Issue - meetings

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

The First Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Report 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.

It is the first report to be based on the 2018/19 Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreement. These were considered by the Committee on 2 July and approved by Cabinet on 17 July.

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 2018/19;

·         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 (copies of which had been circulated) providing 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). The report also included a forecast 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 number of private properties empty for more than 12 months continued to fall due to the proactive work of the Housing Standards Team.

·         The work of officers to increase the availability of affordable housing in the Borough was welcomed.

·         The use of technology when tackling environmental issues such as fly-tipping and dog waste was discussed.  It was suggested that the Council should give consideration to the use of covert cameras in hot-spot areas.

·         In response to a question in relation to the potential to introduce smoke vents in Stockport Homes’ tower blocks as part of new fire safety measures, the Committee was advised that all options to improve fire safety were being investigated as part of the outcomes of the Level 4 fire safety inspections that had been undertaken.

·         The Committee was informed that the GM Clean Air Plan was being actively worked on by Transport for Greater Manchester and the GM Senior Leadership Steering Group was taking responsibility for steering the direction of the preliminary feasibility study. It was explained that everything that could be done at local level would be, however, it was noted that to make a significant difference to air pollution, more fundamental policy changes needed to happen at Government level.

·         It was commented that the development and enhancement of public transport as a viable alternative to private cars needed to be prioritised to help reduce the air pollution problem.

·         In response to a question regarding the availability of sufficient numbers of properties for young disabled people, it was explained that ground floor accommodation of all multi-level properties that had delivered through Viaduct Housing Partnership were fully adapted.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.