Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Director of Adult Services.

The report provides an overview of the objectives of the Support Housing Improvement Programme and provides an update on the current progress.

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

Officer contact: Emma Knight by email: emma.knight@stockport.gov.uk and Emma Bowe by email: emma.bowe@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Adult Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of the objectives of the Support Housing Improvement Programme and an update on the current progress.

The Cabinet Member for Health & Adult Social Care (Councillor Keith Holloway) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Members welcomed the report and news that the council was awarded funding from the Department of Levelling up to support a three-year Supported Housing Improvement Programme.

·         It was queried why Stockport had a disproportionate amount of supported accommodation that was funded through individual service funds.

·         In response, it was stated that individual service funds were part of personal budgets lodged by a third party on behalf of an individual to manage the more bureaucratic parts of the process. It was commented that this created additional burdens on the service area relating to oversight to ensure that the funds were being lodged appropriately and utilised as they should be.

·         It was queried whether Stockport had a disproportionate number of properties in poor housing conditions.

·         In response, it was commented that there were housing condition concerns on a range of properties and part of the work included ensuring that the service had the capacity and infrastructure to undertake housing standard inspections which would help determine whether Stockport had a disproportionate number of properties in poor housing conditions. It was noted that the death of a young child in Rochdale as a result of poor housing conditions had prompted housing associations to look in more detail at the conditions of their properties and strengthen their monitoring arrangements to reduce the risk of this happening again in the future.

·         Members raised concerns in relation to the reference that vulnerable adults who had not had any assessments of their needs were in unsatisfactory or poor housing conditions and queried why this work was only taking place now.

·         In response, it was stated that an assessment was undertaken for any individual known to social care and if a housing need or issue was identified, the service would do their best to respond. However, it was acknowledged that there was a shortage in good quality accommodation and work was underway with housing associations to respond to this issue.

·         Members requested an update in relation to the proposed supported housing development in the Bredbury Green & Romiley ward.

·         In response to a query around whether there would be periodic reviews of the data held relating to inspections, it was confirmed that data in respect of all inspections of accommodation and actions required and taken would be reviewed as part of a rolling programme.

·         It was noted that the Supported Housing Improvement Programme would support the duty of councils to look at services commissioned by other councils within their area as part of the new CQC regulations.

·         Members noted the strong link between good quality housing and health outcomes.

·         In relation to the reference that in late 2022 there were 108 properties providing 481 placements across Stockport where exempt rent levels were being claimed for accommodation to support individuals who had a learning disability or mental health need, it was queried how demand was going to be met.

·         In response, it was commented that as part of the Supported Housing Strategy, a needs assessment, analysis and modelling would be undertaken to understand demand and noted that as more young people transitioned to adulthood there would be an increase in demand. Therefore, it was important to ensure that robust relationships and processes were in place to make certain that there was an available supply of appropriate standard and suitable properties.

·         It was stated that there had been some modelling undertaken across Greater Manchester to understand the collective development requirement which would be used to develop the local supported and specialist housing strategy and signal to the housing market the demand  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6