Issue - meetings

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

The Final Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs) for the Adult Social Care and Communities & Housing Portfolios are presented for consideration by the Committee. This provides a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects since the mid-year report, with a focus on the third quarter of the year (October to December). It includes forecast performance data (where this is available) and projected financial data for the Portfolio, along with an update on the portfolio savings programmes.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider and comment on the report.

Officer contact: Anthony Higson/ Emma Bowe  on 0161 474 4815, 0161 218 1026 or email: Anthony.higson@stockport.gov.uk / emma.bowe@stockport.gov.uk

Representatives of the Corporate Directors for People and Place Management & Regeneration submitted a joint report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports for the Adult Social Care and Communities & Housing Portfolios providing a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects since the mid-year report, with a focus on the third quarter of the year (October to December).  The report also included forecast performance data (where this is available) and projected financial data for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programmes.

The Executive Councillors for Adult Social Care (Councillor Wendy Wild) and Communities & Housing (Councillor Sheila Bailey) also attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

Adult Social Care

·         The arrangements for access to support and advice for carers was discussed.

·         As budgetary pressures continued, it would be necessary to rely further on the work of volunteers.

·         It was commented that the local situation with regard to delayed transfers of care was reflective of a wider national trend.

·         The Council had invested in additional care home capacity in advance of the winter period and it was hoped to continue this provision into the future.

·         Work continued to take place to expedite discharges from hospital.

·         Concern was expressed that there was insufficient detail from the Executive in terms of the budgetary arrangements for Adult Social Care in advance of the Budget Council Meeting in February.

·         It was stated that the CareQuality team within Adult Social Care was working with the residential care home sector to improve the quality of care being provided. 

·         It was suggested that the Scrutiny Committee could benefit from a presentation on the work of the Care Quality Team at a future meeting of the committee.

Communities & Housing

·         Further information was requested on the trend relating to the number of prosecutions of private landlords.

·         The Council did use compulsory purchase powers to bring empty properties back into use where necessary, however property owners largely responded in advance an Order being issued.

·         Concern was expressed about the security of tenure of people in private rented accommodation and what pressure could be exerted on the government to make legislative changes to improve this situation.

·         It was commented that the Council had previously made representations in relation to the introduction of a mandatory registration scheme for private landlords, however this had not been supported by the government.

·         It was suggested that the committee could receive a report on how the housing standards system worked to a future meeting.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.