Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 21 January 2019.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 21 January 2019 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.

No declarations were made.

To consider call-in items (if any).

There were no call-in items to consider.

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

Under the long term Management Agreement with Stockport Council, Stockport Homes is required to provide a five year Delivery Plan.  The Delivery Plan for the period 2016 – 2021 was approved by the Council Executive in 2016 and it was agreed that in addition to an annual report on progress against the five yearly plan, a mid-term review of the Delivery plan would also be carried out with a report submitted to the relevant Scrutiny Committee.

This report details the mid-term review that was undertaken by Officers from Stockport Homes and the Council to agree any changes in emphasis without the need for a new Delivery Plan and to ensure that the Delivery Plan continues to meet the wider strategic objectives of the Council.

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

Officer contact: Mark Glynn on 0161-474-3700 or email: mark.glynn@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the mid-term review that was undertaken by officers from Stockport Homes and the Council to agree any changes in emphasis without the need for a new Delivery Plan and to ensure that the Delivery Plan continues to meet the wider strategic objectives of the Council.

The Cabinet Member for Communities & Housing (Councillor Sheila Bailey) also attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         In response to a question in relation to the work being undertaken by Stockport Homes to ensure that elderly residents are able to continue to live independently in the community, it was stated that Stockport Homes operated the Disabled Facilities Grant scheme on behalf of the Council to provide adaptations in private properties, in addition to a similar scheme for Council-owned houses.  It was stated that there was no waiting list in operation for either of those schemes.  It was also stated that Stockport Homes would work with residents to ensure that they lived in a property that was right for their circumstances.

·         The Council was seeking to redevelop the sheltered housing scheme at Edinburgh Close into an extra care facility.

·         A discussion took place in relation to the potential for the conversion of existing high rise accommodation into retirement facilities.

·         It was suggested that it would be useful for the committee to receive a report at a future meeting in relation to the work taking place to help people move into more suitably-sized accommodation.

·         There needed to be a range of accommodation types available across the Borough to cater for the varying needs of an ageing population.

·         It was noted that 2017/18 had seen a net increase in the number of Council-owned properties as a result of the work taking place through Viaduct Housing.

·         In response to a query about fire mitigation measures in high-rise properties, it was stated that Stockport Homes had undertaken Type 4 Fire Risk Assessments in 2013 that had informed the capital programme for the past five years which had included compartmentalisation works.  Further Type 4 assessments had been undertaken this year which had identified a series of minor works that needed to be undertaken and which had been included within the capital programme.

·         It was suggested that some of the language used could disincentivse people from from taking up housing choices; for example the use of ‘retirement homes’ instead of ‘sheltered housing’.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report provides an update on progress with the feasibility study and the development of the outline business case of the Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report and associated presentation and note that a full report on the Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan outline business case will be considered at the Council meeting on the 28 March prior to the Cabinet meeting on the 29 March.

Officer contact: Mark Glynn on 0161 474 3700 or email: mark.glynn@stockport.gov.uk or Sue Stevenson on 0161 474 4351 or email:

 sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on progress with the feasibility study and the development of the outline business case of the Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan

The Cabinet Member for Communities & Housing (Councillor Sheila Bailey) also attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The omission of the airport from within any of the discussion on clean air was regrettable and ignored one of the single biggest contributors to poor air quality in the Borough.

·         The exclusion of Highways England from the scope of the government’s approach to improving air quality was difficult to understand.

·         Improvements to public transport, and in particular the expansion of the number of alternatives available to motorists should be explored further, with particular regard to the extension of Metrolink into the Borough.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report provides a regular update to the Communities and Housing Scrutiny Committee on the support offered to current and former members of the armed forces, reservists and their families as part of our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to note the contents of this report and our future plans to support the armed forces community in Stockport.

Officer contact: Shamim Miah on 0161 474 4387 or email: shamim.miah@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Scrutiny Committee’s regular update on the support offered to current and former members of the armed forces, reservists and their families as part of the Council’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.

The Cabinet Member for Communities & Housing (Councillor Sheila Bailey) also attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The Armed Forces Covenant Steering Group met on a quarterly basis and was Chaired by the Mayor.

·         The Council offered a signposting service to ensure that former service personnel were able to engage with appropriate services.

·         Further information was requested on the number of ex-service personnel that were resident in the Borough.

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 on 0161 474 3207 or email: damian.eaton@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out planned agenda items for the scrutiny committee’s next meeting any relevant Forward Plan items.

It was reported that it was anticipated that items relating to the Active Community Strategy (including the Walking & Cycling Strategy) and an update on the Highways Improvement Programme would be included as items on the agenda for the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.