Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 June 2012.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 11 June 2012 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair subject under Minute 8 - ‘Agenda Planning’ to the insertion of the following comment:-

·         “That consideration be given to undertaking a scrutiny review on the current training and skills offer across the borough from all providers and how these were coordinated.”

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.

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 joint report of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services and the Service Director (Place Development).

The report details proposals for the Council to enter into an agreement with Secretary of State to retain additional receipts for the provision of new housing stock in the borough. 

On 12 March 2012, Ministers announced that the cap on Right to Buy (RTB) discounts would be raised to £75,000 and that receipts from the additional sales this would generate would be used to fund replacement stock on a one-for-one basis.  At the same time Ministers announced that their favoured option of delivering this replacement stock would be through local authorities retaining the additional receipts to spend in their areas.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

(1) Comment on the report; and,

(2) Endorse Stockport entering into an agreement with the Secretary of State in order to utilise these potential receipts for the provision of new housing stock within the Borough. 

Officer contact: Michael Cullen on 474 4631 or email: michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Place Development) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing proposals for the Council to enter into an agreement with Secretary of State to retain additional receipts for the provision of new housing stock in the borough. 

It was reported that on 12 March 2012, Ministers had announced that the cap on Right to Buy discounts would be raised to £75,000 and that receipts from the additional sales this would generate would be used to fund replacement stock on a one-for-one basis.  At the same time Ministers announced that their favoured option of delivering this replacement stock would be through local authorities retaining the additional receipts to spend in their areas.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The changes to the Right to Buy initiative made it more attractive for tenants to seek to purchase their home.

·         Tenants needed to give consideration to the risks inherent in the purchase of their home when considering Right to Buy, particularly in respect of the ongoing maintenance and repair of those homes.

·         If Stockport did not enter into an agreement with the Secretary of State, the additional receipts would go to the Homes and Communities Agency and would not necessarily fund the provision of new homes in the Borough.

·         Concern was expressed about the gradual erosion of the social rented housing stock in Stockport and that recent changes to the Right to Buy Scheme would further expedite this process.  In the light of the significant number of Stockport residents which were on the waiting list for a home, any net loss of homes from the social rented sector should not be welcomed.

·         Tenants were not required to contribute a significant deposit when purchasing a property under the Right to Buy initiative which further encouraged purchases.

·         Any replacement properties funded through the retention of the additional receipts would only be made available on the basis of affordable rent which would mean that they would be more expensive than those which they replaced.

·         Consideration needed to be given to the additional cost of land acquisition.

RESOVLED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Executive be recommended to give consideration to the concerns expressed by all members of the Scrutiny Committee and with particular regard to the impact of the proposals on the social rented housing stock in Stockport and the potential impact of the additional cost of land acquisition, should that be necessary.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services.

The report provides information on the work of the Stockport based Local Housing Allowance Transition Team. 

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to note the report and support the on-going work of the team.

Officer contact: Alison Blount on 474 5107 or email: alison.blount@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing information about the work of the Stockport based Local Housing Allowance Transition Team (LHATT).  The report had previously been considered by the Corporate, Resource Management and Governance Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 18 June 2012.

It was further reported that since the report had been produced, all AGMA authorities had now undertaken to continue to support the Local Housing Allowance Transition Team; securing the Team’s funding through to September 2013.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The success of the Team was welcomed.

·         Where residents had taken on tenancies which had proved too expensive for them, in the first instance the Team has worked with landlords to try and work rents down to a more affordable level.  However, where this was not achievable then the service had assisted people to move to more affordable and sustainable accommodation.

·         A discussion took place around costs and effectiveness of the promotion of the service with particular regard to the use of radio advertising and the siting of the mobile advice centre.  In response, it was stated that radio advertising had proved a useful and cost effective way of promoting the service across the whole of the Greater Manchester conurbation.  It was further stated that the siting of the mobile advice centre on Warren Street in Stockport town centre had resulted in the highest takeup of the sites investigated.

·         It was commented that the team had assisted with 20 removals where it had not been possible to negotiate a way for someone to retain a tenancy throughout Greater Manchester.

·         The introduction of the universal credit may have a further impact on the work of the Team over the coming months.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a joint report of the Service Directors (Adult Social Care) and (Place Development).

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 4 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

Representatives of the Service Directors (Adult Social Care) and (Place Development) submitted a joint report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a detailed overview of performance which related to the Adults and Communities Scrutiny Committee.

The information was provided in the form of the Quarter 4 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 following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The take-up of personalised adult social care services was encouraging, however it was noted that there was no aspiration for this to reach 100% as there would always be a number of people for who it would not be appropriate such as those with diminished mental capacity or older people with dementia.

·         Concern was expressed with regard to the apparent delay in the publication of the first Adult Serious Case Review which had been commissioned in March 2010.  In response it was stated that it was anticipated that the Review would be ready for publication during the third quarter of 2012.

