Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Executive Councillors (Communities and Sustainability)

The report updates the Executive on progress with the review of the management arrangements to determine the best option for the management of the housing stock owned by the Council after the ten year agreement following the establishment of an Arms Length Management Organisation comes to an end in October 2015.

The Executive is requested to note the progress made to date with the Options Appraisal process and approve the evaluation criteria and the options being considered.

Officer contact: Andy Kippax on 0161 474 4319 or email: andy.kippax@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Economic Development & Regeneration) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Executive on progress with the review of the management arrangements to determine the best option for the management of the housing stock owned by the Council after the ten year agreement following the establishment of an Arm’s Length Management Organisation comes to an end in October 2015.

RESOLVED – (1) That the progress made to date with the Options Appraisal process be noted.

(2) That stock transfer be discounted from any further evaluation and the next stage of the evaluation should focus on the options of:

·         retaining ownership of the housing stock and using the existing ALMO, Stockport Homes, to manage it; or

·         retaining ownership of the housing stock but bringing its management back ‘in house’.

(3) That the evaluation criteria and assessment process detailed in the report be adopted.

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

The Options Appraisal process methodology and project plan was approved at the Executive Meeting on the 17 December 2013.  The methodology proposed an Officer Working Group reporting to a Project Board lead by the Council’s Chief Executive Officer.  This structure has been adopted.  It also detailed the appointment of an Independent Tenant Advisor and schedule of tenant involvement and consultation.  Again, this approach has been implemented. 

This report details activity undertaken since and proposals for the next phase of the project, including: 

·         The updated project plan; 

·         Financial viability and options to be taken forward for further consideration; 

·         Customer involvement and consultation, and ; 

·         The evaluation criteria and assessment. 

Approval for the proposals, taking consideration of the views of this Scrutiny Committee, will be sought at the Executive Meeting on the 15 July 2014.

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

Officer contact: Andy Kippax on 0161 474 4319 or email: andy.kippax@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on activity undertaken since the approval of the Housing Stock Options Appraisal process methodology by the Executive on 17 December 2013 and the proposals for the next phase of the project.

The Executive Councillor (Economic Development & Regeneration) attended the meeting to answer Members’ questions.

·        The extent to which the evaluation criteria had been based on proven examples of best practice around the country was discussed.  In response it was stated that the proposed criteria had been informed by what had happened elsewhere but were bespoke to Stockport.

·        Transparency and democratic accountability needed to be embedded within whichever structure was adopted for the management of the Council’ housing stock in the future.

·        It was requested that details of the consultation with tenants be circulated to members of the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – (1) That this Scrutiny Committee supports the proposed removal of the stock transfer option from any further evaluation as part of the Housing Stock Options Appraisal process.

(2) That this Scrutiny Committee endorses the proposed evaluation criteria and the assessment process to be used to consider the remaining two options.