Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 22 September 2016.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 22 September 2016 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.

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 Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration

The report provides an update on the outcomes and recommendations of the Scrutiny Committee’s review in 2015/16 on repairing potholes and other defects – process and quality. The findings of the Scrutiny Review led to a more detailed analysis if the Council’s highways reactive maintenance process which has led to the action presented in the report.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the findings of the review and the proposed actions to address them.

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

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the outcomes and recommendations of the Scrutiny Committee’s review in 2015/16 on repairing potholes and defects – process and quality. The findings of the Scrutiny Review had led to a more detailed analysis of the Council’s highways reactive maintenance process which had resulted in the action plan presented in the report.

The Executive Councillor (Communities and Housing) (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

•           The Digital by Design project could be useful in improving the Council’s highways reactive maintenance process.

•           More work needed to be carried out on the optimum number of employees from Solutions SK who should be employed on repairs and the development of Performance Indicators on response times to queries.

•           The publicly available schedule of inspections to be carried out should indicate whether they were walked or driven inspections. Potholes could be reported whilst the inspections were being carried out.

•           A report would be made at the end of the financial year on the progress made by Solutions SK with the work outlined in the Action Plan.

•           The problems of the different IT highway systems operated by the Council and Solutions SK were highlighted.

•           A Member expressed concern that some of the actions were not already being carried out and requested that a similar review be carried out with other aspects of the work carried out by Solutions SK for the Council.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council (Policy, Finance & Devolution).

In August the Executive outlined how it will address the severe financial challenges faced by Stockport because of central Government cuts and significant local cost pressures, and set out a framework of principles that would shape engagement with residents and businesses In October the Executive received an updated Medium-Term Financial position and, in response, set out business cases for proposed changes to address the spending reduction requirement for 2017/18; a series of working papers explaining initiatives that will shape a future reform programme and address wider challenges over the medium-term, and confirmed an intention to raise Council Tax by 3.99% in 2017/18.

This report affords an opportunity to discuss the Executive’s proposed approach taken to addressing the medium-term, by reference to the published background papers and 2017/18 business cases that fall within the remit of each scrutiny committee.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the report and appendices.

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

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing how the Executive would address the financial challenges faced by Stockport because of Central Government cuts and significant local cost pressures, and setting out a framework of principles that would shape engagement with residents and businesses.

The report set out business cases for proposed changes to address the spending reduction requirement for 2017/18; a series of working papers explaining initiatives that would shape a future reform programme and address wider challenges over the medium-term, and confirmed an intention to raise Council Tax by 3.99% in 2017/18.

The Executive Councillor (Communities and Housing) (Councillor Sheila Bailey) and Executive Councillor (Economy and Regeneration) (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised with regard to the proposal to adjust black bin (residual waste) collections:-

•           The feedback received by Officers from Rochdale, Salford and Bury Councils after they had moved the number of black bin collections from every two weeks to every three weeks had been positive. A Member felt that using these Councils as a comparator was ineffective as Stockport Council had significantly higher recycling rates and it would better for Stockport Council to compare itself with local authorities which had a similar demographic profile.

•           It was estimated that the team of advisers to manage the transition and provide information and guidance to householders would cost approximately £200,000. The cost of replacing the current black bins with the new black bins would be approximately £4/5 million. The existing black bins would be collected and recycled.

•           The proposal would lead to no net saving in the revenue cash limit budget.

•           In order to reach the previous recycling levels reached in Stockport, the opportunity should be taken to re-educate people on the current recycling system as the level of education had not been maintained since the system was originally introduced.

•           A large proportion of local people already took surplus residual waste to the Household Waste Recycling Centres.

•           The Scrutiny Committee was generally not in favour of the proposal to adjust the current system for black bin (residual waste) collections.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The Mid Year Portfolio Performance and Resources Report (PPRRs) for the Communities & Housing, Environment & Regeneration and Education Portfolios are presented for consideration by the Scrutiny Committee. These provide a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects during the first half of the year, with a particular focus on the second quarter (July to September) of 2016/17. It includes forecast performance data (where this is available) and projected financial data for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programme.

 The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:

·         consider the Mid Year Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports;

·         review the progress against delivering key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 2016/17;

·         consider and comment on the new measures proposed within Appendix 1 of the Communities & Housing and Economy & Regeneration Portfolio reports;

·         highlight key areas of and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any performance or resource issues;

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

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

Officer Contacts: Peter Owston/Kora Yohannon on 0161 474 3274/4032 or email: peter.owston@stockport.gov.uk/kora.yohannon@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports for the Communities & Housing and Environment & Regeneration Portfolios, providing a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects during the first half of the year, with a particular focus on the second quarter (July to September) of 2016/17. The report also included forecast performance data (where this was available) and projected financial data for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolios savings programmes.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

Communities and Housing

•           With regard to the restoration works at Bramall Hall, a Member enquired whether the sheets of perspex on some of the stained glass windows would be removed.

•           The Scrutiny Committee was provided with more information on the measures which were proposed around incidents of fly tipping, including the creation of a Public Protection team with a particular focus on this area and its links with anti-social behaviour.

•           The outcome of the Council’s comprehensive needs analysis of the borough’s indoor leisure facilities would be submitted to a future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee.

•           The transfer of leisure facilities at Hazel Grove High School from Life Leisure to the school appeared to have been successful, although the required level of savings would not be achieved in 2016/17.

