Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 9 March 2016.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 9 March 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.

The following interest was declared:-

Personal Interest

There were no call items to consider.

To consider a report of the Deputy Director of Public Health.

The report provides an overview of the current data on young people’s alcohol use. It describes the action being taken locally to address young people’s alcohol use. It also summarises what the evidence says should be done to reduce young people’s alcohol use and how we benchmark against this in Stockport.

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

Officer Contact:Duncan Weldrake on Tel: 474 2443 or email duncan.weldrake@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Director of Public Health submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of the current data on young people’s alcohol use as well as describing the action being taken locally to address young people’s alcohol use.

Representatives of Stockport Youth Council attended the meeting and made a presentation in respect to their efforts to raise awareness about the dangers associated with excessive alcohol consumption.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         A project undertaken by student to inform and educate young people how to stay safe when they drink and to combat any associated risks. The ‘How are you getting home’ campaign was prominent in the borough.

·         A desire to reduce the amount of alcohol advertising particularly in the vicinity of educational establishments.

·         It was agreed that alcohol education should be an integral part of the school curriculum and should be tailored for different age groups and different learning needs. Where appropriate, children and young people who were thought to be drinking harmful amounts should be offered one to one advice.

·         Concern was expressed about irresponsible adults buying alcohol for and supplying young people.

·         Schools should work with a range of local partners to support alcohol education in schools.

·         The MOSAIC School Based Service (MSBS) was a buy back services available to every secondary school, PRU and secondary special school in Stockport.

·         Data revealed that the number of young people drinking alcohol was reducing but that there still remained a significant number of young people who drink at harmful levels.

·         Data also revealed that attendances to the emergency department and hospital admissions indicated that the number of under 18’s attending for alcohol related reasons was reducing.

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

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.              (To Follow)

The report provides information relating to details of the recent Department for Education (DfE) consultation document released on 7 March 2016 concerning the Schools and High Needs Funding Reforms.

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 details of the recent Department for Education (DfE) consultation document released on 7 March 2016 relating to the Schools and High Needs funding reforms.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Clarification was sought in respect to (i) how funding would be devolved to Local Authorities post 2017 and (ii) the impact of measures of deprivation.

·         The Committee noted that the first phase consultation document on Schools and High Needs outlined the vision, strategy and the key principles underpinning the direction of travel towards a fairer, simpler and more transparent method of distributing funding.

·         The phase two consultation document, expected in the summer term, would provide the opportunity to assess the local impact both at overall LA and individual school level of the implementation of the new NFFF proposals/model.

·         The setting of oversubscription criteria by Academies.

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 are invited to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Steve 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 – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Corporate Director for People be requested to submit a report to a future meeting providing any information or a commentary in respect to the negative impact that the use of electronic devices such as tablets, gaming machines, laptops and mobile phones has on the educational attainment and health of young people.

(3) That the Corporate Director for People be requested to submit a report to a future meeting in respect to the support provided by the MOSAIC service for young people aged 16-18 who attend college and have drink related problems.