Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 13 February 2013.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 13 February 2013 were approved as a correct record.

No declarations of interest were made.

To consider a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Policy, Strategy, Partnerships and Transformation)

The report details a draft version of the final report of the Panel.

The Panel is requested to comment on and approve the final report prior to its submission to the Adults & Communities Scrutiny Committee.

Officer contact: Gaynor Alexander, tel: 0161 474 3186 email: gaynor.alexander@stockport.gov.uk

The draft final report of the Scrutiny Review Panel was submitted (copies of which had been circulated) for consideration.

The following issues were raised/ comments made:-

·         Councillors praised the draft final report and acknowledged participants and officers’ contributions to the Scrutiny Review.

·         A suggestion was made for the inclusion of ‘poor mobility’ to external factors that could also act as a barrier to social engagement (paragraph 2.2.2 of the draft version of the final report).

·         Officers in Stockport Homes were working with Adult Social Care to enhance services to older people in the Borough.  The Community Sheltered Scheme Managers’ Service was a six month pilot where services would be offered to older people outside the scheme, services would include a weekly welfare visit and telephone call to encourage participants to benefit from the social activities schemes.

·         A councillor highlighted the importance of a continuous care volunteer network and that volunteers should be working together.

·         The importance of integrating care schemes within the local community was discussed.

·         Councillors wished to emphasise that residential care homes and sheltered housing schemes provided an ideal forum for promoting social inclusion amongst older people and requested that reference to the potential role of residential care homes be included in the final report.

·         A councillor raised concern at the lack of access to transport, the cost and the process of booking transport with particular providers in the Borough. 

·         Councillors praised the ‘hub’ model of an integrated service comprising of social work and voluntary sector care teams located together.

·         The importance of using the media such as ‘The Review’ and Pure Radio to raise awareness of the range of services and social activities available in Stockport.

·         Clarification was sought in respect of whether Stockport Homes’ tower blocks provided Wi-Fi for residents and the distribution of local papers – Stockport Times to residents.

·         Councillors praised the ‘Case Finding Project’ and recommended that the project be ‘rolled out’ wider in the Borough.

·         A councillor raised concern at the difficulties encountered when researching volunteering opportunities in Stockport using the Internet and highlighted the importance of a central hub.

·         A request was made for additional information in relation to the Stockport priority areas receiving £10,000 to explore ways in which community initiatives could be formally established and made sustainable.

·         A councillor suggested a forum for Voluntary groups to be established to raise and discuss issues, share ideas, network and collaborate together.

·         Members highlighted the importance and power of social media and sought clarification regarding the area covered by the Stockport Times newspaper and Pure 107.8 FM radio station.

RESOLVED – (1) That all participants involved in the Scrutiny Review Panel be thanked for their contribution to the Review.

(2) That the draft final report be endorsed and that the additional comments be incorporated into the final report for consideration by the Adults & Communities Scrutiny Committee.

(3) That the final Scrutiny Review Panel report be circulated to the following for information; The Health Scrutiny Committee; Health & Wellbeing Board; and the Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust.