Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 26 April 2016.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 26 May 2016 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 declaration was made:-

Personal Interest

To consider call-in items (if any).

There were no call-in items to consider.

RESOLVED – That in order to prevent the disclosure of information that was ‘not for publication’ by virtue of paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) in that it contained ‘information relating to the financial or business affairs of an individual (including the Council)’, the disclosure of which would not be in the public interest and would breach Data Protection principals, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the appendix to Agenda Item 6 - ‘Borough Care Investment Programme Update’ (see Minute 7 below).

To consider a joint report of the Corporate Directors for People and Place Management & Regeneration.

The report presents the draft 2016/17 Agreements for the Adult Social Care and Communities and Housing Portfolios (Appendices 1 & 2) for consideration and comment by the Committee.

Policy priorities for the year ahead are set out within the Agreements, incorporating the existing Council and Borough Plan priority outcomes alongside specific priorities of the new Executive.

The Agreements will form the basis for regular in-year reporting. Portfolio and Corporate Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs and CPRRs) will assess progress against key objectives, priorities, outcomes and budgets, enabling Scrutiny Committees to hold the Executive to account and for the Executive to identify current and future risks to delivery.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to review and comment on the draft Portfolio Agreements.

Officer contacts: Supporting Adults (Karen Kime/ Joyer Gibson on 474 3574/ 5875 or email: karen.kime@stockport.gov.uk/ joyer.gibson@stockport.gov.uk

Thriving Economy (Joe Conmee/ Michael Cullen on 474 5396/ 4631 or email: joseph.conmee@stockport.gov.uk/ michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillors for Adult Social Care and Communities & Housing submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing out the draft 2016/17 Agreements for the Adult Social Care and Communities & Housing Portfolios, which set out the policy priorities for the year ahead and incorporating the existing Council and Borough Plan priority outcomes alongside specific priorities of the new Executive.

The Agreements would form the basis for regular in-year reporting. The Scrutiny Committee were invited to comment on the draft Agreement prior to its adoption by the Executive.

The Executive Councillors for Adult Social Care (Councillor Wendy Wild) and Communities & Housing (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to answer councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

Adult Social Care

·         The Council was working towards the introduction of a Stockport Ethical Care Charter to tackle issues of low pay, training and travel time for home care workers.

·         Work was still taking place to identify and secure physical bases for the eight neighbourhood teams under the Stockport Together programme.

Communities and Housing

·         In relation to the proposal to create a publicly-owned construction and maintenance company to build and maintain affordable housing, it was commented that it was important to ensure that this provided value for money.

·         The proposal to regulate the private rented sector was welcomed.

·         It was noted that Stockport Homes currently operated a reputable and successful private sector lettings agency.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The report provides information to support scrutiny committees in the oversight of the work of the Safer Stockport Partnership.  The report will be accompanied by a presentation which will outline key performance trends, the proposed SSP priorities for 2016/17 and recently agreed changes to governance arrangements for the Partnership.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

(1) Consider the proposed themes for the 2016/17 SSP Plan set out in Section 3 of the report.

(2) Note the proposed governance arrangements for the SSP set out in section 4 of the report.

(3) Comment on key data trends and information within the presentation.

Officer contact: Steve Skelton on 0161 474 3174, or email: steve.skelton@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive and Greater Manchester Police submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the proposed changes to governance arrangements for the Safer Stockport Partnership.

The Scrutiny Committee also received a presentation from Superintendent Jo Rogerson and Mr Steve Skelton outlining key performance trends in 2015/16 and priorities for 2016/17.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         In response a to a concern about reductions in the number of PCSOs allocated to the Marple area, it was confirmed that while there may be changes to personnel, there were no proposals to make any changes to the number allocated to the area.

·         It was commented that following the closure of Reddish Police Station, the frequency with which the police and PCSOs were seen in the community reduced.  In response it was stated that while the operational base had changed, there should have been no associated reduction in the time that was spent in the community.  The proposal to reopen Reddish Police Station was welcomed by the Scrutiny Committee.

·         The devolution of further criminal justice and offender management powers to Greater Manchester would allow for further flexibility to experiment and find out more quickly which interventions worked and had an impact.

·         The work undertaken to tackle organised crime in Brinnington was welcomed.

·         It was commented that the police used to attend Stockport’s area committees to provide an update on local policing issues, and that this approach to community policing was greatly missed.  It was suggested that the police should strive to find ways to engage with local councillors and residents which may include using the area committees as a vehicle to achieve this.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That Superintendent Jo Rogerson and Mr Steve Skelton be thanked for their attendance and presentation.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The report provides an update on progress of the project and to recommend that land at Booth Street, Edgeley be released for the development of a new care home as it is critical to the success of the Borough Care Investment Programme.

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

Officer contact: Murray Carr on 0161 474 3019 or email: murray.carr@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) report providing an update on progress of the Borough Care Investment Programme and proposing that land at Booth Street (Edgeley) be released for the development of a new care home as it was critical to the success of the Borough Care Investment Programme.

The Executive Councillor for Adult Social Care (Councillor Wendy Wild) attended the meeting to answer councillors’ questions.

·         It was noted that since the proposals had originally been considered by the Scrutiny Committee further risk had been identified due to the current lack of availability of care home beds in Stockport and that an alternative strategy has therefore developed which requires the building of additional capacity at the front end of the programme in the form of a new care home on a new site at Booth Street, Edgeley.

·         It was stated that the revised proposals could still be accommodated within the original affordability envelope of £20m.

·         There were no plans to change the nature of the business undertaken by Borough Care as a result of these proposals, namely being predominantly a dementia care provider.

·         It was commented that the number of moves that a resident would be required to make should be kept to a minimum, and that there was an aspiration that a resident would be required to make only one move as a result of these proposals.

·         Residents should be at the core of the proposals and it was acknowledged that these proposals recognised that.

·         There needed to a broad and wide ranging communications programme put in place with residents to dispel concerns at an early stage and reassure residents.

·         A discussion took place in relation to the use of the remainder of the Booth Street site that would not be occupied by Borough Care. 

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Deputy Chief Executive be recommended to submit a report to a future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee to provide an update on the progression of the scheme.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The report details proposals for the selection of Scrutiny Review topics by Scrutiny Committees to be carried out during the 2016/17 municipal year.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the selection of Scrutiny Review topics to be carried out during the 2015/16 municipal year.

Officer Contact: Stephen Fox on Tel: 474 3206 or email: stephen.fox@stockport.gov.uk

The Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the process for the selection of Scrutiny Review topics by Scrutiny Committees to be carried out during the 2016/17 municipal year.

It was noted that the report would also be submitted to the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee on 1 August 2016.

It was commented that the Scrutiny Committee may wish to consider undertaking a scrutiny review in respect of the regulation and selective licensing of private sector landlords.

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 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 – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Deputy Chief Executive be recommended to submit a further report to the Scrutiny Committee in six months’ time in relation to the implementation of the changes to the Safer Stockport Partnership (see Minute 6 above).