Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 5 March 2012.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 5 March 2012 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.

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

The following interests were declared:-

Personal Interests

To consider call-in items (if any).

There were no call-in items to consider.

The report details a review that has been undertaken in order to meet new national requirements and to develop a clear vision for the customer involvement service.  This strategy provides a framework for priority actions needed in the short and medium term to develop a service which not only meets current needs, but will be appropriate in the future.

It covers a three year period from 2012 to 2015, but will be kept under review and updated at the end of each year. This Strategy details where Stockport Homes is at the moment and where Stockport Homes wants to be over the next three years, setting out priorities for customer involvement and how these will be achieved.

The action plan lists the areas of work to be undertaken during the next three years.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on the new Customer Involvement Strategy. 

Officer contact: Samantha Hill on 474 2861 or e-mail: samantha.hill@stockporthomes.org

Sandra Coleing (Director of Corporate Service, Stockport Homes ) and Samantha Hill (Customer Involvement Manager, Stockport Homes) attended the meeting and made a presentation in relation to the review of the current Customer Involvement Strategy that had been undertaken in order to meet new national requirements and to develop a clear vision for the customer involvement service.  It was stated that the strategy would provide a framework for priority actions needed in the short and medium term to develop a service which not only met current needs, but would be appropriate in the future.

The Strategy covered a three year period from 2012 to 2015, but it was stated that it would be kept under review and updated at the end of each year.  The Strategy detailed where Stockport Homes was at the moment and where Stockport Homes wanted to be over the next three years, setting out priorities for customer involvement and how those would be achieved.  The action plan also listed the areas of work to be undertaken during the next three years.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         A discussion took place around the membership of the various customer engagement bodies established by Stockport Homes and how the recruitment for these took place.  It was stated that there had been an evolution of the mechanisms by which Stockport Homes sought to consult and engage with tenants with a particular emphasis on making the process more interactive and customer lead.  It was further reported that through the various events and initiatives undertaken by Stockport Homes, over 1,100 tenants had signed up to be included on the Customer Involvement Database.

·         It was important that Stockport Homes remained flexible in its arrangements for customer involvement.  It was noted that in the past Stockport Homes had arranged events in the evenings; provided childcare and developed an online discussion forum and Facebook pages to provide as many avenues as possible for tenants to engage.

·         Concern was expressed with regard to customer complaints around anti-social behaviour and that this was not explicitly focussed on in the report.  In response it was stated that Stockport Homes had a specific strategy in respect of anti-social behaviour, and copies would be circulated to members of the Scrutiny Committee.

·         Stockport Homes worked with a number of partners and agencies in relation to homelessness in the Borough.

·         Members noted the work being undertaken to encourage older people to develop skills using new technology, but commented that it was important to ensure that by emphasising digital inclusion this did not lead to social isolation.  In response it was stated that a great deal of work had been done around isolation amongst older people and that ICT classes had been undertaken in group sessions with social events often being linked with those classes.

·         It was commented that the transition from Area Forums to Community Count Events had resulted in a reduction in the number of opportunities residents had to engage with Stockport Homes.  However, this was complemented by a Boroughwide Roadshow during which the Community Fund was promoted.

·         The development of the current range of mechanisms by which tenants could become more involved had been led by a greater understanding and appreciation of what tenants considered worked in the past and what hadn’t.

·         The aims of the Strategy were laudable, but recognition needed to be given to the fact that the vast majority of tenants did not want to engage or become more involved.  It was further commented that residents’ concerns in relation to Stockport Homes were around issues of anti-social behaviour and criminality in their neighbourhoods rather than customer involvement.

·         The methods by which the success of the Customer Involvement Strategy would be measured was discussed which included the difference made to tenants’ lives which would be assessed by using a wide range of indicators and from the responses to the biannual Customer Satisfaction Survey.

RESOLVED –  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To consider the final report of the Scrutiny Review Panel – Safeguarding and Personalisation in Adult Social Care.

This report is the draft final report of the Scrutiny Review Panel – Safeguarding and Personalisation in Adult Social Care.  Personalisation and direct payments offer an opportunity for people to make decisions about their own care and what best suits their needs.  It also presents an opportunity for people to be cared for by friends, relatives or by choosing to employ agency staff.  For many people it provides an independence they might not otherwise have had.  However, with increased independence comes increased risk and we have to be as sure as we can be that the Council’s safeguarding procedures are as effective as possible and that detailed monitoring and auditing of expenditure is undertaken to ensure that proper procedures are followed. 

The review proposes a series of recommendations which the Review Panel considered could enhance the robust safeguards already in place.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment upon the draft Final Report prior to its submission to the Executive.

Officer contact: Gaynor Alexander on 474 3186 or email: gaynor.alexander@stockport.gov.uk

(NOTE: The Chair was of the opinion that this item, although not included on the agenda, should be considered as a matter of urgency in accordance with Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 in order to allow the Scrutiny Committee to comment upon the Final Report of the Scrutiny Review prior to its consideration by the Executive at its meeting on 9 July 2012).

The Chair of the Scrutiny Committee submitted the final report of the Scrutiny Review Panel – ‘Safeguarding and Personalisation in Adult Social Care’ (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the findings of the Scrutiny Review and proposing a series of recommendations which the Review Panel considered could enhance the robust safeguards already in place.

RESOLVED – That the Final Report and recommendations of the Scrutiny Review Panel – ‘Safeguarding and Personalisation in Adult Social Care’ be endorsed and referred to the Executive for consideration.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to note the résumés of the meeting of the Adult Education, Skills and Employability Partnership held on 1 March and 19 April 2012.

Officer contact: Viki Shaw Tel: 474 3209; e-mail: viki.shaw@stockport.gov.uk

The Scrutiny Committee considered résumés (copies of which had been circulated) of the meetings of the Adult Education, Skills and Employability Partnership held on 1 March and 19 April 2012.

RESOLVED – (1) That the résumés of the meetings of the Adult Education, Skills and Employability Partnership held on 1 March and 19 April 2012 be noted.

(2) That the Service Director (Place Development) be requested to submit a report to a future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee detailing the Terms of Reference of the Adult Education, Skills and Employability Partnership and its budget for the 2011/12 and 2012/13 financial years, including details of the contributors to that budget.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to note the résumé of the meeting of the Safer Stockport Partnership held on 14 February 2012.

Officer contact: Viki Shaw Tel: 474 3209; e-mail: viki.shaw@stockport.gov.uk

The Scrutiny Committee considered a résumé (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting of the Safer Stockport Partnership held on 14 February 2012.

RESOLVED – (1) That the résumé of the meeting of the Safer Stockport Partnership held on 14 February 2012 be noted.

(2) That the Service Director (Place Development) be requested to submit a report to a future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee detailing the Terms of Reference of the Safer Stockport Partnership and its budget for the 2011/12 and 2012/13 financial years, including details of the contributors to that budget.

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.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The Scrutiny Committee would be selecting a topic for Review at its next meeting on 23 July 2012, and members were requested to give consideration to those areas which may be suitable.

·         The ‘Retention of Right to Buy Receipts’ was scheduled to be considered by the Scrutiny Committee at its next meeting.

·         The Scrutiny Committee should receive a report to a future meeting to allow the Scrutiny Committee to give detailed consideration to the services provided by Borough Care which would include its management practices; the impact of the closures of Belmont Court and Lisburne Court homes and an evaluation of the short term residential care provided by Borough Care.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.