·         The review of the contract for prepayment cards was part of the natural cycle of the contract and was scheduled for retendering.  Further consideration would be given to the potential for extending the use of the cards with more providers.

·         The work of the reablement service was congratulated.  However, concern still remained with regard to the discharge process for those who did not meet the criteria for reablement and that more work needed to be done to ensure that the necessary planning for the continuing health and social care needs of patients had been completed prior to discharge.

·         There remained challenges around providers taking further responsibility for the quality and appropriateness of services.

·         The benefit gained by tenants from the installation of solar panels on their property was discussed, and it was stated that the revenue gained from the ‘feed-in tariff’ was paid into the Housing Revenue Account, however tenants benefited from free electricity during hours when electricity was being generated.

·         Concern was expressed in relation the two to three month wait for appeals against benefit decisions and further information was requested in relation to this.

·         The impact of the 8.1% increase in rents by Stockport Homes was discussed.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a joint report of the Corporate Director for People

and the Service Director (Place Development).

The new Executive portfolio roles and responsibilities were reported to the Council Meeting on 22 May 2012.  The refreshed Council Plan and Budget, approved by the Executive on 9 July, is supported by ten Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreements (PPRAs).  These set out in detail the priority outcomes, measures, budgets, projects and risks that will form the basis for Portfolio reports during 2012/13.

The PPRAs have been approved by Portfolio Holders and published alongside the Executive report of 9 July. They are now being considered by the relevant Scrutiny Committees.

The new Portfolios within the remit of the Adults and Communities Scrutiny Committee are:-

·               Adult Care Services

·               Health and Wellbeing

·               Supporting Communities

Scrutiny Committee is recommended to consider and comment on the Portfolio Agreements.

Officer contact: Terry Dafter on 474 4401 or email: terr.dafter@stockport.gov.uk; Donna Sager on 474 3928 or email: donna.sager@stockport.gov.uk; Laureen Donnan on 474 3180 or email: laureen.donnan@stockport.gov.uk; Paul Lawrence on 474 4515 or email: paul.lawrence@stockport.gov.uk

Representatives of the Service Directors (Adult Social Care) and (Place Development) submitted a joint report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the new Executive portfolio roles and responsibilities which had been reported to the Council Meeting on 22 May 2012. 

It was reported that the refreshed Council Plan and Budget, approved by the Executive on 9 July 2012, was supported by ten Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreements (PPRAs).  These set out in detail the priority outcomes, measures, budgets, projects and risks that would form the basis for Portfolio reports during 2012/13.

The PPRAs had been approved by Portfolio Holders and published alongside the Executive report of 9 July 2012 and were now being considered by the relevant Scrutiny Committees.

It was stated that the new Portfolios within the remit of the Adults and Communities Scrutiny Committee were Adult Care Services, Health and Wellbeing and Supporting Communities.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That consideration of that element of the report that related to the Adult Care Services portfolio be deferred to the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee.

To consider a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Strategy, Policy, Partnerships & Transformation).                                                            (To follow)

Officer contact: Gaynor Alexander on 474 3186 or email: gaynor.alexander@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Adult Social Care) submitted a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Strategy, Policy, Partnerships & Transformation) (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Scrutiny Committee to give consideration to the selection and prioritisation of appropriate topics for inclusion in the 2012/13 Scrutiny Work Programme and to appoint members of the Panels.

RESOLVED – (1) That a review of ‘residential and nursing care and the issue of isolation in the community’ be selected by this Scrutiny Committee for inclusion in the 2012/13 Scrutiny Work Programme.

(2) That Councillors Hazel Lees, David Sedgwick, June Somekh and Alanna Vine be nominated to sit on the proposed scrutiny review panel.

(3) That an item be included on the agenda of the 15 October 2012 meeting of the Scrutiny Committee in respect of ‘The Impact of Changes in Housing Benefit; the Universal Credit and the Impact of Policy Initiatives on the Social Rented Sector’.

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 14 June 2012.

Officer contact: Viki Shaw Tel: 474 3209; e-mail: viki.shaw@stockport.gov.uk

The Scrutiny Committee considered résumés (copies of which had been circulated) of the meetings of the Adult Education, Skills and Employability Partnership held on 14 June 2012.

RESOLVED – That the résumé of the meeting of the Adult Education, Skills and Employability Partnership held on 14 June 2012 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 Safer Stockport Partnership held on 17 May 2012.

Officer contact: Viki Shaw Tel: 474 3209; e-mail: viki.shaw@stockport.gov.uk

The Scrutiny Committee considered a résumé (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting of the Safer Stockport Partnership held on 17 May 2012.

Further information was requested in relation to the membership of the Operation Windermere Team and that this information be forwarded to members of the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – That the résumé of the meeting of the Safer Stockport Partnership held on 17 May 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.