Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 27 October 2014.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 27 October 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 joint report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration and the Corporate Director for Services to People.

The report details the Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRR) for the Adult Care Services, and Economic Development and Regeneration Portfolios are presented for consideration by the Committee. These provide a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, budgets and capital programmes during the second quarter of 2014/15, and include full-year forecast 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

(1) Consider the mid-year Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports.

(2) Review the progress against priorities, performance, budgets and savings targets for 2013/14.

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

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

Officer contacts: Adult Care Services (Gaynor Alexander/ Simon Finch on 474 3186/ 4019 or email: gaynor.alexander@stockport.gov.uk / simon.finch@stockport.gov.uk

Economic Development and Regeneration (Joe Conmee/ Michael Cullen on 474 5396/ 4631 or email: joseph.conmee@stockport.gov.uk / michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk

Representatives of the Corporate Directors for People and Place Management & Regeneration submitted a joint report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports for the Adult Care Services and the housing element of the Economic Development & Regeneration Portfolios.  The report provided a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, budgets and capital programmes during the second quarter of 2014/15, and included full-year forecast performance and financial data for the Portfolio along with a progress report and updated risk assessment of the portfolio savings programmes.

The Executive Councillors for Adult Care Services (Councillor Keith Holloway) and Economic Development & Regeneration (Councillor Patrick McAuley) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

Adult Care Services

·         A discussion took place in relation to the roll-out of GP multi-disciplinary meetings in Romiley which placed GPs at the core of patient care while encouraging integrated working across Complex Care.

·         Lessons were still being learned from the roll-out of the health and social care integration programme in Marple and Werneth with particular regard being given to information sharing through different IT systems and the difficulties of drawing together different practitioners into one cohesive team.

·         It was noted that the report identified the mental health budget as being a key area of concern and it was queried how the budget had rapidly arrived at a significant deficit in Quarter 2.  In response it was stated that there was a cohort of a relatively small number of individuals with very complex mental health needs that needed an emergency response which necessitated the use of expensive support packages.

·         Following the termination of the ‘no top up guarantee’ for residential and nursing care in April 2014, a review would be conducted at such a time that it became apparent the Council was unable to secure a reasonable choice of residential care placements for clients within the Council’s price point.

·         It was requested that information relating to the deprivation of liberty standards be included in future such reports to the scrutiny committee.

Economic Development & Regeneration (Housing)

·         It was suggested that the Council was not being sufficiently ambitious in its target setting for the number of additional homes provided with an increase of 16 over the target for 2013/14 having been set for 2014/15.

·         The Council had made good progress with regard to ‘voids’ and that this had been partially achieved through to changes to the Council tax base so as to incentivise owners to bring properties back into use.

·         Clarification was requested on what those reserves identified in the report had been earmarked towards.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council and the Deputy Leader (Executive Councillor for Corporate, Customer and Community Services).

The report sets out the process of and key issues and themes arising from consultation on those Investing in Stockport proposals that are within the remit of this Scrutiny Committee; specifically:-

(i)         Preventative commissioning strategy

(ii)        Integrated Care – Adult Social Care and Health

(iii)       0-25 SEND Review

(iv)       Learning Disability Review

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to review the findings of the consultation exercises related to the Investing in Stockport projects within their remit and provide comments.

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

A joint report of the Leader of the Council and the Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services) was submitted (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the outcome of consultations undertaken on the Draft Business Cases for the Executive’s Investing in Stockport Proposals, previously considered by the Scrutiny Committee.

The Executive Councillors for Adult Care Services (Councillor Keith Holloway) and Economic Development & Regeneration (Councillor Patrick McAuley) and appropriate project leads attended the meeting to answer councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:

Preventative commissioning strategy

·         A breakdown of the 68 respondents to the consultation was requested.

·         The next steps for the progression of the strategy was discussed and it was noted that those agencies that currently worked with the Council had already been given notice that their services may end in April 2015.  Work was now being undertaken to contact those organisations whose services would be decommissioned after that time. 

Integrated Care – Adult Social Care and Health

No comments were made in respect of this business case.

Learning Disability Review

·         It was proposed that panels would be established to examine the risk and implications for human rights of the proposals on a case by case basis with particular regard to bringing people back from poor quality care settings a long way from Stockport.

0-25 SEND Review

·         The consultation identified a potential for legal challenge around the proposed changes to the Council’s short breaks provision.  In response it was stated that the Council had taken legal advice and that the legislation surrounding short breaks was open to wide interpretation, but that each case was looked at on its own merits.

·         It was clear from the consultation that the proposed changes would have a significant impact on families and consideration was being given as to how, or if, mitigation could be put in place.

·         It was commented that the provision of short breaks allowed individuals to continue to be cared for within their families and it was important that carers continued to be supported.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The report details proposals to modernise the council’s approach to community meals provision and ancillary catering services. This would involve officers working closely with people (and their families/carers) to make more individually tailored meal arrangements as part of the support planning process using personal budgets as appropriate. The Council would continue to provide assistance to people in arranging meals support but not in future act as a commissioner or provider of the service.

Consideration of this item was deferred from the last meeting of the Scrutiny Committee pending the submission of a detailed financial overview of the community meals service over the previous five year period; the potential options available for the retention of the service; and information on those alternative providers currently operating on a commercial basis within the marketplace

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

Officer contact: Vincent Fraga on 474 4401 or email: vincent.fraga@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing proposals to modernise the Council’s approach to community meals provision and ancillary catering services by continuing to provide assistance to people in arranging meals support by making more individually tailored meal arrangements using personal budgets.  As part of the proposals, the Council would cease to act as a commissioner or provider of the service.

The Executive Councillor for Adult Care Services (Councillor Keith Holloway) attended the meeting to answer councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The process for setting income targets for the service was flawed and did not reflect the income received in previous years.

·         There was a need to ensure that the quality of any alternative community meals provision was monitored.

·         A review would be undertaken of current service users in the context of the wider services they received.

·         The community meals service had added benefits in terms of safeguarding and identifying concerns.

·         Concern was expressed in relation to the timing of the consultation with particular regard to it taking place over the winter when service users may be more reluctant to participate. 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

This report has been submitted following a request from the Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 15 September 2014. 

The report outlines the various types of affordable housing, the Councils’ Affordable Housing Policy and the supply of new affordable homes in the borough

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 explanation of the various types of affordable housing, outlining the Council’s own Affordable Housing Policy and providing information on the supply of new affordable homes in the borough.

The Executive Councillor for Economic Development & Regeneration (Councillor Patrick McAuley) attended the meeting to answer councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The Housing Needs Assessment in 2011 identified that 65% of people were unable to afford to buy or rent properties at market price and the extent to which this fact had influenced the current housing policy was discussed.

·         Concern was expressed that there was a consistent failure to meet the Council’s affordable housing policy requirements in those areas with the highest property prices.

·         It was commented that it would be useful to see information from comparator authorities on how they met their affordable housing requirements.

·         The benefits of accommodation available on a social rent was raised and the prospect of such housing being included within future developments across the borough.

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.