Agenda item

To consider the call-in of executive decision CAB519 ‘Independent Review of Stockport's Housing Management Arrangements’.

The decision has been called in by Councillors Asa Caton, David Meller and Claire Vibert.

The call-in deadline was 4pm on 5 February 2025.

The Scrutiny Committee was informed that Executive Decision CAB519 had been ‘called in’ by Councillors Claire Vibert, Asa Caton and David Meller.  It was reported that the matter related to the outcome of an Independent Review of Stockport's Housing Management Arrangements.

The Chair (Councillor Claire Vibert) alongside Councillors Asa Caton and David Meller attended the meeting and outlined the reason for calling-in the decision.  It was noted by the Chair that the decision had followed the extraordinary Scrutiny Committee on 3 February 2025 and that the Scrutiny Committee had discussed the item at length, and that the call-in was specifically in relation to the decision not to abolish the Member Committee but to leave it in its current form.

It was highlighted by all Councillors that the decision not to abolish the Member Committee had not been fully considered by the Scrutiny Committee, and that the view of the Scrutiny Committee was that Member Committee in its current form was not working effectively in relation to Stockport housing decisions.  Councillor Caton noted that there was a need for new and efficient cross-party working in scrutinising the work of Stockport Homes Group, to ensure that there was sufficient focus on outcomes for residents and on maintaining the assets the Council owns.  Councillor Meller further noted that there needed to be a pragmatic approach to the discussions around Member Committee and any adjustments in respect of the Constitution.

The Chair and Councillors Asa Caton and David Meller then answered Councillors’ questions in relation to their reasons for ‘calling-in’ the decision.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was noted that there needed to be an examination of all providers and not just Stockport Homes. In reply, it was noted that Stockport Homes tenants were a large part of the casework from social housing providers but that other providers should be also be examined.

·         It was noted that many of the management issues raised were within officers purview to manage rather than that of Members who were there to scrutinise their work and oversee strategy matters.

·         Clarification was sought as to whether this process would see a strengthening of the current Member Committee, or a different Committee created. In reply it was noted that the Member Committee in the short-term needed to sit more often to get regular updates from Stockport Homes Group and to get the more precise data that was required. It was also noted that there needed to be a more effective oversight of social housing providers when there were issues raised and over the strategic direction.

·         It was noted that it was important to get the structures right following the outcomes of the Deloitte review. However, it was further noted that the call-in process seemed to try to provide a solution at the very beginning of the process of examining the current structures, and it was asked why this approach was being taken. In reply, it was noted that the call-in was to put the right forums in place to discuss the concerns raised in the review and to implement the improvements required.

·         It was asked whether the structures were in place but they weren’t be utilised. In reply it was noted that this was the case to an extent, but that these structures needed to be reformatted to give greater oversight for Members and setting some of the performance indicators to hold housing providers to account.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Climate Change & Environment (Councillor Mark Roberts), and the Director of Place Management attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

Councillor Mark Roberts explained that there may have been a misunderstanding of the decision taken by Cabinet. It was highlighted that the loss of the Member Committee was raised as a concern, and Cabinet had agreed to remove the decision to scrap the Member Committee as part of cross-party working.

It was noted that the report was the start of a longer process in order to meet the challenges from the report and to address the governance matters raised for Member Committee and Stockport Homes. 

There were no comments or questions to the Cabinet Member.

The following comments were then made/ issues raised:-

·         There was a need for the Member Committee to be reconstituted to provide better scrutiny of housing providers.

·         There needed to be greater member oversight and to enhance working relationships to act as a ‘critical friend’ for Stockport Homes Group and other social housing providers.

·         It was noted that the Cabinet Member responsible for Housing was not included in the motion, and it was asked how this would provide more authority for Member Committee as it was felt that some of the format changes would not significantly change the outcomes for the Committee.

·         It was highlighted that the time of the Committee being duplicated from the Extraordinary Meeting was not helpful. However it was noted that there had been cross-party working at the Extraordinary Meeting by other Councillors being invited.

·         It was felt that not enough time had been given to some Members to consider the recommendations being proposed in the motion.

·         It was noted that the proposal would allow for all political groups to be represented whereas a Scrutiny Committee would be required to stick to the political balance of the Council.

·         There was a comment that this process would allow for a discussion on the fundamental working of how social housing providers are scrutiny on a cross-party basis.

·         Members needed improved oversight of an involvement in strategic housing issues and housing management for the Stockport Housing Group tenants in their ward. It was noted that a revised Member Committee would sit alongside the work of neighbourhood teams and also Area Committees proposed role in regard to casework which was being discussed by the administration.

It was then

RESOLVED - (5 for, 4 against) The Committee refers the decision CAB519 – ‘Independent Review of Stockport’s Housing Management Arrangements’ back to the Cabinet with a recommendation that they amend their original decision to reformat 'Member Committee' as follows:

·         Renaming to Housing Committee to clarify its purpose, with an updated Terms of Reference. 

·         The Chair to be appointed from the main opposition group. The Chair then to be rotated every municipal year between the smaller opposition groups in order of length of time of continuous representation on the council. 

·         Membership from all political groups within the council. 

·         To meet six times a year. 

·         Focus to be: 

o   Performance Management including assessing VfM of non-core activity 

o   Scrutiny of SHG performance, with SMBC to set the Key Performance Indicators and Service Level Agreements that SHG report on

o   Shaping of delivery plan, capital programme 

·         Council officers to present with SHG support on strategic direction 

·         SHG Board Chair to attend annually 

·         Assuming the Council’s responsibility for SHG Board outlined in SHG’s Articles 

·         Focus on council home building, rough sleeping & addressing anti-social behaviour 

·         Compliance with the Social Housing Regulation Act and addressing the imbalance in relationship between tenant and landlord 

·         The Housing Committee to meet ideally a week or two weeks before the new Cabinet sub-committee so that any findings or recommendations can be fresh for consideration. 

·         Additional focus to include the accountability of other social housing providers operating in Stockport; issues relating to the private rented sector; homelessness and housing need.