Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 23 January 2013.

The minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 23 January 2013 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider whether it is in the public interest to exclude the public during the consideration of items (if any) on the agenda which are marked "not for publication" by virtue of the categories set out in the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

RESOLVED – That, by virtue of paragraph (s) 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the Appendices of Agenda Item 9 ‘ Brinnington Regeneration’

Councillors and Officers to declare an interest which they may have in any items on the agenda for this meeting.

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

The following interests were declared:-

Personal Interests

Councillor                             Interest

Paul Porgess                        Agenda item 8 ‘Brinnington Regeneration’ as a member of the Stockport Homes Board.

Mags Kirkham                      Agenda item 8 ‘Brinnington Regeneration’ as a customer of Stockport Homes.

To consider call-in items (if any)

There were no call in items to consider.

To consider a joint report of the Executive Councillor (Children & Young People) and the Corporate Director for People.

The report provides an opportunity for the Scrutiny Committee to comment on the performance of the Service in relation to the Children and Young People Portfolio.

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

Officer Contact: Michael Henry 474 3830 or email: michael.henry@stockport.gov.uk

A joint report of the Executive Councillor (Children & Young People) and the Corporate Director for People was submitted (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Scrutiny Committee with an opportunity to comment on the performance of the Service in relation to the Children & Young People portfolio.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The Service had committed to working with 200 families this year as part of the Supporting Families Programme and cases were currently being allocated to mainstream services. The programme aimed to turn around the lives of the most complex families in Stockport.

·         Teenage conceptions continue to reduce, as do youth offending rates and alcohol related hospital admissions.

·         The number of domestic abuse incidents, the proportion of children who were recorded as overweight or obese and the number of children attending Accident and Emergency as a result of injury had all increased.

·         Councillors expressed concern at the sharp increase in the number of domestic abuse incidents, seeked clarification on the recording of such incidents and assurance that agencies were working together to address the issue.

·         Councillors requested further information in respect to the number of families using children’s centres. It was explained that tracking was dependent on registration. Once registered users could be tracked as to which activities and sessions they attended.

·         Clarification was sought on future funding for All Together Active (A2A) and on the expansion of the delivery of the scheme in Woodley.

·         Councillors welcomed the increase in internal foster care placements which had increased from 181 in August 2012 to 196 in November 2012 and the increase in adoptions from 92 to 97 in the same period.

·         Further information was requested on the number of children in the borough in receipt of free school meals and a wider report on the issue in general.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a joint report of the Executive Councillor (Lifelong Learning & Achievement) and the Corporate Director for People.

The report provides an opportunity for the Scrutiny Committee to comment on the performance of the Service in relation to the Lifelong Learning & Achievement portfolio

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

Officer Contact: Michael Henry 474 3830 or email: michael.henry@stockport.gov.uk

A joint report of the Executive Councillor (Lifelong Learning & Achievement) and the Corporate Director for People was submitted (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Scrutiny Committee with an opportunity to comment on the performance of the Service in relation to the Lifelong Learning & Achievement Portfolio.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Since 2010 capacity had increased by 1000 places and plans were in place to increase primary capacity by a further 1500 places by 2016.

·         Pupil premium was being used by schools across the borough to provide additional support to pupils from low income families, children in care and children whose parents were serving in the Armed Forces.

·         Councillors expressed concern at the rate of fixed term and permanent exclusions issued by schools. Whilst they noted the various activities aiming to impact positively on the number of exclusions which were taking place, they further noted the disproportionate number of exclusions made by Academies and requested a further detailed report on this issue.

·         The portfolio was currently projecting a revenue out-turn surplus of £1.164m for 2012-2013, the most significant area of surplus being Special Educational Needs Transport at £432,000.

·         Councillors suggested that the fact that the Council had been recognised nationally as an outstanding employer of apprentices should be better publisised.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services.

At its meeting on 18 February 2013 the Executive agreed the second tranche of savings proposals for 2013/14 and 2014/15 for consultation and scrutiny. This was in response to the report from the Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services which updated the MTFP forecasts following the final local government finance settlement published on 4 February. The recommended savings measures formed an element of the Executive’s overall budget proposals, appropriately risk assessed to reflect their status, which were approved by the Council on 5 March 2013.

As was the case with the first tranche of budget reductions put forward in September and agreed in December 2012, the Executive agreed that each scrutiny committee should have the opportunity to ask questions, review and comment upon the savings propositions which relate to their remit. In addition, scrutiny members can also make comments upon the overall approach being taken by the Executive to respond to the very significant financial challenge faced by the Council.

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

Officer Contact: Steve Houston on Tel: 474 4000 or email: steve.houston@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Scrutiny Committee to consider and comment on the second tranche of savings proposals for 2013/2014 and 2014/2015. The recommended savings measures formed an element of the Executive’s overall budget proposals which were approved by the Council on 5 March 2013.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The proposals associated with the Prevention/Intervention and Independence and Personalisation areas of work were largely a continuation of the redesign of service areas, some of which were over a two year period and also included looking at the rationalisation of staffing and income generation.

·         The proposals continue the focus on the on-going approach which promotes independence, self-directed support and streamlining services to support the most vulnerable adults, children and families in the Borough.

·         Further clarification was sought in respect to the proposed savings arising from staff choosing to opt out of National Insurance contributions and changes relating to maternity cover and staff hours.

·         Concern was expressed in respect to the Services for Young People Staff Rescaling and the impact that this would have on service provision.

·         Councillors requested further information in respect to the proposed savings associated with children’s centres. It was confirmed that parents and key stakeholders would be consulted about the most effective model for managing reduced resources and sharing children’s centre leaders.

·         It was suggested that in respect to the Family Information Service, there should not be an over reliance on the Council website for families accessing information about services provided.

·         Concern was expressed in relation to the proposed savings associated with the reduction in short break activity which was currently commissioned through the third sector.

REOSLVED – That the report be noted and the comments be considered as part of the consultation process.

To consider a joint report of the Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services and the Service Director (Place Development)

The report provides the Scrutiny Committee with

·         An update on progress in delivery of the Brinnington Regeneration Plan

·         informs Members of the outcome of a recent tendering process to identify a developer partner to take forward new housing development in Brinnington and seek approval to appoint a preferred developer partner to work with the Council and its partners;

·         outlines work on site assembly and seek approval for the strategy for the relocation of Castle Hill Special School in Brinnington to existing and improved accommodation at the former Offerton School site including the demolition of Castle Hill and the redevelopment of this site for housing purposes;

·         seeks approval of a strategy to develop a new build leisure facility in a more central location in Brinnington and associated funding strategy.

·         outlines the proposed community consultation which forms part of these regeneration proposals.

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

Officer Contact: Andrew Kippax on Tel: 474 4319 or email: andy.kippax@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Committee with an opportunity to comment on the strategy for the relocation of Castle Hill Special School in Brinnington to existing and improved accommodation at the former Offerton School site including the demolition of Castle Hill.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Councillors commented that Offerton residents on the whole welcomed the proposals.

·         As part of the planned move the provision of additional places was welcomed.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the Corporate Director for People be requested to provide an update to a future meeting.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The report sets out planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and the 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 agenda items for future meetings of the Committee.

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 agenda items for the Scrutiny Committees next meeting and Forward Plan items that fell within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.