Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 23 July 2012.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 23 July 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 interests which they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

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 People and the Service Director (Place Development).

This report was previously submitted to the 23 July 2012 meeting of the Scrutiny Committee where that element of the report which related to Adult Care Services was deferred to this meeting.

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.

Scrutiny Committee is recommended to consider and comment on the Adult Care Services Portfolio Agreement.

Officer contact: Terry Dafter on 474 4401 or email: terry.dafter@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Adult Social Care) submitted a 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.

The Scrutiny Committee had given consideration to the Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreements that related to the Health and Wellbeing and Supporting Communities portfolios at its meeting on 23 July 2012, but deferred consideration of that part of the report that related to the Adult Care Services to this meeting.

The Executive Councillor for Adult Care Services (Councillor Daniel Hawthorne) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Members asked questions in relation to the grant received as a result of a successful bid to be part of the Adult Social Care Efficiency programme.

·         Members expressed concern with regard to the number of proposed redundancies of home support workers at Independent Solutions SK and it was questioned why members of the Scrutiny Committee had not been advised of this development in advance of the meeting.

·         How realistic was it for Independent Solutions SK to continue to meet demand in the light of recent developments with regards to proposed redundancies within the organisation.

·         Further information was requested in relation to examples of integrated locality working in relation to generic care teams linkning community health services, social care services and specialist nurses.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Service Director (Adult Social Care) be requested to extend an invitation to representatives of Unison to attend the 15 October 2012 meeting of the Scrutiny Committee to address the meeting with regard to proposed redundancies of home support workers at Independent Solutions SK.

To consider a joint report of the Service Director (Adult Social Care)

and (Place Development).

The purpose of this report is to provide a detailed overview of performance which relates to the Adults and Communities Scrutiny Committee.

The information is provided in the form of the Quarter 1 2012/13 Portfolio Performance and Resources Reports for each of the Portfolios having functions within the remit of the Adults and Communities Scrutiny Committee namely: Adult Care Services, Health and Wellbeing and Supporting Communities.

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.

Information was provided in the form of the Quarter One 2012/13 Portfolio Performance and Resources Reports for each of the Portfolios having functions within the remit of the Adults and Communities Scrutiny Committee namely: Adult Care Services, Health and Wellbeing and Supporting Communities.

The Executive Councillors for Adult Care Services (Councillor Daniel Hawthorne), Health and Wellbeing (Councillor John Pantall) and Supporting Communities (Councillor Mark Weldon) attended the meeting to answer member’s questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Clarification was sought on the proposed roll-out of the ‘case-finding pilot’ that had taken place with the Brinnington GP practice.

·         Questions were raised with regard to the methodology used by Pennine Care NHS Trust to calculate the numbers of secondary mental health users being supported into employment and settled accommodation.

·         Members expressed concern with regard to the Council’s ability to effectively monitor contracts and the service delivery to members of the public.

·         Further information was requested with regard to the response rates to surveys monitoring levels of satisfaction amongst service users.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Development).

The report outlines the Council’s new duty to produce a Tenancy Strategy before 1 January 2013.  The Strategy should present the Council’s view on the use of fixed term tenancies, instead of “lifetime” tenancies, in properties in its ownership and that of Registered (Housing) Providers, often known as Housing Associations, in the Borough.  The draft strategy states that the Council does not want fixed term tenancies used in the Borough at all.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to consider and comment upon the draft Strategy.

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

A representative of the Service Director (Place Development) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the Council’s new duty to produce a Tenancy Strategy before 1 January 2013.  The Strategy presented the Council’s view on the use of fixed term tenancies, instead of “lifetime” tenancies, in properties in its ownership and that of Registered (Housing) Providers, often known as Housing Associations, in the Borough.  The draft strategy further stated that as a principle the Council was opposed to the use of fixed term tenancies in the Borough.

The Scrutiny Committee was also asked to provide feedback on the potential use of fixed-term tenancies in very limited circumstances such as those properties which had been adapted for disabled use or four bedroom homes where demand far exceeded supply.

The Executive Councillor for Supporting Communities (Councillor Mark Weldon) attended the meeting to answer member’s questions.

A discussion ensued with regard to the benefits or otherwise of the introduction of fixed-term tenancies in limited circumstances with members expressing a variety of opinions on the matter.  It was suggested that the Scrutiny Committee would be unable to take a definitive view on the matter until such a point that there was more detail available on how any proposed scheme would operate, and in particular the safeguards that would be put in place to protect tenants.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Service Director (Place Development) be requested to submit a further report to a future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee with regard to the necessary safeguards that would need to be instituted to facilitate the introduction of any fixed-term tenancies for disabled adapted and larger properties.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Development).

As part of the Council’s empty property strategy the Executive authority for compulsory purchase orders to be made to support the renovation and improvement of individual houses that were found to be unfit for habitation. This has proved very successful but on occasions the mere threat of the use of compulsion has led to houses being brought back into use without the use of compulsory purchase powers.

However even when compulsory purchase powers are not used the Executive authority remains and continues to be revealed on the results of local land charges searches and enquires. This has caused difficulties to owners and potential buyers of houses that are fit for use as the presence of the Executive authority to make a compulsory purchase order has frustrated and fettered the property transaction.

Action therefore needs to be taken to rescind the Executive authority to authorise the use of compulsory purchase powers as this will allow the resolution to be removed from the local land charges register.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on proposals to rescind Compulsory Purchase order resolutions on the properties named in the report.

Officer contact: Sam McNichol on 474 4242 or email: sam.mcnichol@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Place Development) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing proposals to rescind the Executive authority to authorise the use of compulsory purchase powers at a number of properties to allow the resolution to be removed from the local land charges register.

It was reported that as part of the Council’s empty property strategy there is Executive authority for compulsory purchase orders to be made to support the renovation and improvement of individual houses that were found to be unfit for habitation. This has proved very successful but on occasions the mere threat of the use of compulsion has led to houses being brought back into use without the use of compulsory purchase powers.

However, even when compulsory purchase powers are not used the Executive authority remains and continues to be revealed on the results of local land charges searches and enquires. This has caused difficulties to owners and potential buyers of houses that are fit for use as the presence of the Executive authority to make a compulsory purchase order has frustrated and fettered the property transaction.

RESOLVED – That the Executive be recommended to rescind Compulsory Purchase order resolutions on the properties named in the report.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Adult Care Services).

Following the submission of the final report of the Adults & Communities Scrutiny Committee’s Review ‘Safeguarding and Personalisation in Adult Social Care’ to the Executive on 9 July 2012, a response to the recommendations of the Review has been prepared and subsequently approved by the Executive at its meeting on 20 August 2012.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to note and comment on the Executive Response as detailed at Appendix 1 to the report.

Officer contact: Jude Wells, 07800 618811, jude.wells@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Adult Social Care) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the Executive’s response to the ‘Safeguarding and Personalisation in Adult Social Care’ Scrutiny Review adopted by the Executive at its meeting on 20 August 2012.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Executive’s response be noted.

(2) That the Service Director (Adult Social Care) be requested to submit a report to the Scrutiny Committee in six months’ time providing an update on progress made with regard to the implementation of the recommendations of the Scrutiny Review.

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 – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That in addition to those members appointed to the scrutiny review in respect of ‘residential and nursing care and the issue of isolation in the community’, Councillor Mike Wilson also be appointed.