Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 30 January 2012.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 30 January 2012 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 interest which they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

The following interests were declared:-

Personal Interests

To consider call-in items (if any).

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director of Place.

The Delivery Plan sets out what Stockport Homes will deliver during the period 2012-2013; how it and the Council will work together and how tenants, the Council and other stakeholders can measure the success of Stockport Homes in achieving its objectives.

The document is an appendix to the Management Agreement between Stockport Homes and the Council and sets all the outputs of Stockport Homes, the key performance requirement of the services and includes the performance standards expected. The objectives and targets detailed within the Delivery Plan are directly in line with the Council’s Housing Strategy and aims to contribute towards the Council’s wider strategic priorities. The Delivery Plan also details the financial, staffing and governance resources required to enable Stockport Homes to deliver the services with skill, care and diligence.

The Delivery Plan is reviewed and revised annually, in partnership with the Council and the Stockport Homes Board.  It ensures that there is continuous improvement in the services to tenants and the delivery of decent, modern homes that meet the needs and aspirations of the communities in Stockport.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to consider and comment on the Stockport Homes Delivery Plan 2012-13 and recommend that the Executive approve and adopt the Plan.

Officer contact: Andy Kippax on 474 4319 or email: andy.kippax@stockport.gov.uk

Helen McHale (Chief Executive of Stockport Homes) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) and made a presentation setting out what Stockport Homes aimed to deliver during the period 2012-2013; how it and the Council would work together and how tenants, the Council and other stakeholders could measure the success of Stockport Homes in achieving its objectives.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Concern was expressed in relation to the use of employment status as a factor in the award of points in the allocation of homes which marked a transition away from needs based assessment.

·         It was noted that the forthcoming rent increase may impact on the level of homelessness in the borough.

·         The proposal for Stockport Homes to act as a managing agent for privately rented homes was welcomed.

·         Stockport Homes had robust policies in place to prevent fraud in the allocation of homes and this included the issue of sub-letting, although incidences of this in Stockport were considered to be relatively low.

·         The Delivery Plan contained many laudable aims, however the ease with which many of these could be implemented or delivered in the current financial climate was questioned.

·         It would be difficult to provide accommodation which met with the aspirations of residents given the nature of the available housing stock.

·         Information relating to the forthcoming agreed increase in rents had not yet been cascaded down to tenants and any such future proposals should be more widely consulted upon.

·         The increase in collection rates for water bills over that achieved by United Utilities was welcomed.

·         The work of Stockport Homes in transforming the living environment for tenants was welcomed and commendable.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and that Helen McHale be thanked for her attendance and presentation.

To consider a report of the Joint Chairs of the Safer Stockport Partnership.

The report sets out some of the key achievements of the Partnership over the last year the plan and highlights priorities for the next two years which includes reducing serious acquisitive crime; protecting vulnerable people; transforming justice; visible partnership working; substances; Anti-Social Behaviour; and neighbourhood working.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment upon and endorse the Plan.

Officer contact: Helen Boyle on 474 315 or email: helen.boyle@stockport.gov.uk

The  Joint Chairs of the Safer Stockport Partnership submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out some of the key achievements of the Partnership over the last year and highlighting priorities for the next two years, which included reducing serious acquisitive crime; protecting vulnerable people; transforming justice; visible partnership working; substances; Anti-Social Behaviour; and neighbourhood working.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·        The arrangements in respect of the ‘payment by results’ initiative were discussed and it was explained that outcomes were assessed after completion of a treatment programme on a number of indicators which included future offending behaviour, whether that individual re-presented themselves and successful completion of the specialist treatment programme.

·        A significant amount of work had been undertaken to reduce the number of young people entering the criminal justice system and the primary reason for this was as a result of the joint work that was being undertaken across a range of partners to identify vulnerable young people at an early stage.

·        It was requested that further information in respect of the budget of the Partnership be circulated to members of the Scrutiny Committee.

·        A member recounted the difficulties that a resident had experienced in having an anti-social behaviour problem addressed as a result of officers directing certain aspects of the problem elsewhere and not dealing with the matter themselves.  In response, it was stated that this should not be happening and that it would be re-emphasised to all staff that a holistic view of anti-social behaviour should be taken and that full ownership of the situation should be taken by staff.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director of Place.

The report provides a detailed overview of performance which relates to the Adults and Communities Scrutiny Committee.

The information is provided in the form of the Quarter 3 2011/12 Portfolio Performance and Resources Reports for each of the Communities and Adults and Health Portfolios and specific detail and information in relation to the Council’s ‘A Safe and Strong Stockport’, ‘A Thriving Stockport’ and ‘A Healthy Stockport’ Priorities.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

(1)  Review the current levels of performance;

(2) Highlight key areas of, and responsibility for, taking forward corrective action to address any existing or forecast performance issues;

(3) Identify how areas of strong performance and good practice can be shared in other services.

Officer contact: Doug Holland on 474 2976 or email: doug.holland@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director of Place submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Scrutiny Committee with an assessment of the mid-year position in delivering the Council’s priorities, budget and capital programme for 2011/12. The Scrutiny Committee was invited to consider the Adults and Health and Communities portfolios, which fell within the remit of this Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·        There was an ever increasing focus on web-based access to services but it was important to remember that a large number of people do not have access to the internet and services still need to be designed with this in mind.

·        A great deal of work was taking place in the identified ‘Priority 1’ areas, however, it was vital that pockets of deprivation in other wards were not overlooked for investment.

·        A discussion took place around the £1.5 million deficit in the Learning Disabilities budget, however in response it was stated that the Council was working with NHS Stockport to address this and it was anticipated that this would be rebalanced though 2012/13.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director of Place.

This matter has been referred to the Adults & Communities Scrutiny Committee at the request of the Heatons & Reddish Area Committee. The report provided is an update to the original report presented to the Area Committee and the same version that was submitted for consideration by the Executive on 27^th February 2012. The Area Committee, in particular, asked that further information be submitted to the Scrutiny Committee on:

·        Current users at the existing facilities

·        Projections for use at the new facility, and

·        Further details on the relationship between the Council & Boroughcare

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on proposals for the surrender of leases at Lisburne Court and Belmont Court.

Officer contact: Andy Kippax on 474 4319 or email: andy.kippax@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director of Place submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) following a referral to the Scrutiny Committee at the request of the Heatons & Reddish Area Committee which had asked that the Scrutiny Committee give consideration to the current users of the existing facilities; projections for use at the new facility and the details of the Council’s relationship with Borough Care.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to note the résumé of the meeting of the Adult Education, Skills and Employability Partnership held on 12 January 2012.

Officer contact: Jonathan Vali Tel: 474 3201; e-mail: jonathan.vali@stockport.gov.uk

The Scrutiny Committee considered a résumé (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting of the Adult Education, Skills and Employability Partnership held on 12 January 2012.

RESOLVED – That the résumé of the meeting of the Adult Education, Skills and Employability Partnership held on 12 January 2012 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 474 3207 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 items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items which fell within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The Chair reported that this would be the last meeting of the Scrutiny Committee that would be attended by Ged Lucas (Corporate Director of Place) following his retirement later this month.  On behalf of the Scrutiny Committee, the Chair expressed her thanks and gratitude to Mr Lucas for his work on behalf of both the Scrutiny Committee and the Council as a whole and wished him a long and happy retirement.