Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 2016.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 7 March 2016 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers to declare any interests which they have in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made.

To consider whether it is in the public to exclude the public during consideration of the Agenda Item 7 ‘Land at Former St Thomas' Hospital Site, Stockport’ an appendix to which contains information “not for publication” by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) as it contained information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority).

RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of information that was ‘not for publication’ by virtue of paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) in that it contained ‘information relating to the financial or business affairs of an individual (including the Council)’, the disclosure of which would not be in the public interest and would breach Data Protection principals, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the appendix to Agenda Item 7 ‘Land at Former St Thomas' Hospital Site, Stockport’.

To consider call-in items (if any).

There were no call-in items to consider.

This item has been placed on the agenda following a request made by the Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 2 November 2015.

Michelle Hill and Lisa Spencer from the Alliance for Positive Relationships (APR) will attend the meeting to provide an overview of the work undertaken so far by the APR and to provide the Scrutiny Committee with details of work that is planned for the future.

Lisa Spencer and Maria Greenwood from the Alliance for Positive Relationships (APR) attended the meeting to provide an overview of the work undertaken so far by the APR and to provide the Scrutiny Committee with details of work that was planned for the future.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Further information was requested on the number of service users that had referred themselves.

·         A discussion took place in relation to the availability of counselling services, and it was stated that while this was a service that was not directly offered through the APR, there were alternative routes through to counselling services.

·         Work was ongoing to establish an effective communications strategy for the APR.

RESOLVED – That Lisa Spencer and Maria Greenwood be thanked for their attendance.

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

This is the Annual Portfolio Performance and Resource Report (PPRR) for the Independence and Wellbeing Portfolio, The report provides an update on key activity during the fourth and final quarter of the year, with a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priority outcomes through the Investing in Stockport programme and other key projects since the mid-year report. It includes out-turn performance and financial data for the Portfolio, along with an update on the portfolio savings programme.

Scrutiny Committee is invited to:

·         Consider the Annual Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports;   

·         Review the progress against delivering key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets during 2015/16;

·         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 Executive alongside the Corporate Performance and Resource Report;

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

Officer contacts: Supporting Adults (Karen Kime/ Joyer Gibson on 474 3574/ 5875 or email: karen.kime@stockport.gov.uk/ joyer.gibson@stockport.gov.uk

Thriving Economy (Joe Conmee/ Michael Cullen on 474 5396/ 4631 or email: joseph.conmee@stockport.gov.uk/ michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk

Representatives of the Corporate Director for Services to People and the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a joint report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the Annual Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports for the Supporting Adults and Thriving Economy Portfolios.  The report provided a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, budgets and capital programmes during 2015/16, and included out-turn performance and financial data for the Portfolio. The report also included a progress report and updated risk assessment of the portfolio savings programmes.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care (Councillor Wendy Wild) and the Executive Councillor for Communities & Housing (Councillor Sheila Baiiley) attended the meeting to answer Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

Supporting Adults

·         There remained outstanding issues to be resolved with regard to accommodation for the eight neighbourhood teams established under the Stockport Together programme.

·         With regard to the outsourcing of learning disability tenancies it was stated that any reprovision would seek to match what was currently in place and this would be closely monitored.

·         It was queried whether the Council sought to reuse equipment provided by the Equipment, Adaptions and Sensory Loss Service.  In response it was stated that any large pieces of equipment were reused.

·         In response to a question about the Council’s commitment to Borough Care, it was stated that the Council was seeking to invest in the renovation of the Borough Care estate.

·         The potential future use of earmarked reserves was raised.

Thriving Economy

·         It was stated that the Council’s contract with United Utilities to collect water charges had been operating well and remained beneficial for all parties.  It was reported that there had been a recent court case in relation to the third party collection of water charges and the Council was assessing the impact of this, although the circumstances of the case differed from the Council’s position.

·         The impact of changes to housing benefit payments upon the Housing Revenue Account was discussed and the mitigating effects provided by the Council’s policies to assist and support tenants.

RESOLVED - That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The report outlines the proposed acquisition of a site from NHS Property Services via Seddon Regeneration to facilitate a residential development. Adult Care Services & Housing Scrutiny Committee is asked to review the report and appendices and to agree to seek Executive approval as outlined in the report.

NOTE: This report contains a confidential appendix which has been circulated to members of the Scrutiny Committee only.

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

Officer contact: Murray Carr on 0161-474-3019 or email: murray.carr@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a proposed acquisition of a site from NHS Property Services via Seddon Regeneration to facilitate a residential development on land at the former St Thomas' Hospital Site, Stockport.

The Executive Councillor for Communities & Housing (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to answer Members’ questions.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

This is a standing item which has been placed on the agenda at the request of the Scrutiny Committee on 21 September 2015 to allow officers to provide an update on any developments with regard to recent announcements from the government relating to social housing.

Officer contact: Andy Kippax on 474 4319 or email: andy.kippax@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the likely impact of recent policy announcements including the Housing Bill 2015 and the Comprehensive Spending Review with regard to social housing since the last meeting of the Scrutiny Committee on 7 March 2016.

The Executive Councillor for Communities & Housing (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to answer Members’ questions.

It was suggested that the recent announcement that lifetime tenancies would be phased out in favour of fixed term tenancies would increase the number of tenants exercising the right to buy.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.                                                        

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: Damian Eaton 474 3207 email: damian.eaton@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the planned items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items which fell within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.