward a set of Draft Business Cases for those proposals with implications for the Council’s budget in 2015/16. A number of Draft Business Cases contain only minor changes to those original business case working papers.

The Executive agreed that there should be a further report to all scrutiny committees in the October cycle, sharing the Draft Business Cases, and providing scrutiny committees with an opportunity to provide final comments on those proposals relating to their committee’s remit.  The Draft Business Cases that were made available to the Executive Councillors therefore accompany this report. Confirmation of which proposals fall within the remit of which Committee is provided at Appendix 1.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to provide final comments upon the specific Draft Business Cases in the accompanying papers.

Officer contact: Steve Skelton on 0161 474 3174 or email: steve.skelton@stockport.gov.uk

A joint report of the Leader of the Council and the Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer and Community Services) was submitted (copies of which had been circulated) containing the Investing in Stockport 2015/16 Draft Business Cases approved for consultation by the Executive on 30 September 2014 and providing the Scrutiny Committee with an opportunity to make further comment on the proposals.

The Executive Councillor (Communities and Sustainability) (Councillor Martin Candler) and the Executive Councillor (Economic Development and Regeneration) (Councillor Patrick McAuley) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised in relation to the following proposals, as set out in the draft Business Cases:-

New Model for Regulation

·         Concern was expressed that there would be a more limited response to complaints from both Elected Members and members of the public.

·         Concern was expressed that there may be some advertising boards which had been identified by disabled people as being hazardous, but were not identified by Officers as serious under the revised policy.

Leisure Facilities

·         With regard to the proposed transfer of dual use facilities from the Council to Bramhall, Hazel Grove, Priestnall and Werneth Schools, a Member expressed concern about how the transfer would work in the context of the Council’s liability for the maintenance backlog at the facilities, schools’ budgets and the possibility that they may become academies.

·         Members of this Scrutiny Committee needed to be advised of the Council’s liability with regard to the maintenance backlog at.the facilities.

·         A Member expressed concern that, as a member of the Funding Committee, he was privy to additional, confidential information which made it difficult for this Scrutiny Committee to properly scrutinise the proposal as Members were not aware of the full picture.

·         The Council had passed on all the information it had received from Life Leisure with regard to the division of responsibilities and maintenance backlogs to the schools and Officers were in regular communication with the schools and, in the instance of the facility at Bramhall High School, with Queensgate Sports Club.

·         A school could not be compelled to take over the running of a dual use facility should it not wish to do so.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report and the Investing in Stockport 2015/16 Draft Business Cases be noted.

(2) That the views of the Scrutiny Committee outlined above be forwarded to the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee.

(3) That, with regard to the proposed transfer of dual use facilities, Members of the Scrutiny Committee be provided with clarification on the situation if there was a major change in the circumstances of one of the schools, for example if it became an academy.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration

The report provides an update on employment and skills data, and issues in Stockport. The report covers the current key data on Stockport’s labour market and benefit claimants, outlines local context and provides information on employment and skills initiatives in Stockport.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to consider the data and issues in the report.

Officer Contact: Richard Mortimer on 0161 474 3864 or email: richard.mortimer@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on employment and skills data, and issues in Stockport. The report covered the current key data on Stockport’s labour market and benefit claimants, outlined local context and provided information on employment and skills initiatives in Stockport.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Whilst there had been a year on year reduction in the number of vacancies in Stockport of 48%, in August 2014 Stockport had the second highest number of job vacancies in Greater Manchester.

·         A significant number of people were obtaining entry level jobs, primarily in the retail sector.

·         With regard to Work Programme performance, Stockport was the best performing local authority area in Greater Manchester with more people in sustained employment between June 2011 and June 2014.

·         A Member queried why the percentage of those 16-18 year olds Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) was significantly lower in Offerton than the other Neighbourhood Management Areas.

·         The work the Council had been undertaking in partnership with Jobcentre Plus to provide targeted support for those families most in need of a range of services, including employability support through the Supporting Families Pathway and Programme was raised. Through the provision of Job Centre Plus Flexible Fund money (including two Council employed Employment and Skills Advisers for two years) and the additional secondment of a member of staff from Jobcentre Plus, resources had been made available to have a dedicated team of three staff members addressing employability issues as part of the Multi-Agency Services Hub (MASH) that delivered integrated family support services. Progress to date had been very positive.

