Agenda item

To consider a joint report of the Cabinet Members for Resources, Commissioning & Governance and Citizen Focus & Engagement

The Cabinet has previously set out its approach to responding to the opportunities, challenges and uncertainty outlined within the review of the medium-term financial plan at its meeting on 21st September 2021. This was shared for further discussion and comment with scrutiny committees in October 2021.

Following these discussions further development of proposals have been undertaken and these are now being shared again with Scrutiny for comment and consideration.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the proposals within the four business cases alongside feedback from consultation and equalities analysis.

Officer contact: Holly Rae on 0161 474 3014 or email: holly.rae@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director (Corporate & Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the Cabinet’s proposed approach to responding to the opportunities, challenges and uncertainty outlined within the review of the Medium Term Financial Plan presented at the Cabinet meeting on the 21 September 2021.  The Scrutiny Committee had been provided with an opportunity to make initial comments on the proposals at its meeting in October 2021.  Following these discussions further development of the proposals had been undertaken and these were now being shared again with the Committee for comment and consideration.

The Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance (Councillor Tom McGee) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Concern was expressed in relation to the proposal to remove the Area Committee’s delegated budgets which currently allowed local Members the opportunity to determine spending priorities for their own wards. 

·         In response, it was stated that there remained significant underspends within the budget which may demonstrate that the current process might not represent the most efficient way of allocating funding for minor projects. It was acknowledged that in some instances wards had accrued funds in order to be able to fund a larger project in the subsequent financial year, but further work was required to identify why some wards had accrued more funding than others within their budgets.

·         With regard to adult social care funding, it was disappointing that there had not been a multi-year settlement from the Government to help the Council manage future demand.

·         Following a request from Members, the Cabinet Member agreed to provide information setting out the changes to the proposals from the previous time they had been considered by the Scrutiny Committee in October 2021.

·         The reduction in AGMA fees were supported.

·         The removal of the provision for tea and coffee for officer meetings in the Town Hall complex seemed a minor saving which could make staff feel undervalued.

MOVED AND SECONDED – That the Cabinet be recommended to not put forward a proposal to cut the Area Committee’s Delegated Budget (Highways Discretionary Budget) to zero, plus savings on related staffing.

For the motion 6, abstentions 3

MOTION CARRIED

It was then

RESOLVED – (6 for, 3 abstentions) That the Cabinet be recommended to not put forward a proposal to cut the Area Committee’s Delegated Budget (Highways Discretionary Budget) to zero, plus savings on related staffing.