Issue - meetings

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

Under the long term Management Agreement with Stockport Council, Stockport Homes is required to provide a five year Delivery Plan.  The Delivery Plan for the period 2016 – 2021 was approved by the Council Executive in 2016 and it was agreed that in addition to an annual report on progress against the five yearly plan, a mid-term review of the Delivery plan would also be carried out with a report submitted to the relevant Scrutiny Committee.

This report details the mid-term review that was undertaken by Officers from Stockport Homes and the Council to agree any changes in emphasis without the need for a new Delivery Plan and to ensure that the Delivery Plan continues to meet the wider strategic objectives of the Council.

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

Officer contact: Mark Glynn on 0161-474-3700 or email: mark.glynn@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the mid-term review that was undertaken by officers from Stockport Homes and the Council to agree any changes in emphasis without the need for a new Delivery Plan and to ensure that the Delivery Plan continues to meet the wider strategic objectives of the Council.

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

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         In response to a question in relation to the work being undertaken by Stockport Homes to ensure that elderly residents are able to continue to live independently in the community, it was stated that Stockport Homes operated the Disabled Facilities Grant scheme on behalf of the Council to provide adaptations in private properties, in addition to a similar scheme for Council-owned houses.  It was stated that there was no waiting list in operation for either of those schemes.  It was also stated that Stockport Homes would work with residents to ensure that they lived in a property that was right for their circumstances.

·         The Council was seeking to redevelop the sheltered housing scheme at Edinburgh Close into an extra care facility.

·         A discussion took place in relation to the potential for the conversion of existing high rise accommodation into retirement facilities.

·         It was suggested that it would be useful for the committee to receive a report at a future meeting in relation to the work taking place to help people move into more suitably-sized accommodation.

·         There needed to be a range of accommodation types available across the Borough to cater for the varying needs of an ageing population.

·         It was noted that 2017/18 had seen a net increase in the number of Council-owned properties as a result of the work taking place through Viaduct Housing.

·         In response to a query about fire mitigation measures in high-rise properties, it was stated that Stockport Homes had undertaken Type 4 Fire Risk Assessments in 2013 that had informed the capital programme for the past five years which had included compartmentalisation works.  Further Type 4 assessments had been undertaken this year which had identified a series of minor works that needed to be undertaken and which had been included within the capital programme.

·         It was suggested that some of the language used could disincentivse people from from taking up housing choices; for example the use of ‘retirement homes’ instead of ‘sheltered housing’.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.