Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 8 December 2016.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 8 December 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 whether it is in the public interest to exclude the public during part of the consideration of the following agenda item which contains information “not for publication” by virtue of the appropriate category set out in the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of information which was not for publication, the disclosure of which would not be in the public interest, would not be fair and would be in breach of Data Protection principles, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the ‘not for publication’ appendices to the following agenda item in the event that the content of these appendices need to be discussed:-

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

The report sets out proposals for short and medium term investment in the Grand Central Leisure Centre. It forms the first phase of a programme in 2017/18 to address condition issues in the Council’s leisure estate.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Peter Ashworth on 0161 474 2392 or email: peter.ashworth@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out proposals for short and medium term investment in the Grand Central Leisure Centre. It formed the first phase of a programme in 2017/18 to address condition issues in the Council’s leisure estate.

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

With the agreement of the Committee, a member of the public addressed the meeting in order to highlight the difficulties he had experienced since the closure of the health suite and the general maintenance of the health suite prior to that.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         it was clarified that the condition issues at the Grand Central Leisure Centre had been raised in February/March 2016 and the health suite had been closed since April 2016. It had originally been thought that the condition issues at the health suite could be remedied by minor repairs, but it had been discovered that there were problems with the building management system which had delayed the proposed investment in the health suite. The initial condition surveys had not highlighted any immediate problems with the building management system.

·         There was general agreement that it would be sensible to address all the condition issues at the Grand Central Leisure Centre over a number of years. The proposed works would upgrade the current facilities.

·         A Member queried why weekly passes had not been transferable to other leisure centres and Officers agreed to pursue this issue with Life Leisure and forward the response to all Members of the Scrutiny Committee.

·         A Member expressed concern that more investment would be required to the Grand Central Leisure Centre beyond 2019/20.

·         A Member felt that it would have been preferable to have the health suite open at the time the Holiday Inn hotel was opened. The success of the Grand Central Leisure Centre was important to the regeneration work undertaken at Stockport Exchange.

·         Members noted that there was a risk that the investment would not lead to improved business performance at the site and would not reduce the need for revenue deficit subsidy. To mitigate this, the Council would set up a new performance monitoring framework with Life Leisure in respect of Grand Central.

·         The Scrutiny Committee requested that paragraph 6.4 in the Financial Implications of the report be redrafted in order to clarify how the £1.847m priority condition works would be financed.

·         A Member suggested that the governance arrangements for the Grand Central Leisure Centre should be reviewed.

RESOLVED –  (1) That the Executive Meeting be advised that this Scrutiny Committee supports the proposals in the report, subject to clarification of the financial implications with regard to how the £1.847m priority condition works would be financed.

(2) That regular performance monitoring reports be submitted to future meetings of the Scrutiny Committee.

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

The report sets out a proposal to enter into revised contractual arrangements for a seven year period with Solutions SK Ltd, with an option to extend for a further period of seven years.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Ian O’Donnell on 0161 474 4175 or email: ian.odonnell@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 enter into revised contractual arrangements for a period of seven years commencing on 1 April 2017, with an option to extend for a further period of three years.

The Executive Councillor (Councillor Sheila Bailey) and the Managing Director of Solutions SK (Stephen Morris) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         It would be useful to have a similar set of performance indicators for Life Leisure in the future to those being prepared for Solutions SK and for the Chief Executive of Life Leisure to attend this Scrutiny Committee.

·         A Member requested that the vision statement for Solutions SK which was considered by the Contributors Committee at its meeting on 26 January 2017 be forwarded to Members of this Scrutiny Committee.

·         In response to a Member’s question, the Managing Director confirmed that the terms and conditions of employees were with the aim of recruiting to ensure staff retention and avoid the use of agency staff. An increasing number of apprentices were being employed by Solutions SK with the aim, for example, of moving staff from unskilled to unskilled status, if possible

·         A considerable amount of money had been invested in ICT solutions by Solutions SK over the last three years and would continue to be invested.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Executive Meeting be advised that this Scrutiny Committee supports the proposals, subject to paragraph 10.4 in the recommendations to the Executive Meeting being amended to read:-

Delegate to the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration, in consultation with the Executive Councillor (Communities and Housing) and following consultation with the appropriate Scrutiny Committee, the authority to approve the individual service operating contracts as listed in Annex B.

(2) That the proposed performance indicators for Solutions SK be submitted to this Scrutiny Committee for consideration.

