Issue - meetings

To consider a joint report of the Corporate Director for Services to People and Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The report details the Final Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports for the Supporting Adults and Thriving Economy Portfolios.  These provide an update on key activity during the third quarter of the year, with a summary of progress in delivering portfolio priority outcomes through the Investing in Stockport programme and other key projects since the mid-year report. They include forecast performance data (where this is available) and projected financial data for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programmes. 

In addition to the Supporting Adults Portfolio, the Committee is also asked to review the housing elements of the Thriving Economy Portfolio Report, with the remainder of this being considered separately by the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee.   

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

(i)         Consider the Final Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports;  

(ii)        Review the progress against delivering key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 2015/16;

(iii)       Highlight key areas of and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any performance or resource issues;

(iv)      Highlight any significant issues or changes to be fed back to the Executive alongside the Corporate Performance and Resource Report;

(v)       Identify how areas of strong performance and good practice can be shared in other services.

Officer contacts: Supporting Adults (Karen Kime/ Joyer Gibson on 474 3574/ 5875 or email: karen.kime@stockport.gov.uk/ joyer.gibson@stockport.gov.uk

Thriving Economy (Joe Conmee/ Michael Cullen on 474 5396/ 4631 or email: joseph.conmee@stockport.gov.uk/ michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk

Representatives of the Corporate Director for People and Chief Executive submitted a joint report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the third quarter Portfolio Performance and Resources Reports for the Supporting Adults Portfolio and the housing element of the Thriving Economy Portfolio.  The report provided a summary of progress in delivering the priority outcomes through the Investing in Stockport Programme and other key projects during the third quarter of 2015/16, with updates on key activity, and included forecast performance data and projected financial data for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programmes.

The Executive Councillors for Supporting Adults (Councillor Keith Holloway) and Thriving Economy (Councillor Patrick McAuley) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

Supporting Adults

·         In response to questions about bringing Learning Disability placements back to Stockport based provision, it was stated that it was the aspiration for all such placements to be Stockport based, but that decisions would be based on an individual’s need, and that in some circumstances appropriate provision might not be available in the borough. It was also commented that nationally long-stay hospital provision was likely to be phased out, and that care was needed to ensure the significant needs of any of these clients were met.

·         Concerns were expressed about recent press reports that GP groups were seeking to end visits to patients in care homes, and clarification was sought as to the impact on Stockport should such a policy be adopted. In response it was stated that it was unlikely that such a policy would be adopted, and that GPs working with care homes was an essential part of Stockport Together.

·         In response to a question about progress with integrated working in Cheadle, it was commented that positive progress was being made and there had been good engagement with partners.

·         A question was asked about monitoring the Council did on the use of 15 minute care home visit following press reports that these were to be prohibited. In response it was stated that there were situations when 15 minute appointments were appropriate, but that professionals would remain beyond this time if the situation required it. The Council undertook regular monitoring of the quality of its visits, but commissioning arrangements would be reviewed if a problem arose.

·         In relation to queries about the use of private providers for learning disability placements it was confirmed that each placement, mostly in not for profit provider settings, were subject to a vigorous procurement and safeguarding process, and successful placements were regularly monitored. The benefits of having a greater mix of providers within the local market was emphasised.

·         In response to a question about the successful bidder for the Transport contract, it was stated that no single company was awarded the contract, but a range of providers were available to ensure the needs of clients could be met.

·         There were queries about the ongoing challenges of responding to Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard (DoLS) applications. In response it was stated that demand had not diminished but that the dedicated resource had now begun to improve the management of the system. A triage system had also been introduced to respond quickly to the most urgent cases. It was also commented that until legislative change took place, the Council would need to take a pragmatic approach to this demand.

·         Clarification was sought on whether the Learning Disability Transport Review had been completed, and it was confirmed that it was.

·         Concerns were expressed that no further information had been made available about the proposed governance arrangements for the increased Section 75 pooled budgets. In response it was stated that the scrutiny committee would be consulted prior to these arrangements being agreed but that would need to be done before the start of the next financial year.

·         In relation to queries about the use  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5