•           The investigation into traffic issues in Marple would be completed before the end of the current financial year.

Economy and Regeneration

•           A programme of work around brownfield sites would be developed and would be brought to Members which demonstrated the work being undertaken to unlock brownfield sites, including the use of Compulsory Purchase Orders.

•           It would be useful to have an additional Performance Indicator on land supply and development undertaken.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report sets out the process for the Council to formally commence work on a review of existing development plan documents and the consequential need to undertake work on delivering a new Local Plan for the borough.

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

Officer Contact: Emma Curle on 0161 474 3542 or email: emma.curle@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out a proposal to begin a review of existing development plan documents and undertake work on delivering a new Local Plan for the borough to ensure it remained adequate to meet future development needs and aspirations for the borough.

The Executive at its meeting on 15 November 2016 would be requested to recommend to the Council Meeting that work was commenced on a review of existing development plan documents and preparation of a new Local Plan for the borough.

The Executive Councillor (Economy and Regeneration) (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

•           The Council needed to have an up to date Local Plan or its New Homes Bonus would be withdrawn.

•           So far the evidence work had been compiled across Greater Manchester and the work on the Stockport evidence had been incorporated into the Greater Manchester work.

•           In the event that work on the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework slowed down or in the event that it was not adopted, then the Council would need to undertake its own evidence work.

•           A Member enquired whether the current Stockport evidence base work undertaken for the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework would result in the same output for the Stockport Local Plan.

•           There would be an extensive consultation process on the Stockport Local Plan.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

To consider an application submitted by the Management Committee of the provisional Marple Neighbourhood Forum seeking to establish Marple Neighbourhood Forum relating to the recently designated Neighbourhood Area under the provisions of the Localism Act 2011.

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

Officer Contact: Sally Maguire on 0161 2738 or email: sally.maguire@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) regarding an application from the Management Committee of the provisional Marple Neighbourhood Forum seeking the formal establishment of a Neighbourhood Forum for the previously designated Marple Neighbourhood Area as agreed by the Council on 30 June 2016.

The report would be considered by the Executive at its meeting to be held on 15 November 2016.

The Executive Councillor (Economy and Regeneration) (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

RESOLVED – That the Executive Meeting be requested to recommend to the Council Meeting that that the application to establish Marple Neighbourhood Forum be approved and the Forum formally designated.

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

The report provides a detailed response to the questions raised by Members following the flooding incidents in June, an independent investigation into the causes of the flooding, the Council’s initial response to the flooding, its response to the recovery phase and the actions that the Council could take to minimise the impact of future flooding events.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to:-

·         comment on the draft Jacobs Section 19 Investigation Report and recommend that the Executive Meeting approves the final report.

·         recommend that the Executive Meeting supports the implementation of the flood damage repair programme for Council assets and supports that reserves are utilised to finance this work.

·         comment on the proposal for the Council to host a Partner Agency meeting with all key partners including the Environment Agency and United Utilities to develop a joined up response to our action plan.

Officer Contact: Sue Stevenson on 02161 474 4351 or email: sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a detailed response to the questions raised by Members following the flooding incidents in June, an independent investigation into the causes of the flooding, the Council’s initial response to the flooding, its response to the recovery phase and the actions that the Council had taken to minimise the impact of future flooding events.

The report advised that the AGMA’s Civil Contingencies and Resilience Unit had undertook reviews into the Council’s response to the flooding and the multi-agency response and had made a number of recommendations including:-

•           A review of the out of hours service

•           A review of communications support and approach to incidents

•           A review of the policy for the provision of sandbags and skips

•           Encouraging residents to become resilient.

The external agency review recommendations included:-

•           The development of a greater understanding of the resources each agency had available to support the response (for example, Environment Agency support for the Council).

•           Ensuring effective multi-agency information sharing and co-ordination to establish the full extent of the impact of an incident earlier on in the aftermath of a subsequent incident.

•           Ensuring that appropriate agencies were brought into the recovery phase as soon as it was convened.

•           Ensuring that neighbouring local authority areas were communicated with at the earliest opportunity in order to manage any potential cross boundary issues.

The recommendations of both the internal and external reviews were being converted into an action plan with lead officers identified to implement the recommendations.

The report would be considered by the Executive at its meeting on 15 November 2016.

The Executive Councillor (Communities and Housing) (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

•           The issue of one of the manhole covers being raised and water coming out of it had been reported by Members at the meeting of the Bramhall and Cheadle Hulme South Area Committee held on 9 June 2016 prior to the floods occurring on 11/12 June 2016. A Member contended that United Utilities should have attended to the defective manhole cover as a matter of urgency at that time.

•           The issue of gully cleaning had been raised as a concern. A schedule for the cleaning of gullies needed to be available.

•           As well as discussions having commenced with colleagues in the AGMA Civil Contingencies and Resilience Unit regarding opportunities to cooperate with the utilisation of control rooms especially when larger scale incidents occur, similar discussions needed to occur with Cheshire East Council.

•           The roads in the most badly affected areas needed to be closed to prevent motorists trying to drive through them.

•           Support was given to the proposal for the Council to host a Partner Agency meeting with all key partners, including the Environment Agency and United Utilities, in order to develop a ‘joined up’ response to the Council’s Action Plan.

RESOLVED – That the Executive Meeting be recommended to approve the final report and support the implementation of the flood damage repair programme for Council assets and the recommendation that reserves are utilised to finance this work.

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 have 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.