Issue - meetings

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

The First Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Report (PPRR) for the Communities and Housing Portfolio is presented for consideration by the Committee. This provides a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects in the first quarter of the year (April to June). It includes forecast performance and financial data (where this is available) for the Portfolio, along with an update on the portfolio savings programme.

This is the first report to be based on the 2017/18 Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreement (PPRA). It was considered by the Committee on 22 May 2017 and approved by Cabinet on 13 June 2017.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

·         Consider the First Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Report;  

·         Review the progress against delivering key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 2017/18;

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

·         Highlight any significant issues or changes to be fed back to the Cabinet alongside the Corporate Performance and Resource Report;

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

Officer contact: Alan Lawson on 0161 474 5397 or email: alan.lawson@stockport.gov.uk / Kora Yohannan on 0161 474 4032 or email: kora.yohannan@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report of the Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the first update Portfolio Performance and Resource Report  for the Communities and Housing Portfolio providing a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects since the final update report, with a focus on the first quarter of the year (April to June 2017). The report also included out-turn performance and financial data for the Portfolio, along with an update on the portfolio savings programme.

The Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to present the report and respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The Safer Stockport Partnership was currently working on a refreshed version of its Strategic Assessment which provided an overview of current community safety issues.

·         It was proposed that the Scrutiny Committee should receive a presentation on the forthcoming draft strategy for tacking anti-social behaviour.

·         With regard to the increase in reported incidents of anti-social behaviour it was not possible to identify whether this could be attributed to an actual increase in such incidents or improvements in the reporting and recording of anti-social behaviour.

·         Representatives of Greater Manchester Police would be in attendance at future meetings of the Scrutiny Committee to provide further information and to answer members’ question in relation to the crime data provided within the report.

·         In response to a question relating to the progress of the Highways Investment Programme, it was stated the Programme was currently working to the programmed timetable and was on target to achieve consequent reductions in insurance claims and to improve the overall condition of the highway network.  It was stated that a report would be submitted to a meeting of the Scrutiny Committee before the end of the calendar year providing an overview of progress on the implementation of the Programme.

·         Concern was expressed in relation to the proliferation of fly-posting in certain parts of the Borough by operators of waste removal businesses.  It was further queried where any such waste collected was being disposed of in the light of the charges being advertised.

·         A discussion took place in relation to underspend against the budget for the Disabled Facilities Grant.  In response, it was stated that demand on the budget was increasing, however the underspend was the result of a significant increase in the amount of the grant from government.

·         Councillors’ experience of anti-social behaviour would make a valuable contribution to the ongoing development of the anti-social behaviour policy.

·         The work of the Council and Stockport Homes to reassure and support tenants and the effective communications following the Grenfell Tower fire was welcomed.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.