·         A Member enquired how many local people had been employed at the new Asda store in Reddish.

RESOLVED – (1) That the data and issues in the report be noted.

(2) That a further report be submitted to Members on the Supporting Families Programme.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration

The report is an analysis of the geographic distribution of benefit claimants in Stockport.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to consider the data, issues and suggestions in the report.

Officer Contact: Richard Mortimer on 0161 474 3864 or email: richard.mortimer@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) analysing the geographic distribution of benefit claimants in Stockport.

It was reported that the highest level of benefit claimants in Stockport were mostly in the Neighbourhood Management Areas. This evidence would support the Council’s approach to deploying its limited resources available to support employability to operate Work Clubs in these areas. The Council could also look at opportunities to promote the availability of the Work Clubs to benefit claimants living in areas outside of the Neighbourhood Management areas. Work was also being carried out with partners, such as Stockport Homes and Stockport College, to see whether they could deploy their resources in a way that would extend the availability of Work Clubs in the borough.

The Executive Councillor (Economic Development and Regeneration) (Councillor Patrick McAuley) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration

The report advises Members about the National Skills Academy for Construction, highlights some of the local developments/procurement activity these principles will be applied to.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Nick Hill on 0161 474 3736 or email: nick.hill@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Scrutiny Committee to comment on a proposal to adopt the principles of the National Skills Academy for Construction through benchmark guidance for construction works, and significantly broadened to also address economic benefits through the Council’s role as a developer and procurer of construction services.

The Executive Councillor (Economic Development and Regeneration) (Councillor Patrick McAuley) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

RESOLVED - That the Executive be advised that this Scrutiny Committee supports the proposal for the adoption of the National Skills Academy for Construction guidance by an application for accredited status in order to support achievement of local employment and skills benefits from major development / construction projects.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration

The report outlines the measures being taken or proposed to coordinate the Town Centre Capital Programmes and mitigate the potential impacts on the flow of traffic into and around the town centre, the potential loss of car parking and the subsequent effect on existing businesses in the town.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the measures outlined.

Officer Contact: Megan Black/Nicola Turner on 0161 218 1410/1635 or email: megan.black@stockport.gov.uk/nicola.turner@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the measures being taken or proposed to co-ordinate the Town Centre Capital Programmes and mitigate the potential impacts on the flow of traffic into and around the town centre, the potential loss of car parking and the subsequent effect on existing businesses in the town.

The town centre would be the focus of a number of key infrastructure and construction projects over the next five years. Projects included but were not limited to:-

·         Town Centre Access Package;

·         Redrock Stockport;

·         Stockport Interchange;

·         Investment in the Market and Underbanks area;

·         Stockport Exchange; and

·         Covent Garden Village.

These projects would help to meet the strategic priorities for the town as identified in the Town Centre Development Prospectus.

The Executive Councillor (Economic Development and Regeneration) (Councillor Patrick McAuley) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Concern was expressed regarding the lack of consultation with stakeholders on the naming of Redrock Stockport (formerly Bridgefield) scheme.

·         Regular progress reports on the schemes identified in the report were requested.

·         A Member expressed concern regarding the potential effect of the infrastructure work on existing businesses in the town centre.

RESOLVE D – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That regular progress reports be submitted to future meetings of the Scrutiny Committee on the schemes identified in the report.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration

The report presents a borough wide Highway and Street Furniture Design Policy outlining a palette of materials and street furniture which will be used on the borough’s highways.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the proposed Highway and Street Furniture Design Policy, and its related maps and drawings.

Officer Contact: Sue Stevenson on 0161 474 4351 or email: sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

With the agreement of the Committee, this item was withdrawn.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration

This report advises the Scrutiny Committee of the progress made in the delivery of the Rights of Way Improvement Plan (RoWIP) statement of action

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on a revised statement of action, to be used up until the formal review is complete in 2017, before the final statement is considered by the Executive at its meeting on 11 November 2014.

Officer contact: Sue Stevenson on 0161 474 4351 or email: sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

With the agreement of the Committee, this item was withdrawn.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration

The report presents the reviewed Signage Strategy and the new Wayfinding Action Plan for comment before being considered by the Executive on 11 November 2014.

Officer Contact: Sue Stevenson on 0161 474 4351 or email: sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

With the agreement of the Committee, this item was withdrawn.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.

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 Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the planned agenda items for the Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items which fell within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.