Agenda and minutes

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

The following declarations of interest were made.

Personal Interest

Councillor                                                     Interest

Peter Burns                                                   Any discussions relating to Wellspring as                                                                      member of the Wellspring Board.

Members of the public are invited to put questions to the Chair of the Committee 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 cards provided. These are available the meeting and at local libraries and information centres.  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 Committee, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice.

No public questions were submitted.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The report sets out the arrangements for the Committee in considering the performance of Stockport Homes.

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

Officer Contact: Craig Ainsworth on Tel: 474 3204 or email: craig.ainsworth@stockport.gov.uk

The Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out proposed working arrangements for the Committee to consider the performance of Stockport Homes. Following a review of Council’s partner organisations, the Council Meeting in May 2013 had determined not to appoint representative to those bodies, rather creating an inclusive cross party Committee to monitor their performance. The report set out the arrangements for monitoring the performance of Stockport Homes.

RESOLVED – That

(i) subject to further clarification being added to the “main responsibilities table” as detailed under section 2.5 of the report, the roles and responsibilities of the Stockport Homes Member Committee be agreed,

(ii) the Committee notes the decision of the Council to relinquish its right to nominate four Councillors to the Stockport Homes Board; and

(iii) Stockport Homes Ltd be requested to make any appropriate amendments to its Memorandum and Articles of Association.

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

The report provides an update on new items, activities, issues, developments and successes that have taken place since the Stockport Homes Board last met in September 2013.

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

Officer Contact: Helen McHale on Tel: 474 2865 or email: helen.mchale@stockporthomes.org

The Chief Executive (Stockport Homes Ltd) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the activities of the company, development and successes which had taken place since September 2013. The report also outlined issues considered by the companies Business Development sub group and the Service Excellence Sub Group.

The following issues were raised/ comments made:-

·         Councillors welcomed the information provided in the report and suggested that in future the report should place a greater emphasis on finance and corporate performance.

·         It was noted that (i) the HRA Business Plan was continually being updated to account for the changes in rent policy and the higher number of Right To Buys (ii) the capital investment programme for 2013/2014 included an additional £3 million to contribute to the Energy Companies Obligation.

·         It was agreed that a report be submitted to the next meeting on the work already undertaken and on future plans for expanding Affordable Housing provision.

·         Councillors requested a detailed organisational chart of key officers in the company.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

RESOLVED – That the Democratic Services Manager be requested to make arrangements for meetings of the Committee to be held in April 2014/ July 2014 and October 2014.