Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 31 October 2016.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 31 October 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.

No declarations of interest were made.

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 Place Management & Regeneration.

The Final Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs) for the Adult Social Care and Communities & Housing Portfolios are presented for consideration by the Committee. This provides a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects since the mid-year report, with a focus on the third quarter of the year (October to December). It includes forecast performance data (where this is available) and projected financial data for the Portfolio, along with an update on the portfolio savings programmes.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider and comment on the report.

Officer contact: Anthony Higson/ Emma Bowe  on 0161 474 4815, 0161 218 1026 or email: Anthony.higson@stockport.gov.uk / emma.bowe@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 Social Care and Communities & Housing Portfolios providing a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects since the mid-year report, with a focus on the third quarter of the year (October to December).  The report also included forecast performance data (where this is available) and projected financial data for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programmes.

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

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

Adult Social Care

·         The arrangements for access to support and advice for carers was discussed.

·         As budgetary pressures continued, it would be necessary to rely further on the work of volunteers.

·         It was commented that the local situation with regard to delayed transfers of care was reflective of a wider national trend.

·         The Council had invested in additional care home capacity in advance of the winter period and it was hoped to continue this provision into the future.

·         Work continued to take place to expedite discharges from hospital.

·         Concern was expressed that there was insufficient detail from the Executive in terms of the budgetary arrangements for Adult Social Care in advance of the Budget Council Meeting in February.

·         It was stated that the CareQuality team within Adult Social Care was working with the residential care home sector to improve the quality of care being provided. 

·         It was suggested that the Scrutiny Committee could benefit from a presentation on the work of the Care Quality Team at a future meeting of the committee.

Communities & Housing

·         Further information was requested on the trend relating to the number of prosecutions of private landlords.

·         The Council did use compulsory purchase powers to bring empty properties back into use where necessary, however property owners largely responded in advance an Order being issued.

·         Concern was expressed about the security of tenure of people in private rented accommodation and what pressure could be exerted on the government to make legislative changes to improve this situation.

·         It was commented that the Council had previously made representations in relation to the introduction of a mandatory registration scheme for private landlords, however this had not been supported by the government.

·         It was suggested that the committee could receive a report on how the housing standards system worked to a future meeting.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a joint report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration and the Borough Treasurer.

The purpose of this report is to provide the Scrutiny Committee with the opportunity to comment on an illustrative Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget. The Executive will be meeting on 7 February to recommend to Council an HRA budget for 2017/18, including the level of rent and service charges.  The illustrative budget is based on a number of key assumptions set out in the report regarding income from rent and service charges; expenditure commitments contained within the HRA 30 year Business Plan and Asset Management Strategy and indicative spending requirements to support inflationary pressures and identified investment priorities.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to comment on the report and the illustrative HRA Budget for 2017/18. 

Officer contact: Michael Cullen  on  0161 474 4631 or email michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the illustrative Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget including the level of rent and service charges.  The illustrative budget was based on a number of key assumptions set out in the report regarding income from rent and service charges; expenditure commitments contained within the HRA 30 year Business Plan and Asset Management Strategy and indicative spending requirements to support inflationary pressures and identified investment priorities.

The Executive Councillor for Communities & Housing (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

RESOLVED – That the Council meeting be recommended to give approval to the proposed Housing Revenue Account Budget as detailed in the report.

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.