Agenda item

To consider a joint report of the Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) and the Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services)

At its meeting in July the Executive, in response to the medium term financial forecasts and budget reduction requirements, agreed a strategic framework for Investing in Stockport (IIS) and the reform of public services in the Borough. Furthermore, at its last meeting in August the Executive brought forward a set of proposals designed to address the budget challenge, informed by and in line with the IIS framework and priority objectives. The Executive also set out indicative cash limit budget allocations for 2015/16 and 2016/17.

The purpose of this report is to progress the IIS programme and the projects therein. Where proposals will have an impact in 2015/16 the report includes an updated draft business case.

The Executive is recommended to:

·         agree the updated indicative budget allocations and investment propositions set out in the report and the draft business cases;

·         endorse the proposals for communicating and consulting on the Investing in Stockport programme outlined in section five of the report

·         ask the Corporate Leadership Team and senior managers, in consultation with the relevant Executive Councillors, to continue the appropriate consultation exercises and to develop implementation plans to facilitate the delivery of the proposals contained in the draft business cases;

·         refer the draft business cases to the next round of scrutiny committee meetings; and

·         continue with the steps necessary to agree a final balanced budget proposal for 2015/16 and an updated Medium Term Financial Plan to 2016/17 for presentation to the Council budget meeting in February 2015.

Officer contact: Steve Houston / Laureen Donnan, 0161 474 4000 / 3180

The Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive to consider feedback received from scrutiny committees in relation to the Investing In Stockport (IIS) business case working proposals and to agree to progress the IIS programme and projects. The report contained updated draft business cases for those proposals which would have a impact on the 2015/16 budget.

The Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services) thanked scrutiny committees for their engagement and challenge to the draft proposals at the round of meetings in September 2014.

Executive councillors then highlighted particular issues relating to the IIS proposals that fell within the remit of their portfolios, including:-

·         ongoing discussions with and support for third sector organisations about future contractual arrangements for the provision of their services;

·         consolidation of public health contracts with the Foundation Trust and the notice needed to be provided in relation to change to these contracts;

·         recent submission of Stockport’s Better Care Fund proposals;

·         recent award to the Council and schools for working in partnership to increase participation in sport.

RESOLVED – That in relation to the Medium Term Financial Plan 2015/16 to 2016/17 and the Investing In Stockport Executive Proposals

·         the updated indicative budget allocations and investment propositions set out in the report and the draft business cases be approved;

·         the proposals for communicating and consulting on the Investing in Stockport programme outlined in section five of the report be endorsed;

·         the Corporate Leadership Team and senior managers, in consultation with the relevant executive councillors, be requested to continue the appropriate consultation exercises and to develop implementation plans to facilitate the delivery of the proposals contained in the draft business cases;

·         the draft business cases be referred to the next round of scrutiny committee meetings; and

·         the steps necessary to agree a final balanced budget proposal for 2015/16 and an updated Medium Term Financial Plan to 2016/17 for presentation to the Council Budget Meeting in February 2015 continue to be taken.