Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 June 2020.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 11 June 2020 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers to declare any interests which they have in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

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

No declarations of interest were made.

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider whether it is in the public interest to exclude the public during consideration of Agenda Item 6 – ‘St Thomas’s Development’ which contains information ‘not for publication’ in their appendices by virtue of Category 3 ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority)’ as set out in the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended)

RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of information which was not for publication, the disclosure of which would not be in the public interest, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any of the exempt information in Agenda Item 7 – ‘St Thomas’s Development’ should it be necessary for the Scrutiny Committee to consider and comment on these aspects of the report.

To consider a verbal update from the Director of Adult Social Care relating to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Director of Adult Social Care provided a verbal update to the Committee relating to the Covid-19 Pandemic Update.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Health (Councillor Jude Wells) attended the meeting to respond to members’ questions and provided an update on the Covid-19 pandemic and steps being taken as lockdown measures were being lifted.

The following comments were made/issues raised: -

·         It was noted that there was a relaxation of the lockdown measures which had presented its own challenges and that there was a move to “live with Covid” for communities to be more active in the local areas; still maintain social distancing restrictions; observing remaining measures for lockdown and the track and trace process being put in place.

·         It was noted that in April and May it was reported that Bredbury Green & Romiley Ward had a higher number of deaths in comparison to other wards in the borough. In response, it was noted that postcode data was slowly becoming available and this would be shared in due course, however, the bulge in this area was largely attributed to a high number of cases within a care home setting rather than through circulation in the population at large.

·         It was reported that a dashboard would be going live by Public Health England that would provide the number of cases in the “middle super-output areas” and a briefing has already been provided to all Councillors in the weekly updates. This data would be influenced by the location of care homes, the residents of health and care staff including key workers, other occupational groups, population density and areas of higher levels of BAME population.

·         Clarification was also sought regarding dementia care and how it had been affected. In response, it was noted that there were some issues relating to support and services that needed to be redesigned to support the high needs people living with dementia. It was noted that home care providers continued to reach out to service users, however, carers were not initially able to meet face to face. Online support had also been put in place to reach out to those with dementia to provide a supplementary level of provision.

·         It was noted that services had to continue to support people throughout the pandemic within the care home and home care sector through direct council services and partners.

·         It was noted that there had been 1,641 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Stockport, which ranked about the seventh highest across the Greater Manchester area with just over 350 deaths reported, but cases were falling, averaging about five per day. As restrictions were being lifted there was an increased focus on the local management outbreak and preventative measures being taken and messages were being shared across the borough related to this.

·         Clarification was sought regarding the reports that a number of  hairdressers and barbers were not using PPE who had been reported to Environmental Health. In response, it was reported that Public Protection has been working with Environmental Health and where they had been made aware of specific issues action had been taken.

·         It was noted that two Boards have been established, the Covid-19 Health Protection Board that would be dealing with the technical side including the test and trace functions and data analysis and the Covid-19 Outbreak Management Board chaired by Councillor Wells to build community engagement and trust.

·         The Scrutiny Committee expressed its appreciation for the care providers and their response to the rapidly changing Covid-19 environment and its response to the guidance at national and local level and working with residents.

RESOLVED – That the update be noted.

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

This report seeks endorsement for the overall approach as well as commitment to taking the scheme to a detailed design stage which will also include planning submission and procurement of a main contractor.

(NOTE: This item included a ‘not for publication’ appendix that had been circulated to members of the Scrutiny Committee only).

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

Officer contact: Paul Richards on 0161-474-2940 or email: paul.richards@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a proposal to transform the site of the former St Thomas’ Hospital, Stockport into a new intergenerational community with a view to reinvent the way the Council delivered intermediate care.  The report detailed a number of work-streams across the Adult Social Care portfolio including the “all age living” approach, the Care Academy on the site and evolving workforce that would be needed to deliver the vision at the site.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Health (Councillor Jude Wells) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Members expressed their excitement with the development and the proposal for the intergenerational community and the “all age living approach”.

·         Clarification was sought regarding the reference to “re-imagining social care” and what it meant in practical terms and the available funding. In response, it was noted that a financial settlement was pending and together with the Covid-19 pandemic there has not been any updates to date.

·         It was also noted that the scheme was aspirational in terms of - the residential site and would have 67 new affordable homes including some historic buildings on the site and deliver a new care model.

·         Clarification was sought regarding the ‘Academy of Living Well’ and who would be involved. In response, it was noted that the site was not just for older people but for all ages on the site to support independent living.

·         Members enquired about the ‘community living’ and what would be involved and the importance of gauging the views of the persons who would be living on the site about what ‘community’ means to them. In response, it was noted that work was already underway to gather information through the ‘housing survey’ and other discussions with residents to build into the development of the site.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report sets out the progress that has been made following the Government’s response to Greater Manchester’s Outline Business Case to tackle Nitrogen Dioxide Exceedances at the Roadside, and the implications of pandemic management policies (the extent of which are not yet fully understood) for the 10 Greater Manchester local authorities in relation to the schedule of work and statutory consultation on the Clean Air Plan and the link to taxi and private hire common minimum licensing standards.

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 or Sue Stevenson on 0161 474 4351 or email: sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the progress that had been made following the Government’s response to Greater Manchester’s Outline Business Case to tackle Nitrogen Dioxide Exceedances at the Roadside, and the implications of pandemic management policies (the extent of which are not yet fully understood) for the 10 Greater Manchester local authorities in relation to the schedule of work and statutory consultation on the Clean Air Plan and the link to taxi and private hire common minimum licensing standards.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Care & Health (Councillor Jude Wells) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was noted that there was a delay to the programme in light of Covid-19 pandemic to 2022 and that the proposals would be subject to a public consultation.

·         Concern was expressed about the minimum licensing standards and the impact this would bring. In response, it was noted that there were concerns with the varying requirements put in place, but linking it with clean air and offering incentives would be good for the scheme.

·         Concern was expressed regarding the amount of money that was being made available and whether Stockport could make the changes and deliver on the scheme. In response, it was noted that Stockport was observing the changes to technology with Greater Manchester and there was a new generation of technology being introduced which would benefit Stockport.

·         It was suggested that the rapid chargers should also be rolled out into the district centres and not just the town centres. 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To seek suggestions for Scrutiny Review topics for inclusion in the 2020/21 scrutiny work programme.

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and any relevant Forward Plan items.

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive provided an update setting out a suggested process for the selection of scrutiny review topics and an explanation as to how the reviews would be supported.  The Committee was invited to choose a topic for their next review.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Council Meeting be recommended to include the joint scrutiny review proposed by the Corporate, Resource Management & Governance Scrutiny Committee to consider “Governance arrangements across all health and social care agencies within the borough.

(2) That the Councillors who would like to sit on the proposed scrutiny review panel submit their names to the Chair and the Clerk as soon as practicable accordingly.

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: Charles Yankiah, 0161 474 3206, charles.yankiah@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and any relevant Forward Plan items.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.