Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 2 August 2017.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 2 August 2017 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made.

There were no call-in items to consider.

Representatives of the Stockport Youth Partnership will attend the meeting and make a presentation.

Representatives of the Stockport Youth Partnership attended the meeting and made a presentation in respect to the work of the partnership who represent the voice of young people in Stockport, working in partnership with local schools, youth groups and forums, alongside Stockport Council to make sure that young people and their views are heard. The Youth Partnership meets every week on a Wednesday from 5.30pm at Central House, Grand Central. The representatives reported on a new campaign the partnership was undertaking to highlight the negative affect that bullying could have on a young person’s mental health and wellbeing.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the representatives of the Stockport Youth Partnership be thanked for their attendance and presentation.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Members for Children and Families and Education.

The report outlines a summary of the suite of proposals relevant to this scrutiny committee which form part of the Cabinet’s response to the MTFP as well as an overview of the ambition and work proposed on Inclusive Growth. These proposals will deliver savings against the non-pooled budget and form a pipeline of proposals, with an initial wave presented at the Cabinet meeting in July and a further wave anticipated in October.

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

Officer Contact: Andrew Webb on Tel: 474 3808 or email: andrew.webb@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Members for Children & Families and Education submitted a joint report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining a summary of the suite of proposals relevant to the scrutiny committee which form part of the Cabinet’s response to the MTFP as well as an overview of the ambition and work proposed on Inclusive Growth in the borough.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Councillors discussed and asked for further information in relation to the proposal to increase the centrally retained element of early years funding to circa 3.7% to achieve a £0.350m saving which is still within the 5% allowed by the regulations and how in particular the 3.7% had been arrived at. Councillors noted that this issue would be discussed with providers in the near future and asked that an update by reported to a future meeting.

·         Councillors requested updates to future meetings on the work undertaken by the Financial Resilience Steering Group.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The report provides an update to the Children and Families Scrutiny Committee on the support offered to current and former members of the armed forces, reservists and their families as part of our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.

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

Officer Contact: Phil Beswick on Tel: 474 3832 or email: phil.beswick@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update offered to current and former members of the armed forces, reservists and their families as part of the Council’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.

Councillors asked for further information in respect to the application of the covenant and in particular if there was a time limit for the period in which former members of the armed forces, reservists and their families can benefit from it.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

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

Officer Contact: Phil Beswick on Tel: 474 3842 or email: phil.beswick@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Member for Education and a representative of the Corporate Director for People attended the meeting and made a presentation in respect to proposals to invest capital to improve the condition of the borough’s schools and address capacity pressures in the short to medium term.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         There was a need to increase the number of primary places in Marple, Heatons and Cheadle Hulme within the next two years. The ambition was to  achieve 5+% spare capacity to allow more choice for parents and to support in-year movement. The current lack of capacity restricts this ambition.

·         School condition - Estimated backlog for repair, maintenance and modernisation for the next ten years was at least £ 75 million

·         In 2016/17 a number local SEN external placements were full, including Seashell Trust and Together Trust reducing options further for placements. There has been up to a 20% increase in placement costs over the last year.

·         The establishment of a £25m capital programme to deal with the urgent need to start to address the fabric and capacity issues within Stockport’s mainstream schools was now proposed.  This would involve spending in advance of future grants that the Council expect to receive and the use of temporary borrowing to start this critical work now. This is the single largest school capital investment in-year in the borough.

·         Councillors asked questions in respect to the borrowing proposals, the degree of risk and the process for determining how works will be prioritised.

·         Councillors confirmed that they welcomed the invitation for a representative of each political group to sit on the Working Group and that regular reports be submitted to future meetings of the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and that the Cabinet Member for Education be thanked for his presentation.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The report sets out planned agenda items and items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items that fall within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

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

Officer Contact: Stephen Fox on Tel: 474 3206 or email: stephen.fox@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out planned items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and any relevant Forward Plan items.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.