Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 30 April 2014.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 30 April 2014 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.

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 for Corporate and Support Services.

Following the submission of the final report of the Corporate, Resource Management & Governance and Adult Care Services & Housing Scrutiny Committees Joint Scrutiny Review "Impact of Welfare Reform” on 18 March 2014, a response to the recommendations of the Review has been prepared and subsequently approved by the Executive at its meeting on 17 June 2014.

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

Officer contact: Alison Blount on 0161 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) setting out the Executive’s response to the final report of the Corporate, Resource Management & Governance and Adult Care Services & Housing Scrutiny Committees’ Joint Scrutiny Review  on the Impact of Welfare Reform” which had been adopted by the Executive at its meeting on 17 June 2014.

The Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services) attended the meeting to answer Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·        A discussion took place with regard to the improvement that had been made to the Council’s website and the impact on accessibility and consequent increase in applications being made online.  It was stated that notwithstanding those improvements that had already been made, it was acknowledged that there remained scope for further enhancements.

·        It was commented that the Council needed to secure appropriate legal advice in relation to any proposal to amend the Council’s contracting arrangements to make provision for a minimum number of apprenticeships as part of the tendering process.

·        It was noted that work needed to be done to ensure that Stockport Credit Union was able to more readily respond to customer demand to combat the impact of loan sharks and pay day lenders.

RESOLVED – That the Executive’s response be noted.

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

The report sets out what Stockport Homes will deliver during the period 2014-2015; 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.

This report had been deferred from the 3 March 2014 meeting of the Scrutiny Committee pending the resubmission of a revised report to include those figures which had been omitted from the Delivery Plan resulting from the 2013/14 year end data not being available at the time of publication.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to consider and comment on the Stockport Homes Delivery Plan 2014-15 and note the report.

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

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out what Stockport Homes would deliver during the period 2014-2015; 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 those objectives.

The Chair reported that this item had been deferred from the 3 March 2014 meeting of the Scrutiny Committee pending the resubmission of a revised report to include those figures which had been omitted from the Delivery Plan resulting from the 2013/14 year end data having not been available at the time of publication.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·        In making a decision on whether to make an adaption to a property or to rehouse a tenant to a more suitable property, the needs of the tenant needed to be balanced against Stockport Homes’ ability to make the most of the available housing stock.

·        The first cohort of users of the Supporting Families Programme tended not to be tenants of Stockport Homes.

·        A discussion took place in relation to the current and potential future sources of fuel for Stockport Homes’ biomass boilers.

·        It was noted that Stockport Homes had recently assumed responsibility for the management of a number of the Council’s community centres, and further details were requested on the location, status and future alternative uses of these buildings.

·        The need to assess the impact of the Delivery Plan was commented upon.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The Options Appraisal process methodology and project plan was approved at the Executive Meeting on the 17 December 2013.  The methodology proposed an Officer Working Group reporting to a Project Board lead by the Council’s Chief Executive Officer.  This structure has been adopted.  It also detailed the appointment of an Independent Tenant Advisor and schedule of tenant involvement and consultation.  Again, this approach has been implemented. 

This report details activity undertaken since and proposals for the next phase of the project, including: 

·         The updated project plan; 

·         Financial viability and options to be taken forward for further consideration; 

·         Customer involvement and consultation, and ; 

·         The evaluation criteria and assessment. 

Approval for the proposals, taking consideration of the views of this Scrutiny Committee, will be sought at the Executive Meeting on the 15 July 2014.

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

Officer contact: Andy Kippax on 0161 474 4319 or email: andy.kippax@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on activity undertaken since the approval of the Housing Stock Options Appraisal process methodology by the Executive on 17 December 2013 and the proposals for the next phase of the project.

The Executive Councillor (Economic Development & Regeneration) attended the meeting to answer Members’ questions.

·        The extent to which the evaluation criteria had been based on proven examples of best practice around the country was discussed.  In response it was stated that the proposed criteria had been informed by what had happened elsewhere but were bespoke to Stockport.

