The Scrutiny Review Panel - Operation of CAN Seed Fund and CAN Catalyst Fund met to discuss the Stockport Climate Action Now (CAN) fund, and how it might be improved in the future. The meeting was scheduled to include discussion of the processes and delivery of previous CAN Funds, and to develop recommendations for future iterations of the CAN Fund. Councillors were also expected to consider the impact of communication and public engagement with the CAN Fund.

Operation of CAN Fund Scrutiny Review

The panel was scheduled to discuss the scope of a review of the Stockport Climate Action Now (CAN) fund. According to the Scoping Document - Operation of CAN Fund, the review aims to:

explore and review the past operation of the Stockport Climate Action Now (CAN) with the view to developing recommendations to improve any future iterations of the CAN Fund.

The review was scheduled to consider:

• Successes and challenges in the process and delivery of previous CAN Funds, and learnings
• The effectiveness of previous public engagement with and communication of the CAN Funds and in future iterations of the CAN Fund
• The wider context of the CAN Funds with the view to developing a calendar of other opportunities for funding in order to optimise money spent on the CAN Fund.

The Scoping Document - Operation of CAN Fund sets out a timeline for the review, with evidence gathering scheduled for 22 September 2025, 17 November 2025 and 13 January 2026. A final report to the Housing, Economy & Environment Scrutiny Committee was scheduled for 5 March 2026.

The agenda includes a recommendation to approve the Scoping Report.

Aims and Outcomes of Previous CAN Funds

The Director of Place Management was scheduled to give a presentation on the aims and outcomes of previous CAN Funds. The agenda includes a recommendation for the Scrutiny Review Panel to note and comment upon the presentation.

Discussion Points

The meeting agenda included the following discussion points:

• How to build legacy into CAN Funded projects
• Different approaches to CAN Fund

Developing Recommendations for the Structure and Delivery of any Future Iterations of CAN Fund

The meeting was scheduled to include a discussion of recommendations for the structure and delivery of any future iterations of CAN fund.

Scrutiny Review Procedure Rules

The panel was scheduled to consider a report setting out the Scrutiny Review Procedure Rules. The agenda includes a recommendation to agree the Scrutiny Review Procedure Rules.

The report states that either the Chair or Vice-Chair of the Scrutiny Committee will be appointed Lead Councillor for the Review and will Chair meetings of the Panel. It also says that substitute members should not be permitted, to ensure consistency.

The report also sets out the following rules:

• The membership of the Panel will be at least 4 members and the quorum shall be a minimum of 2.
• The Panel may appoint non-voting co-optees/ advisers to assist during the Review.
• The dates and times of meetings will be agreed at the first meeting of the Panel in accordance with the project plan.
• Voting will be by show of hands and it will not normally be the practice to record how individual members have voted unless specifically requested to do so.
• All meetings of the Panel will be open to the press and public and copies of the agendas and reports will be available in libraries and information centres and sent to the press.
• Following completion of the Review, the Panel's Final Report will be submitted to the parent Scrutiny Committee for consideration and approval prior to being submitted to the Cabinet.