Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The Annual Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs) for the Children & Families and Education Portfolios are presented for consideration by the Committee. These provide a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects since the final update report, with a focus on the fourth quarter of the year (January to March). They include out-turn performance and financial data (where this is available) for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programmes.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to:

a)      Consider the Annual Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports;  

b)      Review the progress against delivering key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 2016/17;

c)      Highlight key areas of and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any performance or resource issues;

d)      Highlight any significant issues or changes to be fed back to the Cabinet alongside the Corporate Performance and Resource Report;

e)      Identify how areas of strong performance and good practice can be shared in other services.

Officer contact: Gaynor Ward, Emma Bowe; 0161 474 3186 / 218 1026 gaynor.ward@stockport.gov.uk / emma.bowe@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director, Services to People, submitted a report (copies of which have been circulated) providing for comment the Annual Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs) for the Children & Families and Education Portfolios.

The Executive Councillors (Children and Families) and (Education) attended the meeting and answered questions in relation to the reports.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Financial pressures during the year have been great, particularly with residential placements (both in numbers and costs), Special Guardianships, and Section 17 Edge of Care.

·         During this last quarter the possible impact of the Children and Social Work Act and Greater Manchester Review of Children’s Services had been left unresolved into 2017-18. However, the Education and Adoption Act had led to the creation of a Stockport led regional adoption agency “Adoption Counts” that will be launched in 2017.

·         Councillors requested that further information in respect to the proposed single communications platform be circulated.

·         The SEND Steering Group was now established and included representation from education services, inclusion services, Stockport Family, health, early years settings, mainstream and special schools, colleges, parent / carer forums and services for adults.

·         Councillors requested further information in respect to the definition that was currently being used in respect to the definition of child poverty.

·         A further update was requested in respect to the new process for improving the completion rate of initial health assessments for children in care within a 28 day timeframe which had recently been implemented  been implemented.

·         Work continued to ensure that school places meet existing pressures . A working party was currently considering a full range of options to meet the needs of pupils with social, emotional and mental health

needs and approval had been secured for the development of an Alternative Provision Free School to provide a base for up to 8 students aged 11-16. Meanwhile short term additional capacity had been created at all six special schools in Stockport.

·         Councillors requested updates at future meetings in respect to the take up of Early Years places.

·         Councillors welcomed the work currently being undertaken in respect to road safety near schools and noted some of the new measures which were being implemented.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.