Agenda and minutes

Councillors and Officers to declare any interests which they have in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

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

No interests were declared.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The report sets out the Scrutiny Review Panel Procedure Rules and suggests that the Panel should adopt them for the purpose of conducting the review.

The Panel are requested to formally adopt the Scrutiny Review Panel Rules for the purpose of conducting the review.

Officer Contact: Charles Yankiah on 0161 474 3206 or email: charles.yankiah@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service and Monitoring Officer (Legal and Democratic Governance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the Scrutiny Review Procedure Rules and suggesting that the Panel should adopt them for the purpose of conducting the review.

RESOLVED – That the Scrutiny Review Procedure Rules be adopted for the purpose of conducting the review

To consider the scope and determine the areas the Panel wish to explore and scrutinise.

The Panel is recommended to comment on and note the information.

Officer Contact: Charles Yankiah on 0161 474 3206 or email: charles.yankiah@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the proposed scope and briefing for reviewing the Children & Young People’s Participation.

Michelle Booth Strategic Participation Leader, Stockport Family) highlighted the following: -

·         Stockport had a population of 61,900 young people aged under 18 and a population of 7,714 aged 0-25 who have Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND).

·         A number of formal mechanisms already existed to support the participation and engagement of young people, including:

o   Stockport Youth Participation – 11-21 year olds

o   Children in Care Council – young people in care

o   Care Leavers Forum – for care leavers

o   Stockport Action Youth Speakers – 13-25 year olds with SEND

o   SEND Young Ambassadors – young people from a range of community and voluntary organisations

o   Range of localised activities

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Members enquired about the age range of children and young people that would be involved in creating stronger links across a range of services within the formal democratic processes. In response, it was stated that children and young people from primary and secondary schools would be involved but it would dependant on the resources available and the agreed outcomes.

·         Information was sought regarding how the children and young people would be selected to participate. In response, it was noted that the engagement teams would visit schools and work with Headteachers to promote and engage with the young people to get involved in the agreed project.

·         Councillor Holt enquired about the diversity of the existing panels involved. In response, it was noted that meetings were held with inclusion community workers to discuss access and encourage different ways of working to promote participation among young people.

·         Councillor Guariento asked about the initial target number of young people who would be involved in the programme and how it would be done. In response, it was commented that initially around 20 young people would be targeted and would encourage participation by finding out what would get them to the forums which could be held in a school venue, rather than a council building. It was also stated that the first event could be a young people’s question time to increase their ‘voice’ and to explore other opportunities to engage with the young people.

Members commented that further work needed to be done to explore more opportunities for young people to be engaged and involved in the democratic process.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That further work be done to explore the opportunities for young people to get involved in the democratic process and be reported to the next meeting.