Agenda item

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

The Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs) for the Sustainable Stockport and Inclusive Neighbourhoods Portfolios are presented for consideration by the Committee. These provide a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programmes and other key projects in the first half of the year, with a particular focus on the second quarter (July to September). These include forecast performance and financial data (where this is available) for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programmes.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:

(i)        Consider the Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports;  

(ii)      Review the progress against delivering key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 2019/20;

(iii)     Highlight key areas of and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any performance or resource issues;

(iv)     Highlight any significant issues or changes to be fed back to the Cabinet alongside the Corporate Performance and Resource Report;

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

Officer contacts:

Sustainable Stockport Alan Lawson on 474 5397 or email:

alan.lawson@stockport.gov.uk or Lisa Joy on 474 4044 or email:

lisa.joy@stockport.gov.uk

Inclusive Neighbourhoods Gaynor Ward on 474 3186 or email: gaynor.ward@stockport.gov.uk or Stephen Pate on 218 1086 or email:

stephen.pate@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resource Report (PPRR) for the Inclusive Communities and Sustainable Stockport Portfolio. The report provided a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects in the first half of the year, with a particular focus on the second quarter (July to September). The report also included a forecast on performance and financial data (where this was available) for the Portfolio, along with an update on the portfolio savings programme.

The Cabinet Members for Inclusive Communities (Councillor Amanda Peers) and Sustainable Stockport (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

Sustainable Stockport Portfolio

·         There was discussion about the recent closure of the A555 due to flooding. Further information was sought on contingency plans to mitigate against further flooding, and details of when and by whom promised reports to area committees would be submitted. In response it was stated that officers had done all they could to minimise disruption caused by the recent sustained rainfall, but that no guarantee of a recurrence could be given. It was confirmed that a flood consultant had been recruited to scope the work for the investigation of the recent flooding, during which area committees and local councillors would be engaged. Specifically in relation to the recent A555 closure, the road was closed at 11.30am on Saturday after persistent rain and the road becoming impassable. After the closure, a car became stranded, but by 10.30am on Sunday the road was opened (having first removed the stranded vehicle). The pumps and tanks on the A555 had been cleaned but there was insufficient capacity for the level of rain. A consultant engineer had been appointed to report back to the Council on possible additional mitigation measures. Further comment was made that other sections of the A555 in Cheshire East remained open for longer and there was a need for greater coordination between the affected local authorities. In response it was stated that the aspiration was to coordinate the production of the Section 19 reports into the flooding and to develop solutions ‘up stream’ that provided for greater capacity in the river network to cope with persistent and heavy rainfall.

·         Further information was requested on the planned IT solution for fly-tipping. In response, it was confirmed that the intention was to collate information and intelligence on instances of fly tipping to allow the Council to take a more proportionate response to target investigatory capacity at hotspots where there was a prospect of convictions.

·         Clarification was sought on why the waste collection trial in Brinnington did not proceed. In response it was stated that there had been agreed that in light of the scrutiny review into domestic waste collection it was appropriate to await the outcome of that process before proceeding with any other trial. It was also commented that the Brinnington & Central Ward was somewhat atypical for domestic waste collection rounds in Stockport.

·         Comment was made about the levels of sickness absence at TLC and the significant proportion due to home-related stress. In response it was stated that conversations had taken place with who had acknowledged these challenges and were supporting staff where there could.

·         Work to respond to the Council Meeting’s Climate Change Emergency motion was welcomed.

The Chair highlighted the serious concerns and difficulties for communities in Bramhall and Heald Green being created by the repeated flooding of the A555 and she emphasised the need to expedite investigatory efforts.

Inclusive Communities

·         Councillors welcomed the positive work done in relation to Continuing Education, in particular the recent Jobs Fair.

·         It was commented that there were a number of performance measures that were process focussed, rather than outcome focussed, that lead to perverse outcomes. The example of the Stockport Local Fund was cited, with the increase in number of applications was likely to result in a worsening performance. In response, this was acknowledged and assurance given that a number of measures were likely to change from next year to reflect the focus on outcomes. Specifically in relation to the Local Fund, it was commented that this had been a successful initiative and was constantly evolving based on the learning through each round of the fund.

·         Concerns were expressed that the consultation on proposed changes to Support Funds was too closed to allow for the public to give their views. In response it was accepted that the consultation was seeking views on two models, but that the consultation undertaken on the Stockport Local Assistance Scheme during 2018/19 had been an in-depth exercise and had informed the current proposals.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration be requested to provide members with additional information in relation to:-

·         the timescale for the independent reviews of recent flooding;

·         the football pitches included in the football pitch rennvoation programme.