Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 5 August 2015.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 5 August 2015 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.

To consider a report of Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council

At its meeting on 18 August 2015, the Executive received a report which included a Medium Term Financial Forecast for the period 2016/17 to 2020/21. That report illustrated the level of resources likely to be available in 2016/17 and the resulting budget position should the previously identified level of cash limit reductions be achieved.

In response to those forecasts, and in line with its previous proposals and statements of intent, the Executive brought forward a set of proposals for 2016/17. These have been informed by the strategic framework and are designed to address the budget reduction requirement.  At the meeting on 18 August Executive Councillors agreed to present to each scrutiny committee the relevant proposals relating to each committee’s remit, including the specific detailed business cases.

The Children & Young Scrutiny Committee is therefore receiving the following:

·         Preventative Commissioning Strategy – Project Update

·         0-25 Review – Draft Business Case

·         Integrated Prevention Service/ Stockport Family – Draft Business Case

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to comment on the attached business cases and project updates.

Officer contact: Andrew Webb on 0161 474 3808

Representatives of the Corporate Director for People and the Executive Councillors (Supporting Children) and (Safe and Resilient Communities) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the Executive proposals for Investing in Stockport 2016/2017, the specific business cases and projected updates were outlined in the report.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         In respect to the Preventative Commissioning Project, there were three savings proposals relating to Stockport namely public health, drug and alcohol treatment services and the Adult Care Services Portfolio Preventative Commissioning.

·         The SEN Transport Service whilst trying to achieve efficiencies remained committed to adhering to the key principle of protecting the most vulnerable of residents whilst at the same time promoting independence. Councillors that any changes to an individual’s transport provision be closely monitored to assess the impact of that change.

·         The impact of progressing personal budgets on home to school transport and how that would affect savings proposals.

·         The budget for post 19 transport provision and whether there would be any changes to the eligibility criteria.

·         In respect to Early Years – there would be a reduction in the level of support to registered childminders which are graded good or better with the reduced staff team focusing on those settings which require improvement.

·         The psychology service was seeking to increase its traded arrangements with schools and other services in an effort to increase income, staffing and capacity. The role that the service provides in schools and how that provision is enabled in Academies and Free Schools and how approaches may differ in those establishments.

·         The revised Stockport Family Integrated services would facilitate joined up thinking between services and schools to maximise the impact for the child and family. Stockport Family Workers would be deployed into four different roles based on early years, school age and 16 plus.

·         The new service would utilise early identification methods and evidence based interventions in order to maximise its effect.

·         The new services would be based around the four locality areas that are coterminous with the Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG’s) : Heatons & Tame Valley, Stepping Hill & Victoria, Cheadle & Bramhall and Marple & Werneth. Each locality would comprise of teams including social workers, midwives, health visitors, school nurses, children’s centres and Stockport Family workers. It was hoped that by being based in these localities – the service would become a lot more receptive and understanding to the residents in those communities.

·         The future options for the delivery of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and the associated costs of delivery.

·         Encouraging those families who were eligible to take up the offer of Free School Meals.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The report provides information in respect to the issue of Female Genital Mutilation.

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

Officer Contact: Jane Connolly on Tel:474 5656 or email: Jane.connolly@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report of the Service Director (Children’s Safeguarding and Prevention) (copies of which had been circulated) providing information in respect to Female Genital Mutilation was recognised internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The Committee noted that it was illegal to arrange or perform female genital mutilation in the United Kingdom or to arrange for it abroad and that it carried a potential penalty of up to 14 years in prison.

·         Awareness-raising has been a priority for sessions with school governors and at other key groups such as the Pupils at Risk of Exclusion (PARE) forum.

·         In the coming academic year 15-16, FGM has been identified as a theme within basic child protection awareness and the half-day awareness-raising sessions would continue be part of the universal SSCB training offer.

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 Committees 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 agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and any forward plan items that fell within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.