Agenda item

To receive any questions from and provide answers to the public in relation to matters relevant to the Council’s activities.

Members of the public were invited to put questions to the Mayor and Councillors on matters within the powers and duties of the Council.

Seven public questions were submitted as follows:-

·         Relating to whether the Council planned to promote the development of co-operative business models in the Borough as Preston and Oldham councils have done.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Sue Derbyshire) responded that the Council was not actively looking to externalise services which are currently delivered by the Council.  However the Council did try to be co-operative and work with businesses in the Borough who create jobs and wealth within the local economy.

Councillor Wendy Wild responded that Stockport Council had a Liberal Democrat administration and that it was for the Executive to make any decisions in relation to this matter.  It was stated that there some very good examples of Labour councils, of which Oldham and Preston were two, doing some great work using co-operative models which Stockport could learn from.

·         Relating to how the Council would provide equal access to safe and effective treatments and care in the community in the light of proposed cuts of £140,000 from the mental health support work service.

The Executive Councillor (Supporting Adults) (Councillor Keith Holloway) responded that he had attended the launch of the Parity of Esteem initiative two years and fully sported its objectives.  It was further stated that the Council’s budget for mental health had increased over the last five years from circa £5m in 2011 to £6m in the current year.

The Executive Councillor (Independence & Wellbeing) (Councillor John Pantall) further responded that the approach of NHS England this far had not really tackled the need for parity, but that the work being undertaken through Stockport Together and the integration of services provided for some degree of optimism.

·         Relating to whether the Leader of the Council was concerned about the lack of information and a democratically accountable process in relation to the devolution deal for Greater Manchester.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Sue Derbyshire) responded that the changes that have been seen over the last 12 months had been quick and rapid, and that communication of those changes had not been as high a priority during this period as it should have been.  However, some positive steps were now being taken to make improvements which included the launch of a new website for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and that there had been agreement that meetings of the Authority would now also be webcast.

·         Relating to the impact of a reduction in the out of hours mental health support work service.

The Executive Councillor (Supporting Adults) (Councillor Keith Holloway) responded that there was not a proposal to ‘cut’ totally the out of hours service, rather the proposal was to make savings in that service through reductions in staffing levels, but to provide an increase in the hours the out of hours service would be available from 5pm Monday to Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday. 

·         Relating to whether an impact assessment had been undertaken regarding the risk of homelessness for vulnerable mental health service users in the light of proposed reductions in the budget for the mental health support service.

The Executive Councillor (Supporting Adults) (Councillor Keith Holloway) responded that there were no proposal to remove the out of hours service, but rather to change the way in which it was delivered to increase the hours it would operate.  There would be a reduction in the numbers of staff in the immediate service, but a strengthening of the professional mental health support to that service.

·         Relating to whether a costing had been undertaken for the anticipated rise in the care management budget as a consequence of cuts to the out of hours service for the supported living team.

The Executive Councillor (Supporting Adults) (Councillor Keith Holloway) responded that with the totality of Adult Social Care services that are being put into place, the Council will be able to better support people with mental health problems more effectively.

·         Relating to whether members concurred with the Wellsping that homelessness had tripled in Stockport between 2013 and 2014.

Councillor Syd Lloyd (Leader of the Conservative Group) responded that he did not recognise the figures that had been quoted within the question, but requested that as this related to information provided by the Wellspring, that Councillor Peter Burns (Director and Trustee of the Wellspring) be requested to respond.

Councillor Peter Burns then replied that it was a fact that homelessness has increased in Stockport over the last several years and the number of clients at the Wellspring had increased.  There were a number of reasons for this, and as a Director of the Wellspring he stated that he hoped that part of this was because of the excellent services that were being provided by the centre such as the provision of food, basic numeracy and literacy and having a dedicated drugs worker.  Councillor Burns further stated that the way in which the formal ‘count’ of those that were homeless and/ or rough sleepers was now much more robust than it had been previously.

Councillor Oliver Johnstone undertook to respond to the questioner in writing.

Three further public questions had been submitted where the questioner was not present at the meeting and in accordance with the Code of Practice, the Chief Executive was requested to respond to the questioners in writing.