Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services

The report sets out the Executive’s a draft response to the recommendations made by the Corporate, Resource Management & Governance and Adult Care Services & Housing Scrutiny Committees as part of its Scrutiny Review "Impact of Welfare Reform”

The Executive Meeting had considered the response at its meeting on 17 June 2014 and the Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services) (Councillor Iain Roberts) had reported that Stockport Local assistance scheme (SLAS)  is working on a partnership agreement with the Credit Union which would build capacity to enable the provision of more affordable sources of credit.  SLAS is developing proposals for a one off developmental grant to enable the Credit Union to establish the necessary infrastructure to deliver this. The aim was to enable the Credit Union to be a credible alternative to loan sharks. To do this they needed the capacity to make on the spot decisions about a loan rather than taking a number of days as the current situation.  

He had also reported that The Executive supported the idea of providing free Wi-Fi access in all Council and other public buildings and he had asked officers to report back to him of the feasibility of such a development.

The Executive approved the response subject to the inclusion of amendments reported at the meeting by the Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services) and requested that its gratitude and appreciation be recorded for the work undertaken by members of the scrutiny review panel and supporting staff involved in the review.

Officer contact: Alison Blount, 0161 474 5107, alison.blount@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the Executive’s a draft response to the recommendations made by the Corporate, Resource Management & Governance and Adult Care Services & Housing Scrutiny Committees as part of its Scrutiny Review "Impact of Welfare Reform”

It was reported that the Executive at its meeting on 17 June 2014 had approved the response and requested that its gratitude and appreciation be recorded for the work undertaken by members of the scrutiny review panel and supporting staff involved in the review.

The Deputy Executive Leader and Portfolio holder for Corporate, Customer and Community Services (Councillor Ian Roberts) attended the meeting to answer member’s questions.

The following comments/ issues were made:

·         There was a need for more qualitative data on the impact of welfare reform.

·         The Scrutiny Committee requested an update on discussions with the Strategic Housing Partnership about extending SHL initiatives

·         The Scrutiny Committee requested more information about improvements to accessing information about the SLAS on the Council website

·         The Scrutiny Committee welcomed the support given to Penny Lane Pantry and would wish to see the model extended further.

·         The Scrutiny Committee requested more specific information about how the capacity of the Credit Union is being developed

·         The Scrutiny Committee requested an update on the feasibility of providing free Wi-Fi access in all public buildings.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Executive’s response be noted.

(2) That the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services be requested to submit a further report in relation to the implementation of the recommendations to this Scrutiny Committee on 27 January 2015.