Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct and sign the minutes held on 1 February 2012.

The minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 1 February 2012 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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

No declarations of interest were made.

To consider call-in-items (if any).

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The report details performance across a range of outcomes for children and young people including a further reduction in the number of young people Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET), an increase in the number of women breastfeeding and a reduction in the number of teenage conceptions.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

(1)  Review the current levels of performance;

(2) Highlight key areas of, and responsibility for, taking forward corrective action to address any existing or forecast performance issues;

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

Officer Contact: Michael Henry on Tel: 0161 474 3840 or email: michael.henry@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Children and Young People) and the Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing performance across a range of outcomes for children and young people including a further reduction in the number of young people Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET), an increase in the number of women breast feeding and a reduction in the number of teenage conceptions. The report encouraged the Scrutiny Committee to review current levels of performance, highlight key areas or performance issues identifying any areas of strong performance and good practice which could be shared with other services.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Members welcomed the further reduction in the number of young people Not in Employment, Education or Training

·         The Committee noted that unemployment was expected to grow nationally and locally until 2013 when it was expected to fall. This increase would impact on the Child Poverty rates with latest figures revealing that there were just over 11,000 Stockport residents with dependent children claiming out of work benefits.

·         The interaction between the Local Education Authority and newly established Academies in view of the Academies taking advantage of the opportunities that are open to them. The Local Education Authority would continue to build on the already established good relations utilising existing governance structures.

·         Unemployment trends for youth unemployment.

·         The importance of all public sector agencies communicating the same message when addressing obesity issues through health promotion.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The report outlines recent Government announcements in respect to troubled families and outlines work undertaken by the Council in this area of work.

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

Officer Contact: Kate Fitzhugh on Tel: 0161 474 3625 or email: kate.fitzhugh@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining a number of announcements made by the Government in respect to Troubled Families. The report provided a definition of a Troubled Family and provided further information in respect to Troubled Family Co-ordinators, how the issue is being addressed at a Greater Manchester Level, the worklessness agenda and the implementation of new delivery models.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Whilst the Government estimated that there were 565 troubled families in Stockport, Councillors and officers were of the opinion that this number would in fact be much higher.

·         Concern was expressed that the funding stream meant that it would be easier to address ‘quick wins’ rather than deal with those families who were most in need. It was agreed that funding should be closely monitored.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.

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

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the information in the report and put forward any items for future meetings of the Committee.

Officer Contact: Steve Fox on Tel: 0161 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 agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items which fell within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.