Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 30 October 2017.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 30 October 2017 (copies of which had been circulated) 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 which they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations were made.

To consider call-in items (if any).

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The purpose of this report is to seek Members views on proposed priority areas for the SSP to focus on in a new SSP Plan.  Given the cross-cutting nature of the Partnership’s work, this report is being considered by all Scrutiny Committees.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

·         Note the developing Stockport and GM Community Safety Plans, underpinned by completed strategic assessments, and timetables for further engagement and consultation going forward;

·         Consider the proposed priority areas for action in the new SSP Plan set out at paragraph 4.3 of the report.

Officer contact: Peter Owston on 0161 474 3274 or email: peter.owston@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (copies of which had been circulated) seeking the views of the Scrutiny Committee on proposed priority areas for the Safer Stockport Partnership to focus on in a new Safer Stockport Partnership Plan.

The Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing (Councillor Sheila Bailey) supported by Superintendent Emma Taylor (Greater Manchester Police) attended the meeting to present the report and respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         In response to a question relating to the ability of the police to continue to enforce the Strategy’s priorities in view of increasing pressure on resources, it was stated that the police continued to work in partnership with other agencies to prioritise its resources on neighbourhood policing and tacking issues of anti-social behaviour.

·         It was noted that there had been a significant increase in the number of reported incidents of Child Sexual Exploitation in Stockport.  It was commented that this was largely due to a significant historical underreporting of such criminal activity and although the current level of reporting was more realistic it was unlikely to represent the full scale of the issue.

·         Significant resource was being invested to support work to address the complex safeguarding risks associated with increase in children missing from home or care with a focus on working with those young people at risk, and particularly those in a care setting, to prevent future incidents.

·         An update was requested in relation to the impact of the work of the Missing from Home Hubs and the outcome of the ongoing three month review and evaluation of the service.

·         A discussion took place in relation to modern slavery and its prevalence and it was commented that the nature of the relationship between the victim and the perpetrators coupled with the often complex situation of the victim meant that it was likely there was significant underreporting in this area.

·         The under-resourcing of youth services had placed increasing pressure on reactive services such as the police and children’s’ services.

·         The downward trend in reports of anti-social behaviour did not seem to correlate with the public’s experience or perception.

·         The police had recently ring-fenced resources to address a rise in burglary across Stockport.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Communities & Housing.

In recent months the Cabinet has presented a series of updates detailing its approach to becoming self-financing by 2020/21 and addressing the significant funding challenges facing the Council. Within its latest update on 14 November, the Cabinet outlined the challenging position facing Adult Social Care and Public Health services and introduced a series of options for addressing these.

The Cabinet are committed to ensuring transparent Scrutiny engagement on its plans. Appended to this report is a proposal relevant to this scrutiny committee which form part of the Cabinet’s response to the MTFP. This report builds on the updates shared with Scrutiny in September and October/ November on proposals relating to the non-pooled budget.

This Committee is asked to comment on the Housing Related Support proposal (appended) which relates to its remit.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on the proposal presented as part of this report.

Officer contact: Andrew Webb on 0161 474 3808 or email: andrew.webb@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a proposal to consolidate housing related support services and processes that had been part of Adult Services within a broader council wide approach. 

It was reported that a key element of the proposal would be to utilise capital funding more flexibly, where appropriate, to support provision of housing related support that had been previously resourced through revenue budgets. In addition, it was commented that there were opportunities to access income from other sources within the council such as maximising uptake of relevant benefits and other revenue streams that could appropriately support people.

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

In response to enquiry in relation to the method by which capital budgets would be used to reduce revenue expenditure, it was stated that it was proposed to offset current revenue spend against the Disabled Facilities Grant.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The draft strategy provides an overarching framework and a proposed way forward in line with the identified objectives. The objectives, particularly those relating to tariff structures and income generation, are intrinsically linked to the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan. 

Following review by Economy and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee in November, informal consultation on the draft strategy has been undertaken with key stakeholders in Stockport Town Centre to seek feedback on the proposals. Taking account of this feedback, the Committee are recommended to endorse the strategy before it is submitted to Cabinet for adoption.

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

Officer contact: 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) outlining a draft strategy which aimed to provide an overarching framework and a proposed way forward in line with the identified objectives, particularly those relating to tariff structures and income generation, which were intrinsically linked to the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan.

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 current Electric Vehicle Charging Points were well used, and the provision of additional charging facilities needed to be considered.

·         There was a need to maintain and invest in Stockport’s parking facilities the cost of which needed to be funded through parking charges.

·         It was important to encourage turnover in car parks to ensure there was sufficient capacity to meet demand and to ensure that people were using the car parks to support the economy in the town centre.

·         The level of the parking tariff needed to be kept under annual review to reflect ongoing changes parking behaviour.

·         It was commented that the Trafford Centre provided free parking and that Stockport needed to remain competitive in the context of this market.  In response it was stated that Stockport had a different offer to large scale our of centre shopping centres, and that there were additional hidden costs associated with free parking at the Trafford Centre.

·         The Stockport Metroshuttle bus was a significant advantage in efficiently moving people around the town centre.

·         Further information was requested in relation to progress towards the expansion of the Mobike cycle share scheme to Stockport.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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: Damian Eaton on 0161 474 3207 or email: damian.eaton@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager 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.