Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 12 September 2016.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 12 September 2016 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made.

No urgent decisions were reported.

Members of the public are invited to put questions to the Chair on any matters within the powers and duties of the Committee, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice. (Questions must be submitted prior to the commencement of the meeting on the card provided.  These are available at the meeting. You can also submit via the Council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/publicquestions)

Members of the public were invited to put questions to the Chair on any matters within the powers and duties of the Area Committee, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice.

No public questions were submitted.

To consider a report of the Director of Corporate Services, Stockport Homes.

The report provides an update on the impact of previous housing policy reforms and commentary on the projected impact of forthcoming changes.

The Committee are invited to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Tanya King on Tel: 474 2887 or email:tanya.king@stockporthomes.org

The Director of Corporate Services, Stockport Homes submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing information in respect to the impact of previous housing policy reforms and the projected impact of forthcoming changes. The report also set out how the company would respond to those challenges and requested Councillors to comment on the proposals detailed in the report.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Average arrears for universal credit claimants was considerably higher on non-UC rent accounts. Despite considerable challenges posed by the welfare reforms, overall collection levels remained high.

·         Councillors discussed under occupancy rates and the reduction in the number of under occupiers.

·         Councillors noted that the Council’s Allocation Policy had bene approved in December 2016 and included an affordability criteria which would be implemented at the end of February 2017.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Neighbourhoods and Support, Stockport Homes.

The report provides and update on efforts to support customers into employment, training and volunteering.

The Committee are invited to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Simon Welch on Tel: 474 3715 or email: simon.welch@stockporthomes.org

The Director for Neighbourhoods and Support, Stockport Homes submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Committee with an update on work undertaken to support customers into employment, training, volunteering and the future vision to support more customers.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Councillors welcomed the fact that in 2015/2016, 240 customers had been supported into employment, training or were enabled to deliver over 50 plus hours of volunteering per person. To build on the success, in January 2017 a single, co-ordinated pathway for all referrals to employment, training and volunteering support had been created.

·         Councillors were provided with an update on the role of and work undertaken by the Athena Group which had secured a total of £9.7m of funding through the Building Better Opportunities Programme.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Finance, Stockport Homes.

The report provides and update on the Company Structures Project.

The Committee are invited to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Carmel Chambers on Tel: 474 2840 or email:carmel.chambers@stockporthomes.org

The Director of Finance, Stockport Homes submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Committee with an update in respect to the Corporate Structures project.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Councillors enquired as to who had been appointed as Chairs of the subsidiary Boards and to the membership of those Boards. A business case on the future of the companies would be considered at the March Stockport Homes Board.

·         Councillors asked that the Committee receive regular updates on the continued work and development of the Company.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Finance, Stockport Homes.

The report provides an update on the financial performance of the company between April 2016 and December 2016.

The Committee are invited to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Suzanne Whelan on Tel: 474 4410 or email:suzanne.whelan@stockporthomes.org

The Director of Finance, Stockport Homes submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on financial performance between April 2016 and December 2016.

Councillors noted that the capital investment programme budget for 2016/2017 was £14.062 million and included £3m relating to the Offerton Masterplan and that Stockport Homes had recently been allocated £10.6m of funding from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to contribute towards the constructions of 421 affordable homes across the borough over the next 5 years.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted

To consider a report of the Director of Corporate Services, Stockport Homes Ltd.

The report provides a year to date summary of performance against indicators and measures.

The Committee are invited to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Jemma Russell on Tel: 474 4497 or email: jemma.russell@stockporthomes.org

The Director of Corporate Services, Stockport Homes submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a year to date summary of performance against indicators and measures.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Councillors discussed the three indicators that her short of agreed targets, the reasons for the shortfall and the actions being taken to address them.

·         Councillors asked for further information in respect to the performance measure for the ratio of homelessness preventions to homelessness acceptances (SHL)

·         Councillors asked that in future reports, details be provided for greater time periods so that any long term trends can be identified or measured.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.