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

The Final Update Portfolio Performance and Resources Report for the Communities & Housing and Economy & Regeneration 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 since the mid-year report, with a particular focus on the third quarter (October to December) 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 Final Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports;

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

·         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: Alan Lawson/Kora Yohannan on 0161 474 5397/4032 or email: peter.owston@stockport.gov.uk/kora.yohannan@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the Final Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports for the Communities & Housing and Economy & Regeneration Portfolios and providing a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects during the mid-year report, with a particular focus on the third quarter (October to December) 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 Executive Councillor (Communities and Housing) (Councillor Sheila Bailey) and the Executive Councillor (Economy and Regeneration) (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

Communities and Housing

·         A Member raised the issue of illuminated bollards on pedestrian refuges and requested that they were all lit for the safety of pedestrians.

·         In response to a Member’s question, the Executive Councillor agreed to look into why old street nameplates were not fully removed when new nameplates were erected. It was clarified that the removal of old street light poles was the responsibility of United Utilities.

·         A Member enquired what the tolerance range was for the performance indicators.

·         The transition monies committed to projects at a number of parks and greenspaces was commended.

·         A report on the three year investment plan for the leisure estate (excluding Grand Central) would be submitted to a future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee.

·         A Member requested information on the reduction in ‘trips and slips’ claims against the Council since the introduction of the Highways Investment Programme.

·         With regard to Performance Indicator C&H 06 (% relevant land and highways with acceptable levels of deposits of detritus), a Member expressed concern that the second survey of the financial year had not met the target.

·         A Member welcomed the Street Lighting Planned Programme and the ‘one network’ approach incorporating maintenance of Public Rights of Way and Parks lighting. He requested that Ward Members were consulted before the final Street Lighting Planned Programme was compiled.

Economy and Regeneration

·         The £133,500 funding from Greater Manchester to tackle youth unemployment would comprise intermediate labour market schemes to provide pre-employment training and extra grants to incentivise employers to support employees.

·         With regard to Risk E &R 01 – Unemployment Rate - Increased unemployment rates (particularly youth unemployment) as a result of the prevailing economic conditions, a Member welcomed the reduction in the youth claimant count from 0.9% in November 2015 to 0.5% 5 in November 2016.

 RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report provides an overview of the Phase 1 feasibility report into the A6- M60 Relief Road study which reviews the previous business case for the A6 to M60 element of the South East Manchester Multi Modal Strategy (SEMMMS) Relief Road and provide an initial overview of the scheme’s relevance to current issues and policies.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the report.

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 overview of the Phase 1 feasibility report into the A6 – M60 Relief Road study which reviewed the previous business case for the A6 to M60 Relief Road element of the South East Manchester Multi Modal Strategy (SEMMMS) Relief Road and provided an initial overview of the scheme’s relevance to current issues and policies.

The Executive Councillor (Economy and Regeneration) (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions. In response to a Member’s question, she clarified that she welcomed representations at this stage from people will all points of view on this issue.

RESOLVED – That the Phase 1 study and this report be noted.

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

The report outlines the concerns caused by the operation of car cruises in car parks in the Borough and contains details of a proposed Public Space Protection Order designed to deal with the problems presented by the car cruises.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the report.

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

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(NOTE: The Chair was of the opinion that this item, although not included on the agenda for the meeting, should be considered as a matter of urgency in accordance with Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 to prevent undue delay in the consideration of the matter).

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining concerns caused by the operation of car cruises in the Borough and containing details of a proposed Public Space Protection Order designed to deal with the problems presented by the car cruises. The proposed Order had the support of Greater Manchester Police.

The organiser of the events had attended the meeting of the Central Stockport Area Committee held on 14 July 2016 when the Area Committee had emphasised that the events were unauthorised and should stop and that, as a minimum, permission should be sought from the Area Committee as was the case for other events in the town centre. No such application had been forthcoming.

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

RESOLVED – That this Scrutiny Committee supports the introduction of a Public Space Protection Order designed to deal with the problems presented by the car cruises

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

The report sets outs the successful completion of the development of Phase 2 of the Stockport Exchange Project and reports on the legal and financial structures established to deliver this successful regeneration project.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the report.

Officer Contact: George Perrin on 0161 474 4510 or email: george.perrin@stockport.gov.uk

A report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration and the Borough Treasurer was submitted (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the successful completion of the development of Phase 2 of the Stockport Exchange Project, and reporting on the legal and financial structures established to deliver the regeneration project.

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

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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.