Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and order that the Minutes of the meeting held on 24 September 2020 be signed.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 24 September 2020 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Covid-19 Update

·         Members enquired about the cancellation of the outdoor markets. In response, it was stated that the aim was to limit the face to face contact and reduce the risk of the infection rate at this stage and to remain cautious to protect the lives of the most vulnerable residents.

·         Clarification was sought regarding the roll out of the vaccinations. In response, it was stated that it was great news that a vaccine was now available which required specific storage and handling which would initially be stored in hospitals with further hub sites being identified for further roll out.

·         It was commented that there didn’t seem to be any public education broadcasts anymore and it was suggested that Public Health be persuaded to reinstate these broadcasts on the various mediums.

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made.

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider the report of the Director of Adult Social Care.

The report constitutes the Stockport Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2019/20 and outlines the activities and achievements of the Board and its partners over the last year and how well it has delivered on its priorities and actions in the Business Plan. It is also the account to the community of the work that has been done to safeguard and enhance the wellbeing of adults with care and support needs

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to consider and note the report. 

Officer contact: Lee Woolfe, Safeguarding Adults Board Business Manager, on 0161 474 3590 or by email, Lee.woolfe@stockport.gov.uk

The Independent Chair for the Stockport Safeguarding Adults Board submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the activities and achievements of the Board and its partners over the last year and how well it has delivered on its priorities and actions in the Business Plan. It also provided an account to the community of the work that had been done to safeguard and enhance the wellbeing of adults with care and support needs.

The following comments were made/issues raised: -

·         Clarification was sought regarding the list of partners identified in the report and whether there was any disability representation. In response, it was stated that the guidance in the Care Act sets out who should be involved in the partnership, however, other partners are included in work programmes. It was also said that there have been changes to mental health and loneliness due to the pandemic which is now being looked at by the Board and scrutinising and challenging the relations to mental health for the appropriate services to be in place.

·         It was also noted that domestic abuse issues would be ‘presented’ more and that there would be more disclosures as a result of the pandemic and people staying indoors, but this is being monitored by the Board and the Healthwatch representative on the Board who represents the third sector.

·         Members enquired about the educational institutions and their involvement in the partnership. In response, it was noted that there was a link with the Children and Safeguarding Partnership and working together to identify the vulnerable and children at risk.

·         Clarification was sought on the homeless priority identified in the report. In response, it was stated that it was not a Covid related priority, but was set before Covid in January 2020 with a strategic plan in place.

·         Members enquired about the ‘liquid logic’ programme and where things were up to. In response, it was noted that the implementation went ahead despite Covid-19, which made it more difficult at the time, but staff and teams adapted well both online and virtually to make the appropriate changes.

·         It was commented that there had been a number of significant cuts to Government funding and Council budgets and whether the Board was supported accordingly and had the resources to be effective. In response, it was stated the whole of the partnership was held to account and any concerns would be raised directly with those organisations.

The Committee expressed their appreciation for the details of the report and to Gill Frame and the team for the action being taken.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a joint report of the Corporate Directors for Corporate & Support Services and Place Management & Regeneration.   

The Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs) sets out the policy priorities for 2020/21 which was adopted at the Budget Council Meeting in February 2020. This incorporates the shared outcomes from the Borough Plan alongside specific priorities of the Cabinet. These priorities, re-shaped to take account of One Stockport and Building Back Better (building on Covid19), are articulated within the Portfolio Agreements, which form the basis for regular in-year reporting. Portfolio and Corporate Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs and CPRRs) will assess progress against key objectives, priorities, outcomes and budgets, enabling Scrutiny Committees to hold the Cabinet to account and for the Cabinet to identify current and future risks to delivery. This report also presents the draft 2020/21 Agreements for the Adult Care and Health Portfolio.   

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 2020/21; 

(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 contact: Peter Owston, Strategy and Performance Manager on 0161 474 3274, or email peter.owston@stockport.gov.uk 

Paul Graham, Specialist Finance on 0161 474 4674, or email paul.graham@stockport.gov.uk

The Director for Adult Social Care and the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resource Report (PPRR) for the Children, Family Services and Education 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) and up to the end of October where possible. 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 Member for Adult Care and Health (Councillor Jude Wells) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.  

