Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director, Services for People.

The report presents the draft Supporting Children and Safe & Resilient Communities Portfolio Agreements (Appendix 1) for consideration and comment by the Committee.

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

Officer Contact: Gaynor Alexander on Tel: 474 3186 or email: Gaynor.alexander@stockport.gov.uk

Representatives of the Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) presenting for comment the Portfolio Performance and Resources Agreements 2015/2016 in relation to the Supporting Children and Safe & Resilient Communities Portfolio Agreements.

The Executive Councillors attended the meeting and answered Councillors questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

Supporting Children

·         2015/2016 would see the next phase of integrated working as the Stockport Family approach was developed and rolled out – the removal of barriers to co-ordinated and timely support from multiple providers. Councillors requested that regular reports be submitted in relation to this issue.

·         Strong focus on safeguarding, prevention and early intervention – In 2015/2016, the Council received a grant of £3.02 million to support the integration of social care within the wider children’s workforce.

·         80% of all eligible children in Stockport took up the free childcare offer – the ambition remains to maximise take up and the Council was not being complacent in trying to achieve this goal. The ambition was to be the best in the country.

·         Parental interventions and the associated positive experiences were welcomed.

·         The roll out of the Stockport Family programme – councillors requested that regular updates be provided so that they could monitor the efforts to get maximum benefit and track against targets.

Safe and Resilient Communities

·         One of the main aims for the next year was to deliver effective leadership across education in the borough, helping to drive up standards and deliver sufficient school places.

·         The statutory duties of the Corporate Director for People and powers in respect to the 16-18 year old sector.

·         Reduction of anti-social behaviour and the reduction of reoffending was directly related to behaviour and performance in schools. Councillors asked that updates be provided to future meetings.

·         The publication of a report in respect to the investment of pupil premium – examples of where it worked well and others where it wasn’t as well utilised. The Committee noted that children entitled to pupil premium were more likely to progress in outstanding schools.

·         An explanation was provided in relation to the Academic Year measures and the targets chosen, including the effects of the last year’s examination process.

·         The roll out of the Stockport Family model in priority neighbourhoods and the aspirations for children and young people – a report would be submitted to a future meeting to enable the Committee to better understand the work undertaken in the priority areas.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.