Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2015.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 5 November 2015 were approved as a correct record.

Councillors and Officers to declare any interests which they have in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made.

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.

At its meeting on 18 August 2015, the Executive presented a report which included a Medium Term Financial Forecast for the period 2016/17 to 2020/21. That report illustrated the level of resources likely to be available in 2016/17 and the resulting budget position. In response to those forecasts the Executive brought forward a set of proposals for 2016/17 with the relevant proposals being considered by scrutiny committees, including the specific detailed business cases, in September 2015.

This report provides an update on each of the proposals relevant to this committee and reflects completed or ongoing consultation with Members, stakeholders and members of the public.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider and comment on the following updated proposals appended to this report:-

(1) Leisure Facilities

(2) Markets, Museums and Cultural Attractions

(3) Highways and Engineering

(4) Public Safety and Protection Services

(5) Public Realm and Solutions SK

(6) Locality Working Project

Following consideration by the Scrutiny Committee, the proposals will proceed to the Executive Meeting on 16 December 2015 where they will be presented for consideration and approval.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to review the proposals and consultation findings relevant to this Committee and provide comments.

A joint report of the Leader of the Council and the Deputy Leader of the Council was submitted (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on those Investing in Stockport proposals considered by the Scrutiny Committee in September 2015, following completed or ongoing consultation with Members, stakeholders and the public. The proposals had been brought forward by the Executive to respond to the financial challenges facing the Council and in response to the forecasts provided by the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services.

The accompanying documents to the report provided further detail on the following Investing In Stockport proposals:-

·         Leisure Facilities

·         Markets, Museums and Cultural Attractions

·         Highways and Engineering

·         Public Safety and Protection Services

·         Public Realm and Solutions SK

·         Locality Working Project

The Executive Councillor (Supporting Places) (Councillor Martin Candler) attended the meeting to present the revised proposals and to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised in relation to the following proposals or updates:-

(a)  Leisure Facilities

·         Since the last update to the Scrutiny Committee on 24 September 2015, negotiations with Life Leisure on the proposed new arrangements for the Dual Use sites had given rise to a number of new elements for consideration including the opening hours for the facilities, repairs and maintenance and securing the best agreement for the Council in the future.

·         A Member expressed concern about the agreement which had been drawn up transferring the Council’s Leisure Facilities to the Sports Trust in 2002 and the length of time the negotiations on this business case were taking.

·         It was anticipated that the agreement with Hazel Grove High School for the new arrangements for the leisure facilities at the school would shortly be finalised. The negotiations with Cheadle Hulme High School, Priestnall School and Bramhall High School would then take place concurrently, starting early in 2016. The problems which may be encountered at those schools would become apparent from the preliminary meetings. Members requested that the timescale for the negotiations with those schools should be achievable and realistic.

·         With regard to the funding of capital works to dual use facilities, the Council and the operator would agree a ten years’ financial, operating and development plan. However, the funding of capital works would be based only on items which were judged by the Council’s surveyor to be required in the next 1-5 years.

·         The Head of Service undertook to respond to Members on why Priestnall Leisure Centre was now closing earlier on Sundays than it was scheduled to.

·         The Head of Service confirmed that the tendering process for the new leisure facility at Brinnington had commenced and it was anticipated that that the facility would be ready to be opened in Summer 2016. The proposed new leisure facility for Offerton was part of a wider development scheme for the area.

(b)  Markets, Museums and Cultural Attractions

·         It was acknowledged that expectations from Stockport Museums needed to be met otherwise visitor numbers and levels of income generation would reduce. The Head of Service clarified that following the current closure of Bramall Hall due to the refurbishment works as part of the Heritage Lottery Fund project, the staff from the hall were currently working in different roles in the service until the anticipated completion of the Bramall Hall project by 31 March 2017. Staffing reductions would take place after then by deleting temporary roles from the establishment and reducing senior management roles in the Culture and Leisure Service.

·         It was clarified that the £0.4m was an earmarked reserve to safeguard resources for the delivery of this Investing in Stockport project and the Bramall Hall project, and fund staffing costs between 1 April 2016 and 31 March 2017.

·         Continued accreditation from the Arts Council was important in maintaining the quality of Stockport Museums and in attracting funding.

·         It was clarified that the enhanced role of Friends of Groups/volunteers to maintain quality  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive

The report sets out a review of the Licensing Policy 2016 – 2021 and Gambling Policy (Statement of Principles) 2016-2019 which sets out how the Council will exercise its functions under the Licensing Act 2003 and Gambling Act 2005 respectively.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the report, prior to its consideration by the Executive Meeting.

Officer Contact: Ian O’Donnell on 0161 474 4175 or email: ian.odonnell@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out a review of the Licensing Policy 2016-2021 and Gambling Policy (Statement of Principles) 2016-2019 which set how the Council would exercise its functions under the Licensing Act 2003 and Gambling Act 2005 respectively. The Council was required to review and publish the Licensing Policy every 5 years and the Gambling Policy every 3 years and was empowered to make any other revisions it considered appropriate.

The policies would subsequently be considered by the Executive Meeting on 5 January 2016.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The proposed changes to the policies replicated changes to national legislation. There had been no concerns raised as a result of the consultation which were specific to Stockport.

·         Any discussions about including Public Health as an additional Licensing Objective would take place at a national level.

·         The Council had used licensing to achieve public health objectives such as combating excessive alcohol consumption arising from irresponsible drinks promotions.

RESOLVED – That the comments of the Scrutiny Committee be forwarded to the Executive Meeting and the Council Meeting for consideration.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the year 3 detailed work programme as outlined in Appendix One and the areas to commence scoping work for years 4 and 5 of the programme, prior to a decision being made by the Executive Councillor (Supporting Places).

Officer Contact: Pete Price on 0161 474 4901 or email: pete.price@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Scrutiny Committee to comment on the year 3 detailed work programme, as outlined in Appendix One to the report, and the areas to commence scoping work for years 4 and 5 of the programme, prior to their consideration by the Executive Councillor (Supporting Places).

The Executive Councillor (Supporting Places) (Councillor Martin Candler) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The footway and carriageway works at a particular location were not always carried out at the same time.

·         A Member enquired whether it was more cost effective to carry out work which crossed the boundary of two wards whilst the contractors were in an area rather than adhere rigidly to Ward boundaries.

·         The Head of Service confirmed that it was possible to add works to a contract.

·         In response to a question, the Head of Service explained the difference between micro asphalt and surface dressing.

·         Project teams were being set up with contractors to monitor the quality of work undertaken.

·         A Member expressed concern about the quality of some of the slurry seal work undertaken on footways as she had evidence of weeds coming through a few weeks after work had been undertaken. Effective slurry sealing should be preceded by effective weed control.

·         If schemes on the reserve list were not carried out, they could be ‘rolled forward’ to the next financial year.

·         A Member felt that the nine years’ programme should be accelerated.

·         It was acknowledged that road conditions did change since the original survey was carried out three years ago, with some carriageways being more badly affected by severe winter weather than others. In addition, consideration needed to be given in the programme to the effect on nearby roads, particularly in Hazel Grove and High Lane, of the construction of the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road.

RESOLVED – That the Executive Councillor (Supporting Places) be recommended to approve the Highway Investment Programme for 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2018/19.

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 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.