Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 20 March 2013

The minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 20 March 2013 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-in items to consider.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Strategy & Performance)

The report provides an overview of Free School Meals take up and outlining the work undertaken to date raising awareness of the subject area, increasing registration rates, improving meal take up figures and for simplifying the process.

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

Officer Contact: Donna Sager on 474 3928 or email: donna.sager@stockport.gov.uk

The Service Director (Strategy & Performance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Scrutiny Committee with an overview of Free School Meals take up and outlining the work undertaken to date in raising awareness of the subject area, increasing registration rates, improving meal take up figures and in simplifying the process.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Free School Meal entitlement was linked to the Pupil Premium. The Pupil Premium was additional funding given to schools so that they can support their disadvantaged pupils and close the attainment gap between them and their peers.

·         Data suggests that in the last three years approximately 20% of entitled pupils did not take a Free School Meal on census day. Schools may therefore be missing out on sizable amounts of Pupil Premium Funding to support the educational progress of the most disadvantaged pupils in the borough.

·         Services to People officers were working closely with colleagues in the Revenue & Benefits section to raise awareness of the subject area, increase registration rates, improve meal uptake figures and simplifying processes. Further work included the production of promotional literature, primary school workshops and parents forums.

·         Six primary schools had been identified to work with on an intensive basis. Councillors expressed concern at the contrast in uptake between schools.

·         Councillors queried the nutritional standards adopted by Academies in relation to school meals.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Safeguarding & Prevention)

The report provides the Scrutiny Committee with an update in relation to the impact that the review into Streamlining Family Support Services has on Children’s Centres.

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

Officer Contact: Mike Hughes on Tel: 474 2611 or email: mike.hughes@stockport.gov.uk

The Service Director (Safeguarding & Prevention) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing further information in relation to the final Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Report concerning the review into Streamlining Family Support Services which had originally been considered by the Scrutiny Committee in June 2012.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Twelve months on from the implementation of the Hub and Satellite model for Children’s Centres, all seven satellite centres were delivering a range of services which had previously been delivered. This had been achieved through effective partnership working with the Foundation Trust, including Healthy Visiting and Midwifery Services.

·         Targeted stay and play interventions had been established for families in greatest need in satellite areas.

·         Charging had been introduced for some interventions in satellite areas and this had been accepted positively by parents as it had enabled services they value to be maintained.

·         Specific targeting and joint working had led to increases in registration and engagement rates for children living in priority areas, children known to social care and children with a disability. Children’s Centre registration rates also continued to rise in the previous twelve months.

·         In September 2012, the Early Help and Prevention Service re-design was implemented which had enabled stronger joint working between Children’s Centre and Family Support Teams and the wider service.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider options for a Scrutiny Review topic for 2013/2014.

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager invited the Scrutiny Committee to consider potential Scrutiny Review topics to be undertaken during the 2013/14 municipal year.

RESOLVED – That the Assistant Chief Executive (Policy, Strategy, Partnerships and Transformation) be requested to submit a report to the next meeting of this Committee considering the following potential Scrutiny Review topics:

•      Health Inequalities

•      Exclusions and Networks in Education

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.