Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Director for Children’s Services.

The reports are based on the 2017/2018 Portfolio Performance and Resource agreements and provide a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider and comment on the reports.

Officer Contact: Gaynor Ward on Tel: 0161 474 3186 or email: gaynor.ward@stockport.gov.uk

The Director for Children’s Services and Director for Education submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing for comment the Annual Portfolio Performance and Resource Report (PPRR’s) for the Children’s and Families and Education portfolios.

The Cabinet Members for Children & Families and Education attended the meeting and answered questions in relation to the report.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

Children & Families Portfolio

·         The continued pressure from the numbers of Looked After Children (LAC) and children on the Child Protection Plan (CPP) remained a great concern as did the continued increasing costs associated with the residential accommodation.

·         Growth of social care referrals continued.

·         The Ofsted inspection in June/July 2017 was vitally important to benchmarking the quality of Stockport Family combined with several officers receiving awards at a national level. Councillors asked that there congratulations be passed on to those individuals as well as all staff in the Team for their excellent work.

·         The Committee welcomed the refresh of the Young People’s Mental Health Transformation Plan and that it remained a key priority going forward to further develop the joint working between Healthy Young Minds and Stockport Family.

·         Councillors requested further information in respect to Start Well and the Empowering Parents Empowering Communities (EPEC).

Education Portfolio

·         The portfolio had contributed a further £0.019m to Council savings for 2018/2019 from an already depleted revenue budget.

·         How officers were planning to the extra demand brought about by GMSF on the need for additional school places.

·         The Committee welcomed that there would be a further phase of investment in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities of £14m to create additional SEND primary places which brings total investment to £40m.

·         Councillors asked that there congratulations be passed to officers in the Continuing Education Services following the service being rated as ‘good’ in all aspects following a full Ofsed inspection in March.

·         Councillors welcomed the fact that Stockport along with Trafford Council was one of two Greater Manchester Authorities with positive progress 8 scores. It was suggested and agreed that the Committee receive a report to a future meeting on progress 8.

·         The Committee discussed Exclusion rates and it was suggested that this may be an appropriate review topic to 2018/2019 as it was 5 years since the last review had taken place.

·         A councillor sought and was provided with clarification in respect to the statement made in the report that the £25m new capital fund had been compromised.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.