Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 25 February 2020.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 25 February 2020 were approved as a correct record.

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 a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

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 2019/20;

·         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; and

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

Officer contact: -

Peter Owston, Strategy and Performance Manager (CSS)

peter.owston@stockport.gov.uk  (474 3274)

Paul Graham, CSS Manager (Specialist) Finance

paul.graham@stockport.gov.uk  (474 4674)

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the annual Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRR) for the delivery of 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 Member for Adult Care and Health (Councillor Jude Wells) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised: -

·         The Committee expressed its thanks and appreciation to the work done and response to Covid-19 by Stockport and key workers across the borough.

·         It was noted that people were not visiting their GP to report symptoms of cancer due to Covid-19 which would result in the performance reported changing dramatically due to symptoms not being reported. It was commented that discussions were well underway with the CCGs and a lot of work was being done to encourage residents to return to GP surgeries and report symptoms.

·         It was noted that the results reported for Active Neighbourhoods was welcomed, but clarification was sought regarding the £0.49m underspend with the Stockport Local Assistance Scheme (SLAS). It was commented that the underspend related to staffing and not to services, but there was a huge humanitarian effort taking place across the borough to support residents through technology and other aid which was ongoing.

·         It was noted that the smoking cessation interventions had worked well and been successful and the beneficial socio-economic impact it might have. It was commented that there were different level of interventions based upon lifestyle choices, access to education and other determinants by looking at the entire individual. It was also stated that the tobacco alliance has been re-instituted across Stockport to support the smoking cessation.

·         It was noted that the diabetes intervention programme should be encouraged to continue with this programme as it had proven successful. However, the target for life expectancy was low. It was commented that it was a healthy life expectancy rating and was self-reported through a survey.

·         Clarification was sought relating to the deprivation of liberty safeguards and the current ratings. It was commented that due to a lack of resource available at the time resulted in the rating, but work is underway with the Government to look at resources and capacity.

·         Clarification was sought relating to the transfer of care ratings. It was commented that the delays were attributable to adult social care and its performance.

·         It was noted that there 57 indicators with downward/ upward arrows, with 20 downward arrows and it was queried whether any consideration was given to the number of downward arrows. It was commented that the general trend was for improvements to take place across all areas and to meet those targets.

·         Clarification was sought relating to Liquid Logic and where it was up to. It was commented that it was agreed for the delivery date on 1 April 2020 to remain and it was launched. The system had to transition and migrate to the new system which was successful and Liquid Logic was not only a database for case records, but it also managed the Council’s invoicing, charging and payments system for Adult Social Care.

RESOLVED -  (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That following the Diabetes Scrutiny Review in February 2020, the draft report be submitted to the next meeting for consideration.

To consider a joint report of the Cabinet Members for Sustainable Stockport and Inclusive Neighbourhoods.

This report provides an overview of the Council’s response to date, building on regular updates received directly by members and including detail relating to the remit of this committee, and a view of how this response will be developing over the coming weeks and months.

The Scrutiny Committee are invited to:-

·         Discuss and note this report and the response to date; and

·         Note the commitment to return to Scrutiny with information about future phases of response.

Officer contact: Kathryn Rees, 07989208640 or email: kathryn.rees@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated providing an overview of the Council’s response to date to the Covid-19 pandemic, building on regular updates received directly by members and including detail relating to the remit of this committee and a view of how this response would be developed over the coming weeks and months.

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

The following comments were made/issues raised: -

·         The Committee expressed their thanks to Stockport for the financial support, advice and guidance being made available across Stockport for the Adult Social Care sectors including financial and dispersal of PPE via the Town Hall with support and immense work from the frontline staff.  It was noted that the support to community groups, through humanitarian aid and financial support

·         Track and trace was explained by the Director of Public Health and local residents were encouraged to be vigilant and follow the guidance that had been produced including, if symptomatic, then ‘self-isolate’ and request a Covid-19 test which could now be ordered.

·         Clarification was sought relating to the death in care home figures and discharging from hospitals in Stockport. It was commented that the impact of the care homes deaths was shown in the media, but Stockport was not in-equal in anyway, despite the terrible number of deaths.

·         Clarification was sought relating to the improvements being made for the quick turnaround of test results. It was commented that the turnaround was over 90% within the timescales and it was improving to get within 70% for a 24 hour turnaround.

·         It was noted that coming out of lockdown, would have an impact on many people including the elderly, but what was being done. It was commented that there were wider impacts across the borough relating to those shielding, self-isolating and what that meant coming out of lockdown and it was being monitored and supported accordingly.

·         Clarification was sought relating to the measures taken to address the inequalities relating to Covid-19 e.g. poorer communities and the BAME communities. It was commented that the approach was to look across the entire sector of inequality and make improvements and interventions. It was also stated that the Health & Wellbeing Board would also be prioritising this issue and reframing its purpose to look at this in more detail.

·         Clarification was sought on the impact on care homes and the care homes staff and the reasoning with the ‘R’ rating as it varied. It was commented that the occupancy levels in care homes in Stockport was up to 97% but there were then significant drops to 87% in occupancy on care homes which resulted in financial difficulties. It was also stated that the Council received £16m as a response to Covid-19 across Stockport. All providers were informed about incurring additional costs and Stockport considered those claims proactively with a robust approach. It was also stated, that the ‘R’ was a calculation of many other factors with differing degrees of variability with some being modelled. The figures are important as it indicates the speed, rate and pace of transmission.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Statutory Scrutiny Officer.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to give consideration to possible topics for further consideration during the 2020/21 municipal year. Suggestions will be considered and subject to a further decision at the next meeting in July 2020 when the Scrutiny Committee will be invited to make a formal recommendation to the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee as part of the Scrutiny Work Programme.

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 Deputy Chief Executive 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.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Deputy Chief Executive be recommended to include the following items into the Scrutiny Committee’s work programme for the 2020/21 Municipal Year: -

·         Provision of Community Based Services - Joint Scrutiny with Corporate, Resource Management & Governance Scrutiny Committee

·         CQC Report on Stockport NHS Foundation Trust

·         Diabetes Review Draft Report

·         Volunteer Sector – delivery of services across Stockport