Agenda item

To consider a joint report of the Director of Place Management and Corporate Director (Corporate & Support Services) & Deputy Chief Executive.

The report provides a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects since the final update report, with a focus on the fourth quarter of the year (January to March). It includes out-turn performance and financial data (where this is available) for the Portfolio, along with updates on the portfolio savings programme

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

·         Consider the Annual Portfolio Performance and Resource Report;

·         Review the progress against delivering key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 2021/22;

·         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 Cabinet alongside the Corporate Performance and Resource Report;

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

Sustainable Stockport

Alan Lawson, Strategy and Performance Manager at alan.lawson@stockport.gov.uk (474 5397) or Lisa Joy, CSS Manager (Specialist) Finance at lisa.joy@stockport.gov.uk (474 4044)

Inclusive Neighbourhoods

Lisa Calvert-Choi on 07815 997 572 or email: lisa.calvert-choi@stockport.gov.uk or Stephen Pate on 218 1086 or email: stephen.pate@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Place Management submitted a joint report of the Director and the Corporate Director (Corporate & Support Services) & Deputy Chief Executive (copies of which had been circulated) providing a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects since the final update report, with a focus on the fourth quarter of the year (January to March). It includes out-turn performance and financial data (where this is available) for the Portfolio, along with updates on the portfolio savings programme.

The Cabinet Members for Climate Change & Environment (Councillor Mark Roberts); Communities & Housing (Councillor Helen Foster-Grime); and Highways, Parks and Leisure Services (Councillor Grace Baynham) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

It was noted that the report was a backward-looking report reflecting on the previous municipal year and the former cabinet portfolios.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

Inclusive Communities Portfolio

·         An update was requested in relation to the relocation of the adult education service from Hardman Street to the Central Library building.  In response it was stated that the intention was to maintain certain elements of the library service at Central Library and that the Chief Executive had been asked to undertake a review to determine the options available.

·         It was queried whether the retention of library services at Central Library would mean that the adult education service would be required to remain in their current inadequate facilities.

·         A timescale was requested in relation to when the review of the Central Library service would be complete.

·         Concern was expressed in relation to the availability of data from Greater Manchester Police which made it difficult to asses performance in a number of areas.

·         It was noted that there would be an opportunity to question partners from Greater Manchester Police when the Safer Stockport Partnership Annual Report was submitted to the Scrutiny Committee later this year.

·         £150,000 of earmarked reserved had been identified for investment in the in the control room.  It was clarified that this related to some of the work that had been undertaken for the transition of operations to Stockport Homes and that a number of cameras had been identified that were not fully operational.

·         Details of the new portfolio holder’s priorities for tackling inequalities would be brought to a future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee.

·         A significant amount of support had been put in place to support Ukrainians relocating to Stockport.

·         It was suggested that any future proposals relating to Stockport’s district centres should be submitted to the Economy & Regeneration Scrutiny Committee in addition to this committee in view of the cross-cutting nature of the subject area.

·         Greater Manchester Police should engage more regularly and consistently with local communities through Stockport’s area committees.

Sustainable Stockport Portfolio

·         It was intended that a report would be brought to the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee in relation to flood management that would also include the gully maintenance programme.

·         An update was requested on the stalled development at Melford Road, Hazel Grove.

·         Discussions were ongoing with TLC in relation to the savings that they needed to make to meet the budgetary challenges of the medium term financial plan.  It was noted that the expectation from the Council was that this should minimise the impact on the public realm.

·         There had been improvements in the green bin collection service and the service was far more resilient than it was last year.  However, with regard to recruitment it was noted that inflation continued to rise rapidly and that it was possible that the rates paid by TLC could become uncompetitive again.

·         Further clarity was requested with regard to the implementation of a Clean Air Zone for Greater Manchester and the implications for residents and businesses.

·         The Housing Strategy was due to be submitted to the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee which would provide some clarity around the Council’s ambitions for affordable housing.

·         It was noted that the Central Stockport Area Committee had passed a resolution last year with regard to the implementation of an Article 4 directive to protect residents who live in areas of high density where there had been an increase in the number of property conversions to HMOs.  It was queried why the Council had not yet committed to including this within its Local Plan.

·         There was no plan to reduce the temperature within swimming facilities in Stockport.

·         It was requested that further information be provided on the number of young people who do not get 30 minutes of exercise, with a specific focus on whether this could be broken down geographically.

·         The Council needed to more aggressively pursue the provision of EV charging points throughout the borough.

·         The decrease in fly-tipping rates was welcomed and it was confirmed that in some cases the Council did try to obtain evidence from waste to pursue prosecutions.  It was suggested that more publicity around successful prosecutions be provided.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.