Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Communities & Sustainability)

The Council established Stockport Homes as Arm’s Length Management Organisation (ALMO) in 2005 to manage the housing stock owned by the Council.  This was a ten year agreement which is due to come to an end in October 2015. The ALMO has delivered its objectives and demonstrated excellence and value for money.  There is now a requirement for the Council to review whether the current arrangement addresses its future objectives. This report sets out the background and key elements of that process.

The Executive Meeting is recommended to

·         carry out an Option Appraisal during 2014 to determine the most appropriate method for managing the Council’s housing stock when its current arrangement with Stockport Homes ends in 2015

·         to agree the methodology for the appraisal as proposed in the report

·         to note the timelines proposed in the report.

Officer contact: Andy Kippax, 0161 474 4319, andy.kippax@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Communities & Sustainability) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider a proposed process for undertaking an Options Appraisal for the future management of the Council’s housing stock prior to the expiry of the current ten year agreement with Stockport Homes.

RESOLVED – That an Option Appraisal to determine the most appropriate method for managing the Council’s housing stock when its current arrangement with Stockport Homes ends in 2015 be undertaken during 2014 in accordance with the methodology and timelines proposed in the report.

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

Stockport Homes was established as an Arm’s Length Management Organisation (ALMO) in 2005 to manage the housing stock owned by Stockport Council.  This was a ten year agreement which is due to come to an end in October 2015. The ALMO has delivered its objectives and demonstrated excellence and value for money.  There is now a requirement for the Council to review whether the current arrangement addresses its future objectives.

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

Officer contact: Andy Kippax on 474 4319 or email: andy.kippax@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing proposals for the Council to review whether the current arrangement for the management of the Council’s housing stock by an Arm’s Length Management Organisation (Stockport Homes) addressed the Council’s future objectives.

It was reported that the Council would be seeking to undertake an ‘Options Appraisal’ which would allow the Council to transparently compare ways of managing the housing stock and ultimately select the one that would deliver optimal long term value for money.

The Executive Councillor for Communities and Sustainability (Councillor Stuart Bodsworth) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

Concern was expressed in relation to the proposed composition of the Steering Group (Project Board) and Officer Working Group (Project Group) with particular regard to the Chief Executive of Stockport Homes being a member of both bodies.  It was commented that as the Steering Group was responsible for proposing an evaluation criteria which would ultimately be used to determine the future management of the Council’s housing stock, the direct involvement of the Council’s current arm’s length management organisation could potentially be seen to compromise the impartiality and integrity of this process.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.