Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 15 January 2019.

RESOLVED – That consideration of the Minutes from the previous meeting be deferred.

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

The following interests were declared:-

Personal Interest

There was no call-in to consider.

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

(Note: a copy of the covering committee report only has been included in the main agenda papers due to the volume of accompanying information. A copy of the business cases and accompanying documentation, maps and charts has been published under separate cover and can access via http://democracy.stockport.gov.uk/documents/b80502/GM%20Clean%20Air%20Plan%20-%20Accompanying%20Documentation%2026th-Mar-2019%2018.00%20Adult%20Social%20Care%20Health%20Scru.pdf?T=9 )

To summarise the key features of Greater Manchester’s feasibility study and its Outline Business Case (OBC) to reduce nitrogen dioxide exceedances in Stockport and across Greater Manchester in the shortest possible time. This OBC has been developed by Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council collectively with all Greater Manchester local authorities and the GMCA, and co-ordinated by TfGM in line with Government direction and guidance.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the report to be reported verbally to Cabinet Meeting.

Officer contact: Vicki Bates / Mark Glynn / Sue Stevenson, 0161 474 3181 / 3700 / 4351, vicki.bates@stockport.gov.uk / mark.glynn@stockport.gov.uk / sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Member for Health submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Scrutiny Committee to consider an Outline Business Case (OBC) and a suite of supporting documents forming the Council’s proposals to reduce nitrogen dioxide exceedances in Stockport and across Greater Manchester in the shortest possible time. The OBC has been developed by the Council in collaboration with all Greater Manchester local authorities and the GMCA, and co-ordinated by TfGM in line with Government direction and guidance.

The following comments were made issues raised:-

·         It was suggested that the draft Plan provided a thorough response to the Government’s requirements, although disappointment was expressed that those requirements did not include reducing Particulate Matter, nor was it clear how other public bodies, such as the Highways Agency, would be involved in addressing this issue.

·         In relation to Particulate Matter it was stated that there remained a lack of scientific evidence to inform public policy, but nevertheless many of the Council and GMCAs activity in relation to walking and cycling would have a beneficial impact by reducing the demand for motor vehicles.

·         Concerns were expressed about whether there was sufficient capacity in the vehicle manufacturing sector to respond to a surge in demand for cleaner or electric vehicles, particularly if there was a need for large scale replacement or retrofitting of bus fleets. Would there be sufficient time to make changes and comply with the targets without a diminution of service? In response it was acknowledged there may be challenges for providers but that this was a Government mandated requirement. Further work would be undertaken in the current months to assess the impact of the proposals. It was further commented that Government subsidy was vital to incentivise investment in new transport fleets.

·         Concerns were expressed about the volume of information contained in the report and accompanying documents and the relatively limited time provided to digest the information, and the limited opportunities available to councillors to discuss the matter.

·         The achievability of change required was questioned, and concerns expressed about the potential significance of the impact on the economy of the introduction of charges on emissions, particularly in the goods sector, the costs of which would ultimately be borne by the public.

·         Concerns were expressed about the effectiveness of scrappage schemes as they were often designed to encourage the purchase of new cars, although this was not always financial viable for many people.

·         There was a clear link between poverty and exposure to nitrous oxide, adding to the health inequalities in the borough, that made the case for action even more pressing.

·         The risks around emissions were not well understood by the public, particularly the greater exposure of those in vehicles in congestion compared to those walking those same congested roads.

·         The use of any revenue collected from charges on emissions was queried. In response it was stated that it was expected that the charges were not designed to raise revenue but to incentivise change as the volumes raised were expected to diminish over time as compliance increased. It was hoped that any surpluses raised would be invested in public transport.

·         It was important to ‘future proof’ measures to take account of other emerging issues, such as particulate matter.

·         Manchester Airport was not mentioned in the report, although they were also taking action to address emissions, and it was noteworthy that the most significant contributor to pollution on their site was from ground activity. Concern about emissions from vehicles with chiller units. Hopefully this can be picked up in this.

·         Comment was made about the variability in the intensity of usage, with many of the least polluting vehicles being idle for most of the day.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the comments be considered by the Cabinet.

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

In February 2019 the Council launched the All Age Living prospectus for healthy, happy homes. This prospectus demonstrates the great opportunity to truly bring together housing, health, social care and our workforce challenges into a single vision and programme for change that will co-design the future for all age living in Stockport with a goal for all residents to look forward to a positive older age. It will be defined by a comprehensive partnership approach to drive change over an ambitious strategy that will be developed over the next 15 years.

