Issue - meetings

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

The report provides for comment the first Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs) for the Children & Families and Education Portfolios. These provide a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects in the first quarter of the year (April to June). They include forecast performance and financial data (where this is available) for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programmes.

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

Officer Contact: Thomas Plant on Tel: 0161 218 1358 or email: thomas.plant@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Members for Children & Families and Education submitted reports (copies of which had been circulated) providing for comment the first update portfolio Performance and Resources Reports which incorporated a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects in the first quarter of the financial year.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

Children & Families Portfolio:-

·         The Committee noted that the budget reductions for the current financial year had led to a number of changes, probably the most significant being the creation of Start Well, where work was being carried out to create an even more integrated service.

·         Pressures on the budget continued but the increase in overall numbers of Looked after Children has slowed in 2018. The most significant financial pressure was with Special Guardianship Orders (SGO) that were awarded by the courts with the consequence being that the Council paid long term allowances for each child.

·         Councillors welcomed the fact that Broadfields, Stockport’s second local authority home, was inspected by Ofsted in June and was given a “Good” rating, this was the first inspection since the opening in February.

·         A councillor suggested that the Scrutiny Committee may wish to have a presentation at a future meeting in respect to the Start Well strategy.

·         The Chair commented on concerns raised at a previous meeting in respect to the waiting times for diagnosis of Autism related disorders and suggested that the Committee would like to receive regular updates on this issue.

·         Councillors requested further information in respect to Unity Radio.

·         Councillors requested that the performance measures, where possible, should include figures as well as percentages to allow for better quarterly and year on year comparisons. The example of teenage pregnancy was discussed and Councillor Foster undertook to provide a written response in relation to this issue.

·         Communication with schools in respect to funding at it relates to Special Guardianship Orders.

·         How the Council engaged with and encouraged parents to attend the Stockport Family Early Days course.

·         What statistics were held in respect primary schools pupils mental health and further information in respect to interventions and support offered.

Education

·         The Committee welcomed the fact that 100% of early years settings inspected during the quarter had been rated as “good” or “outstanding.”

·         The provisional Key Stage 2 results for Stockport showed further improvement. Stockport was already high achieving compared to national figures and early indications showed that the borough had again improved further.

·         Councillors discussed the reasons for the low attendance at the event for Parents and Young People when compared to 2017.

·         Special Needs placement capacity and ongoing discussions relating to secondary SEN provision.

·         Whether or not there were any restrictions for allocating the £300k from the European Social Fund.

·         Councillors requested further information in respect to numbers for the attendance of pupils at schools which were not in their catchment area.

·         Councillors asked that information on the Ofsted inspection outcomes for schools which had been visited at the end of the school term be circulated once they were available.

RESOLVED – That the reports be noted and the Cabinet Members be thanked for their attendance and presentations.