Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 10 December 2015.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 10 December 2015 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 Interest

To consider call-in items (if any).

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive

The Final Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRR) for the Supporting Places and Thriving Economy Portfolios are presented for consideration by the Committee. These provide an update on key activity during the third quarter of the year, with a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priority outcomes through the Investing in Stockport programme and other key projects since the mid-year project. 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 requested to:-

(a)  consider the Final Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports;

(b)  review the progress against delivering key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 2015/16;

(c)  highlight key areas of and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any performance or resource issues.

(d)  highlight any significant issues or changes to be fed back to the Executive alongside the Corporate Performance and Resource Report; and

(e)  identify how areas of strong performance and good practice can be shared in other services.

Officer Contacts Joe Conmee/Michael Cullen on 0161 474 5396/4361 or email: joseph.conmee@stockport.gov.uk/michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the Final Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports for the Supporting Places and Thriving Economy Portfolios. The report provided an update on key activity during the third quarter of the year, with a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priority outcomes through the Investing in Stockport programme and other key projects since the mid-year project. They included forecasted performance data (where this was available) and projected financial data for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programme.

The Executive Councillor (Supporting Place) (Councillor Martin Candler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

Supporting Places

·         Consultation was ongoing with staff on the proposal to create a shared local highway service across three local authorities within Greater Manchester. The feedback would be collated after the deadline for the consultation had expired.

·         In order to improve the quality of food recycling by people living in flats, new lockable containers had been introduced on a trial basis at a number of sites across the borough. These containers had been designed specifically for Stockport and were proving very effective in assisting residents to dispose of waste appropriately. Consideration would be given to extending the trial.

·         Concern was expressed at the relatively small proportion of the capital expenditure for public rights of way which had been spent as at 31 December 2015. A representative of the Chief Executive confirmed that a significant proportion of the capital programme for public rights of way had, however, been ordered.

·         A Member highlighted the continuing pressures within the Car Parking service and was advised that the Council expected to see the benefits of the pay on exit system at the Merseyway Car Park in the long term. In addition, there would be a reduction in income from car parking as a result of the loss of the Bridgefield Street car park to the Redrock development. Members asked for information on how long the car parking service had been in deficit.

·         A Member requested information on the benefits of the Locality Operating Model which had been considered by the Locality Working All Member Working Group.

·         A Member requested that the proposals to mitigate the traffic impact from the Stockport Sports Village in Woodley be expedited as soon as possible.

·         The Scrutiny Committee debated the cycling schemes which had been obtained from the Cycle City Ambition Grant (Phases 1 and 2) and the outcome of the consultation on the schemes. Confirmation was provided to Members that the monies could not be spent on Middlewood Way as this was not exclusively designated as a cycling route.

·         Concern was expressed that the percentage of the adult population aged 16 years and older who participated in sport and active recreation on a regular basis was decreasing.

·         Concern was expressed that the amount of residual waste collected was continuing to increase due, in part, to the continued demand for additional residual waste capacity, the excessive amount of packaging in products and the subsequent distribution of additional black bins. A Member felt that the Council’s recycling strategy should be re-examined.

·         The fall in oil prices could lead to an increase in the volume of plastic materials which could be recycled.

·         Congratulations were extended to Life Leisure Avondale in being named runner up at the National Fitness Awards in the ‘Best Rehabilitation Facility of the Year’ category, in recognition of its Health Hub concept.

·         The development of new solutions for Dual Use facilities was taking place on a site by site basis due to the complexity of issues at each site. The Council was seeking the most suitable operating model for each site, including the length of lease offered. Arrangements for the transfer of the operation of the Hazel Grove Recreation Centre from Life Leisure to Hazel Grove High School  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive

The report provides an overview of the proposals contained within the draft Stockport Rail Station Masterplan. The masterplan sets out a long term vision for Stockport rail station and its surrounding area. The plan is a vision document and the Council will need to work with key stakeholders and partners to identify the resources to deliver the plan.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the proposed masterplan and station improvement proposals and recommend that the Executive Meeting supports the proposed Stockport Rail Station masterplan and that Officers work with key stakeholders to seek to implement the masterplan.

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

A representative of the Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of the proposals contained within the draft Stockport Rail Station Masterplan. The masterplan set out a long term vision for Stockport rail station and its surrounding area. The Masterplan summary report was attached at Appendix A.

The masterplan was a vision document and the Council would need to work with key stakeholders and partners to identify the resources to deliver the plan although the station was not within the Council’s ownership.

The report would be considered by the Executive at its meeting to be held on 16 February 2016.

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

The Scrutiny Committee welcomed, in general terms, the proposals for the station and the surrounding environment.

RESOLVED– (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That a further report be submitted to a meeting of the Scrutiny Committee in six months’ time.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive

The report sets out a proposal for a further two years extension of the Alliance Partnering Contract for highway infrastructure construction works to allow its use up to 1 April 2019.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to support the proposal.

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

A representative of the Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out a proposal for a further two years’ extension of the Stockport Trafford Alliance Partnering Contract from 1 April 2017 for the procurement of specialist contractors for the maintenance and improvement of road and highway structures in view of the effectiveness of the arrangements to date.

The report would be considered by the Executive at its meeting to be held on 16 February 2016.

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:-

·         A Member asked how much the Council had saved as a result of being part of the alliance. The value for money to the Council of being part of the alliance needed to be quantified and monitored on a regular basis.

·         An independent review of the tendered rates in 2011 and 2015 had established that the majority of rates included in the pricing documents were lower in value when compared to other representative cost data.

·         An additional benefit to being part of the alliance was free advice from partners. The alliance was a well tested framework and remaining in the framework also offered the advantage of continuity.

·         In response to a Member’s question regarding the cost of materials to the Council, it was clarified that construction market inflation differed from the general rate of inflation.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Executive Meeting be advised that this Scrutiny Committee supports a further two years’ extension of the Stockport Trafford Alliance Partnering Contract for a further two years from 1 April 2017 until 31 March 2019.

(2) That the performance of the alliance be monitored and reported on a regular basis with information included in future Portfolio Performance and Resources reports.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive

The report considers the lines of enquiry raised by the Visitor Parking Permits Working Party on 16 January 2015 and the further comments from its meeting on 16 March 2015 in relation to visitor permits in residential parking schemes which were subsequently reported to this Scrutiny Committee on 4 June 2015. Further work has been undertaken on this issue and based on the findings an updated report is now submitted.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to support the proposals and that a review takes place in twelve months’ time should they be introduced by the Executive.

Officer Contact: Adam Forbes on 0161 474 3680 or email: adam.forbes@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) regarding the lines of enquiry raised by the Visitor Parking Permits Working Party on 16 January 2015 and the further comments from its meeting on 16 March 2015 in relation to visitor permits in residential parking schemes which were subsequently reported to the Scrutiny Committee on 4 June 2015. Further work had been undertaken on this issue and based on the findings an update report was now submitted.

The report would be considered by the Executive at its meeting to be held on 16 February 2016.

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

RESOLVED – (1) That the Executive Meeting be advised that the Scrutiny Committee supports the Permit Parking Policy being amended such that any resident in a charged for residents parking zone, in possession of Leisure Key Band A, who applies for a visitor parking permit, pays £16.19 per permit from the 2016/17 financial year and that non-Leisure Key Band A residents visitor parking permit costs increase to £32.37.

(2) That the Executive Meeting be requested to agree to a review taking place twelve months after the implementation of the changes.

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.