Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 8 May 2017.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 8 May 2017 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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.

No urgent decisions were reported.

To consider whether it is in the public to exclude the public during consideration of agenda item 14 (Setting Up a Charitable Subsidiary) which contains information “not for publication by virtue of paragraph 3 ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority)’ as set out in the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of information which was not for publication relating to the financial or business affairs of the any particular person (including the authority), the disclosure of which would not be in the public interest, would not be fair and would be in breach of Data Protection principles, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the ‘not for publication’ agenda items.

Members of the public are invited to put questions to the Chair on any matters within the powers and duties of the Committee, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice.  (Questions must be submitted prior to the commencement of the meeting on the card provided.  These are available at the meeting. You can also submit via the Council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/publicquestions)

Members of the public were invited to put questions to the Chair on any matters within the powers and duties of the Area Committee, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice.

No public questions were submitted.

To consider a report of the Assistant Chief Executive, Stockport Homes.

The Committee is invited to:-

·         note performance and improvement actions outlined in this report; and

·         raise any issues of concern about the explanations presented where targets or objectives have not been met.

Officer Contact: Jemma Russell on Tel: 474 4497 or email: Jemma.russell@stockporthomes.org

The Assistant Chief Executive, Stockport Homes submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a summary of performance against corporate indicators.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Whilst the report demonstrated that there were excellent customer service satisfaction levels, it was important to consider the views of those customers who were dissatisfied and their views should be analysed. Councillors suggested that it would be helpful to have a refresh on the methodology used for analysing customer satisfaction.

·         Councillors welcomed the fact that there had been an increase in the number of employees who had achieved 100% attendance.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Resources, Stockport Homes.

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

Officer Contact: Suzanne Whelan on Tel: 474 4410 or email: Suzanne.whelan@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Resources, Stockport Homes submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on Stockport Homes’ financial performance between April and May 2017.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The May management accounts for Stockport Homes Limited are reporting a year-end forecast surplus of £826,000.

·         Viaduct Partnerships Limited was showing large variances against income and expenditure in the year to date. This is due to a number of contracts that have not yet been novated over from Stockport Homes Ltd. These were due to be novated by the end of June.

·         Councillors sought an in respect to borrowing levels and the fixed asset base.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Assistant Chief Executive, Stockport Homes.

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

Officer Contact: Gill Bennett on Tel: 474 3823 or email: gill.bennett@stockporthomes.org

The Assistant Chief Executive, Stockport Homes submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on how Stockport Homes had delivered on its objectives in 2016/2017.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Councillors noted that performance against business critical measures and customer satisfaction indicators had been excellent.

·         Councillors asked for further information on the numbers of volunteers at the company and on the opportunities to gain full time employment.

·         The support provided to community groups was welcomed.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Operational Services, Stockport Homes.

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

Officer Contact: Geoff Binns on Tel: 474 3721 or email: Geoff.binns@stockporthomes.org

The Director of Operational Services, Stockport Homes submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on current issues relating to homelessness in the borough and associated work undertaken by Stockport Homes.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         There were 238 households deemed homeless or threatened with homelessness during 2016/17 who the local authority had a duty to provide accommodation to, an increase of 69 or 41% compared to 2015/16. Councillors expressed concern at the increased numbers as a result of the termination of tenancies in the private sector.

·         Councillors noted that at a sub-regional basis, a contract working with entrenched rough sleepers across Greater Manchester was also being tendered out by the Government during July 2017, and that Stockport Homes were exploring the submission of a bid with a number of local authority and third sector partners.

·         Councillors discussed the various causes of homelessness and welcomed the efforts made by Stockport Homes to prevent homelessness - Stockport Homes’ services managed to prevent homelessness in 771 instances during 16/17, 5% higher than the 730 recorded in 15/16.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Resources, Stockport Homes.

The Committee is invited to note and discuss the Group Income Collection Strategy 2017-2020 and associated action plan.

Officer Contact: Christian Hartlet on Tel: 474 2824 or email: christian.hartley@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Resources, Stockport Homes submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining for comment the Group Income Collection Strategy 2017-2020. The strategy had been developed by the Customer Finance Team to ensure that income collection continued to be effectively managed.

Councillors noted that there were a variety of payment methods which were working effectively and that the performance of Stockport Homes was good at a national level.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Assistant Chief Executive and Director of Operational Services, Stockport Homes.

The Committee is invited to note the contents of the report and raise any questions about the content presented in the report.

Officer cotnact: Rob Lloyd, 0161 474 3279, rob.lloyd@stockporthomes.org

The Assistant Chief Executive, Stockport Homes submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Committee on current levels of satisfaction and identifying service improvements based on feedback from tenants.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Councillors discussed problems relating to anti-social behaviour and sought assurance that customers who were demonstrating anti-social behaviours were being dealt with effectively. They also requested further clarification on the different approached utilised to deal with complaints.

·         All dissatisfaction related to ASB was investigated and in 72 per cent of cases Stockport Homes had either not been made aware of the anti-social behaviour, so didn’t have the opportunity to investigate, or the tenant was actually the perpetrator. In 28 per cent of cases Stockport Homes was aware of anti-social behaviour and took steps to resolve the issue, including installing noise monitoring equipment; taking legal action; and securing injunctions.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Corporate Services, Stockport Homes.

The Committee are invited to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Verity Calderbank on Tel: 474 2863 or email: verity.calderbank@stockporthomes.org

The Chief Executive, Stockport Homes submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on issues which may be of interest to the Committee including homelessness funding, an award of a gold standard for the Housing Options Team, Fire Safety, customers who were supported back into employment, an update in respect to the opening of the new headquarters and securing of external funding.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a verbal report of the Director of Corporate Services, Stockport Homes.

The Committee are invited to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Sandra Coleing on Tel: 474 2867 or email: sandra.coleing@stockporthomes.org

A representative of the Chief Executive, Stockport Homes, reported that meetings had been held with representative of the Clinical Commissioning Group and that a report would be submitted to the next meeting on opportunities for partnership working.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Assistant Chief Executive, Stockport Homes.

The Committee are invited to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Sandra Coleing on Tel: 474 2867 or email: sandra.coleing@stockporthomes.org

The Assistant Chief Executive submitted, Stockport Homes submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on progress made in respect to the setting up of a charitable subsidiary.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.