·        Transparency and democratic accountability needed to be embedded within whichever structure was adopted for the management of the Council’ housing stock in the future.

·        It was requested that details of the consultation with tenants be circulated to members of the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – (1) That this Scrutiny Committee supports the proposed removal of the stock transfer option from any further evaluation as part of the Housing Stock Options Appraisal process.

(2) That this Scrutiny Committee endorses the proposed evaluation criteria and the assessment process to be used to consider the remaining two options.

To consider a joint report of the Corporate Director for Services to People and the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration.

The Annual Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRR) for the Adult Care Services, and Communities and Sustainability Portfolios are presented for consideration by the Committee. These provide a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, budgets and capital programmes during 2013/14, and include out-turn performance and financial data for the Portfolio. The reports also include a progress report and updated risk assessment of the portfolio savings programmes. 

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

a)    Consider the Annual Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports,  

b)   Review the progress against priorities, performance, budgets and savings targets for 2013/14;

c)    Highlight key areas of and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any performance or resource issues.

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

Officer contact: Gaynor Alexander on 474 3186 or email: gaynor.alexander@stockport.gov.uk or Joe Conmee on 474 5396 or email: joseph.conmee@stockport.gov.uk

Representatives of the Corporate Director for Services to People and the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a joint report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the Annual Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports for the Adult Care Services, and Communities and Sustainability Portfolios.  The report provided a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, budgets and capital programmes during 2013/14, and included out-turn performance and financial data for the Portfolio. The report also included a progress report and updated risk assessment of the portfolio savings programmes.

The Executive Councillor (Adult Care Services) and (Economic Development and Regeneration) attended the meeting to answer Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

Adult Care Services

·        The Council was reviewing its contracts with the NHS to ensure that they provided an appropriate focus on the promotion of public health and prevention as a means of reducing demand on services..

·        It was noted that the Right to Control Project had been terminated and details of the impact of this was requested.

·        It was requested that details of the impact of the forthcoming Care and Support Bill be circulated to members of the Scrutiny Committee.

Economic Development & Regeneration (Housing)

·        An update was provided on progress with regard to the process for maximising the land available for housing development in Stockport with 87 sits having now been identified.  It was further commented that there was a review taking place of that land which had previously been identified for employment uses.

·        The uptake of the revised right to buy offer had not been as high as originally projected.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a joint report of the Corporate Director for Services to People and the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration.

The Council Meeting on 27 February 2014 approved the 2014/15 Revenue Budget, Capital Programme and Medium Term Financial Plan. On 3 April, following consideration by the CRMG Scrutiny Committee and Executive, it also approved a refreshed version of the 2013/15 Council Plan, setting out priority outcomes and objectives that will shape the Council’s activities.  These high-level documents outline the Council’s key priorities, objectives and spending plans, providing the basis for performance and resource monitoring over the next 12 months.

Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreements have been drafted for the Adult Care Services and Economic Development & Regeneration Portfolios which are within the remit of the Adult Social Care and Housing Scrutiny Committee.

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

Officer contact: Gaynor Alexander on 474 3186 or email: gaynor.alexander@stockport.gov.uk or Joe Conmee on 474 5396 or email: joseph.conmee@stockport.gov.uk

Representatives of the Corporate Director for Services to People and the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a joint report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the Adult Care Services and Economic Development and Regeneration Portfolio Agreements for 2014/2015. The agreements outlined the functions within the control of the Portfolios, the revenue budget, capital programme, key objectives, projects and measures and risks which would form the basis of the quarterly portfolio reports.

The Executive Councillor (Adult Care Services) and (Economic Development and Regeneration) attended the meeting to answer Members’ questions.

Members expressed concern that a target within the report had been reduced to reflect volatility in the current client group. The concern was expressed that the Council should continue to set itself robust and challenging targets, rather than modify the target to make it easier to achieve. In response, it was stated that the rationale for the variation of the target would be circulated to members of the Scrutiny Committee.

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 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 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.