This is an ambitious strategy with a vision to transform Stockport into a place where people can learn, play, work and look forward to a positive older age. This means there will be a wider choice of places and ways to live, providing the right homes and underpinned by the right support. This prospectus is the first step in the journey to bring this vision into a reality in the Borough.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the report and presentation.

Officer contact Vincent Fraga, 0161-474-4401, vincent.fraga@stockport.gov.uk

The Director for Adult Social Care submitted a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Scrutiny Committee to consider the All Age Living prospectus for healthy, happy homes, which was an ambitious strategy to transform Stockport into a place where people can learn, play, work and look forward to a positive older age.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care (Councillor Wendy Wild) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·           Healthwatch welcomed this approach.

·           Comment was made about the difficulties presented by purpose built accommodation for older people that was all electric that meant they were less efficient to heat. The need for higher standards of energy efficiency, along with the need to make homes more easily adaptable, needed to be considered as part of the planning and building regulation process.

·           It was important to ensure that those with lived experience had opportunities to input into the process of the development of the Strategy.

·           Caution was needed in the use of technology as this was often worrying for some people and providing too much ‘enabling’ could be dehumanising.

·           Concern was expressed that the investment in new buildings would not provide lasting improvements due to variability in the quality of the build.

·           The non-housing elements of the strategy were emphasised, such as the ambition to allow people to live independently in its broadest sense as well as to enhance community, relationships and care, and support the workforce.

·           Further information was sought on the All Age Campus, Academy and Beehive Cooperatives. In response it was stated that these were currently only ideas but the All Age Campus was an opportunity for the Council to develop a site that included a mixture of housing types to create a better sense of community; the Academy approach would focus on developing care sector workers; the Beehive Cooperative was an approach to bringing together home care providers to share some costs and improve their sustainability.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted and the Prospectus welcomed.

(2) That the Scrutiny Committee would welcome the submission of the All Age Strategy at an appropriate opportunity.

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

The purpose of this report is to provide our regular update to the Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Committee on the support offered to current and former members of the armed forces, reservists and their families as part of our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to note the contents of this report and our future plans to support the armed forces community in Stockport.

Officer contact: Nayuri Patel, 0161 474 3167, nayuri.patel@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Scrutiny Committee with an update on the support offered to current and former members of the armed forces, reservists and their families as part of the Council’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.

RESOLVED – That the report be welcomed.

To consider a report of the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee.

The report sets outs the findings and recommendations of the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee following their review of scrutiny activity in Stockport. It draws on good practice from elsewhere in the country and makes a series of recommendations for consideration by each of Stockport’s scrutiny committees.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the report and recommendations.

Officer contact: Stephen Fox, 0161 474 3206, stephen.fox@stockport.gov.uk

The Chair submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Scrutiny Committee to consider the final report of the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee’s review into the discharging of scrutiny functions at the Council. The report identified a number of strengths in how the Council and its members undertook these duties and also identified a number of opportunities to enhance and maximise its effectiveness.

Concerns were expressed about whether a reduction in the frequency of meetings would negatively impact on the ability of scrutiny committees to effectively carry out their duties, although it was recognised that fewer programmed meetings would allow for more in-depth activity.

It was commented that feedback from the experience of other local authorities indicated that the Stockport’s approach was more robust.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the recommendations be revisited in the next municipal year.

To consider a report of the Lead Councillor.

The Scrutiny Committee will be invited to consider the draft final report of the review into how the overview and scrutiny functions for health can be made as effective as possible in Stockport.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to adopt the report and recommendations.

Officer contact: Jonathan Vali, 0161 474 3201, jonathan.vali@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive gave a brief overview of the outcomes from the recent workshop held as part of the Scrutiny Committee’s Review of the role and functioning of Committee in light of the outcomes from the CQC Local System Review.

The workshop had covered some of the same issues that featured in the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee Review (see Minute 7 above), particularly in relation to work programming.

RESOLVED – That the update be noted and the final report of the Scrutiny Review be submitted to the next meeting.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The report sets out planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items that fall within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the information in the report and put forward any agenda items for future meetings of the Committee.

Officer contact: Jonathan Vali, 0161 474 3201, jonathan.vali@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out planned agenda items for the next meeting and relevant entries in the Cabinet Forward Plan.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.