Agenda and minutes

To approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 13 February 2014 as a correct record.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 13 February 2014 were approved as a correct record, subject to Minute 7 (1) ‘New Articles to the Constitution for the Solutions SK Contributors Committee, Stockport Homes Member Committee and the Funding Committee’ being amended by the replacement of ‘1 Conservative Councillor’ with ‘2 Conservative Councillors’.

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

No declarations of interests were made.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive

The report considers proposed revisions to the Council’s Code of Conduct for Officers and the Confidential Reporting Policy and Procedure.

The Working Party is requested to comment on the proposed revisions to the Council’s Code of Conduct for Officers and the Confidential Reporting Policy and Procedure, prior to their consideration by the Corporate, Resource Management and Governance Scrutiny Committee.

Officer Contact: Sue Williams on 0161 474 2175 or email: sue.williams@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) regarding proposed revisions to the Officers Code of Conduct and the Confidential Reporting on Whistleblowing Policy and Procedure.

The Code of Conduct had been revised to describe the conduct and behaviour expected of Officers. It also communicated the standard of conduct and behaviour that the public could expect from Council Officers.

The Confidential Reporting Policy and Procedure had been revised to accommodate changes to whistleblowing legislation. These legislative changes included making reference to protected disclosures being ‘in the public interest’ and removing the requirement that disclosures should be made in ‘good faith’.

The draft documents had been developed in line with good practice from other local authorities; input from the relevant Heads of Service and endorsement from the Corporate Leadership Team. The Head of People and Organisational Development had met with the trade unions after the agenda had been issued and proposed a number of amendments to the Council’s Code of Conduct for Officers at the meeting.

The Working Party recommended a number of further amendments to the Officers Code of Conduct.

RESOLVED – (1) That an amended version of the Officers Code of Conduct be sent to all Members of the Working Party, prior to consideration by the Corporate, Resource Management and Governance Scrutiny Committee.

(2) That the Council Meeting be recommended to approve the revised versions of the Officers Code of Conduct and the Confidential Reporting Policy and Procedure.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive

The report sets out proposed arrangements for the Funding Committee when considering the performance of Life Leisure.

The Working Party is requested to consider and comment on the report prior to its consideration by the Executive.

Officer contact: Parveen Akhtar on 0161 218 1450 or email: parveen.akhtar@stockpoort.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the arrangements for the ‘Funding Committee’ when considering the performance of Life Leisure.

Following a review of a number of the Council’s partner organisations, the Council Meeting in May 2013 had decided not to appoint representatives to those bodies. Instead the Council Meeting had created a number of inclusive cross party Committees to look at monitoring the performance of these organisations.

It was reported that the ‘Funding Committee’ at its meeting on 26 June 2014 had resolved:-

That the draft terms of reference as set out in the report be approved in so far as this Committee is concerned subject to the rewording of point 3 as follows and the deletion of point 11:

“3. To consider and approve or otherwise as necessary the Partnership Delivery Plan. (The Plan is a detailed service delivery plan setting out LL's proposals for the 3 year period.  LL's pricing policy must be included in the Plan, and it should identify clearly how it will ensure facilities remain accessible to all sections of the community and safeguard concessionary rates for identified target groups. The Plan should include how LL contributes to improving the social, community and personal outcomes for the Borough and its people.

The Corporate, Resource Management and Governance Scrutiny Committee at its meeting held on 1 July 2014 had expressed a wish to see a reference to Life Leisure being under an obligation to report to the Funding Committee and potential risks with regard to their operations in Stockport.

RESOLVED - That the Council Meeting be recommended to approve the terms of reference for the Funding Committee, incorporating the amendments recommended by that Committee and the Corporate, Resource Management and Governance Scrutiny Committee.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services

The Working Party is requested to consider changes to the Audit Committee’s Terms of Reference.

Officer contact: John Pearsall on 0161 474 4033 or email: john.pearsall@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) regarding proposed changes to the Terms of Reference for the Audit Committee. CIPFA guidance on the effectiveness of Audit Committees stated that the Terms of Reference for the Committee should be reviewed on an annual basis and updated where necessary. The changes proposed to the document were mainly to adjust the wording and detail for internal audit, risk management and governance processes within the Council.

RESOLVED – That the Council Meeting be recommended to approve the proposed changes to the Terms of Reference for the Audit Committee, subject to reference being made to reports being submitted to the Audit Committee on a twice yearly basis detailing, by category, the low level of debts being written off by service managers during the financial year.