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Clarification was sought regarding family members being able to access care homes to see their relatives. In response, it was stated that there was a challenge to balance the human rights and the health issues aspect of the issues raised. It was also stated that a number of actions and a working model was in place with a pathway to establish the return of relatives to visit care homes.

·         It was commented that the impact on care homes has been devastating which resulted in a recovery position and working hard across all sectors to get the infection rate down. It was also stated that the visitation to care homes was a decision of the homes which would be supported by the sectors.

·         Members enquired about mental health following the pandemic including suicide attempts. In response, it was noted that it was a worry in Stockport and a number of offers have been identified for people to access and extending the interventions out into the communities including advertising, engaging and pointing people in the right direction proactively.

·         It was noted that there was a communities programme in place to work with neighbourhoods to ensure consistent messaging and to also disseminate information. It was also stated that posters and leaflets have been distributed to partners and the voluntary sector identifying a number of support groups and social media messaging has also been utilised including directing people to a number of websites with information.

·         Clarification was sought regarding the budget and the £5m deficit identified. In response, it was commented that it was due to the additional support provided to the care sector due to Covid-19.

·         Members enquired about the diabetes prevention scheme and the RAG rating for MRSA infection and C-difficile. In response it was stated that though it was a higher position and steps were taken to reduce these numbers, there was no overall concern.

·         There was a concern expressed regarding the various RAG ratings with red and amber and whether these could be improved upon going forward. In response, it was stated that due to the number of actions being taken including interrogating the system a bit more the outlook was positive and it would be improved in time.

The Committee expressed its appreciation for the dashboard and the engagement to date.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The update will build on the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) Update report presented to the Cabinet meeting in October to ensure the MTFP forecasts and assumptions continue to be robust and based on the latest information. This will include an update on the financial impact of announcements made since October including:

·         The ongoing national and local response to the COVID19 pandemic; and

·         The Government’s 2020 Spending Review.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Michael Cullen on 0161 474 4631 or email: michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) building on the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) Update report presented to the Cabinet meeting in October to ensure the MTFP forecasts and assumptions continued to be robust and based on the latest information.

The report included an update on the financial impact of announcements made since October including the ongoing national and local response to the COVID19 pandemic; and the Government’s 2020 Spending Review.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Health (Councillor Jude Wells) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.  

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Clarification was sought regarding the £25m gap and future financing within Adult Social Care. In response, it was stated that Adult Social Care has not had a financial settlement despite Stockport managing its finance very well. It was also noted Stockport were still waiting on the methodology from the Government, but there was a figure of £23.3m overspend for next year 2021/22 identified, but that would now be just over £8m following some funding from Government for the next financial year. Regarding the longer term there would be a more financial challenge going forward to 2022/23

·         It was commented that consideration needed to be given to the Council Tax Bands and the ordinary person that needed to pay it.

The Chair enquired about when the detailed proposals would be submitted to the Committee. In response, it was stated that the details would be submitted to a future meeting as part of the budget setting process of the Council in February 2021 and shared informally due to the Scrutiny cycle with the Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance).

The report sets out planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items that fall within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the information in the report and put forward any agenda items for future meetings of the Committee.  

Officer contact: Charles Yankiah, 0161 474 3206, charles.yankiah@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and any relevant Forward Plan items. 

The Chair informed the Committee of the Integrating Care Consultation that was still ‘live’ and invited views to be submitted by 8 January 2021.

The following comments were made/issues raised: -

·         A member requested that a report relating to “mental health services” be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee.

·         Councillor Jude Wells informed the Committee that she had met with the new CEO of the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, Karen James and she was keen to be involved in local governance and meet with the Committee and attend a future meeting.

The Committee expressed their appreciation to the officers, staff and partners for the work and effort that has gone into the last few months during the pandemic.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.  

(2) That the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance) be recommended to programme the following item into the Scrutiny Committee’s work programme for the 2020/21 Municipal Year:- 

·         Mental Health services

·         Stockport NHS Foundation Trust – CEO, Karen James