Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 27 February 2017.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 27 February 2017 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 presentation from representatives of the Corporate Director for People.

Managers within the Adult Social Care Market Development, Quality and Commissioning Service (Vince Fraga and Gill Walters), will lead a presentation and discussion on quality within the external commissioning environment for social care, with a particular emphasis on Care Homes and Home Care.  They will describe the current position and future plans in the context of the Care Act which requires local authorities to help develop a market that delivers a wide range of sustainable high-quality care and support services.

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

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

Vince Fraga and Gill Walters (Adult Social Care Market Development, Quality and Commissioning Service, Stockport Council) attended the meeting and lead a presentation and discussion on quality within the external commissioning environment for social care, with a particular emphasis on Care Homes and Home Care.  The presentation described the current position and future plans in the context of the Care Act which required local authorities to help develop a market that delivered a wide range of sustainable high-quality care and support services.

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

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         There was only one dedicated extra care facility in Stockport and the challenge was trying to meet demand through provision within existing facilities.

·         It was noted that no residential care homes had been assessed as being outstanding within Stockport and it was suggested that best practice in the management of the market from elsewhere in Greater Manchester should be examined with a view to implementing it in Stockport.

·         Recruitment and retention within the sector continued to be a challenge.

·         In response to a question about the perception that care quality was reactive to CQC inspections, it was stated that there was a lot of proactive work that took place to improve standards across the sector.

·         Work was ongoing to address the contributory factors in the rating of those homes that had been assessed as being inadequate.

·         A discussion took place in relation to the benefits of integrating residential care provision with the NHS as a means of increasing the professionalisation of the service and to raise standards.

·         Concern was expressed in relation to the long term sustainability of the sector in the light of rising demand, increasing costs and complexity of care and the ongoing difficulty for the Council in procuring suitable care at the pricing level set by the Council.

RESOLVED – That Vince Fraga and Gill Walters be thanked for their attendance and presentation.

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

This is a standing item which has been placed on the agenda at the request of the Scrutiny Committee on 21 September 2015 to allow officers to provide an update on any developments with regard to recent announcements from the government relating to social housing.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on 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 & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the likely impact of recent policy announcements including the Housing Bill 2015 and the Comprehensive Spending Review with regard to social housing.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The United Kingdom was outlier in its relatively high proportion of home ownership.

·         There was an unmet demand in Stockport for more social housing.

·         There was a concern about the security of tenure for those in the private rented sector which made rental accommodation less desirable.

·         The greatest need for social housing was in those areas which were in the highest value areas where the cost of building such accommodation was also highest.

·         The number of Right to Buy applications was currently running below original estimates.

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 0161 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.