Issue - meetings

To consider a joint report of the Deputy Leader of the Council & Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education; and the Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources.

The report sets out the business case for the delivery of additional internal residential placement sufficiency in Stockport. This expansion in capacity is required to meet increasing demand due to rising numbers and complexity of children in care and to reduce our spend on external placements.

The Cabinet is recommended to:-

(1) Approve the capital funding to a maximum of £1.8m through prudential borrowing for the immediate purchase and conversion of up to three properties within Stockport.

(2) Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the relevant cabinet member, to approve the selection of suitable properties and undertake their purchase.

(3) Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the relevant cabinet member, to enter into any such contracts and agreements as may be required to complete the purchase, conversion and operation of the children's homes.

(4) Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the relevant cabinet member, to apply for any necessary consents associated with the delivery of the children's homes.

(5) Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the relevant cabinet member, to approve necessary revenue budget changes to support the running of the new homes.

(6) Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the relevant cabinet member, to take all necessary further steps to deliver the strategy.

Officer contacts: Jeanette Warburton, jeanette.warburton@stockport.gov.uk  or James Kington, james.kington@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education (Councillor Wendy Meikle) submitted a joint report of the Deputy Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the business case for the delivery of additional internal residential placement sufficiency in Stockport.

The proposed expansion in capacity was required to meet increasing demand due to rising numbers and complexity of children in care and to reduce spend on external placements.

RESOLVED - (1) That capital funding be approved to a maximum of £1.8m through prudential borrowing for the immediate purchase and conversion of up to three properties within Stockport.

(2) That authority be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the relevant cabinet member, to approve the selection of suitable properties and undertake their purchase.

(3) That authority be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the relevant cabinet member, to enter into any such contracts and agreements as may be required to complete the purchase, conversion and operation of the children's homes.

(4) That authority be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the relevant cabinet member, to apply for any necessary consents associated with the delivery of the children's homes.

(5) That authority be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the relevant cabinet member, to approve necessary revenue budget changes to support the running of the new homes.

(6) That authority be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the relevant cabinet member, to take all necessary further steps to deliver the strategy.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The report sets out the business case for the delivery of additional internal residential placement sufficiency in Stockport. This expansion in capacity is required to meet increasing demand due to rising numbers and complexity of children in care and to reduce our spend on external placements.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to comment on the work undertaken to date and recommend for Cabinet approval to:

a)    Approve the capital funding to a maximum of £1.8m through prudential borrowing for the immediate purchase and conversion of up to three properties within Stockport.

b)    Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the relevant cabinet member, to approve the selection of suitable properties and undertake their purchase.

c)    Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the relevant cabinet member, to enter into any such contracts and agreements as may be required to complete the purchase, conversion and operation of the children's homes.

d)    Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the relevant cabinet member, to apply for any necessary consents associated with the delivery of the children's homes.

e)    Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the relevant cabinet member, to approve necessary revenue budget changes to support the running of the new homes.

f)      Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the relevant cabinet member, to take all necessary further steps to deliver the strategy.

f)

Officer contacts: Jeanette Warburton, jeanette.warburton@stockport.gov.uk  or James Kington, james.kington@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the business case for the delivery of additional internal residential placement sufficiency in Stockport. This expansion in capacity is required to meet increasing demand due to rising numbers and complexity of children in care and to reduce our spend on external placements.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education (Councillor Wendy Meikle) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·       Clarification was sought regarding what was being recommended in the report. In response, it was proposed to support Option Two.

·       Members enquired about the reference in the report to “No Wrong Door” Approach and this being ‘blocked by private providers who are financially motivated’. In response, it was stated that when the Council are supporting a child in a foster placement, residential homes would advise that the child may not want to move into foster care, as it would mean they would lose money, but this does not stop the Council from placing the child into foster care.

·       Members enquired about the £1.8m cost involved in progressing with Option Two. In response, it was noted that it was an invest to save model to invest now and save in the long term.

·       It was suggested that the voice of the child was important in making these decisions and that should be taken into account. It was commented that children want to live in the local community as close as possible to their families and want the best care as possible and in a placement that would support them with the best possible outcomes.

·       Clarification was sought regarding the choice and size of homes for the children. In response, it was stated that the decision would be to purchase small homes for it to be and feel like a family home.

·       Members welcomed the report and the approach being adopted to ensure that children stay closer to home.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Scrutiny Committee endorses and recommends to Cabinet Option Two and Three as detailed within the report in paragraph five.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The report sets out the business case for the delivery of additional internal residential placement sufficiency in Stockport. This expansion in capacity is required to meet increasing demand due to rising numbers and complexity of children in care and to reduce our spend on external placements.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to comment on the work undertaken to date and recommend for Cabinet approval to:

a)    Approve the capital funding to a maximum of £1.8m through prudential borrowing for the immediate purchase and conversion of up to three properties within Stockport.

b)    Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the relevant cabinet member, to approve the selection of suitable properties and undertake their purchase.

c)    Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the relevant cabinet member, to enter into any such contracts and agreements as may be required to complete the purchase, conversion and operation of the children's homes.

d)    Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the relevant cabinet member, to apply for any necessary consents associated with the delivery of the children's homes.

e)    Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the relevant cabinet member, to approve necessary revenue budget changes to support the running of the new homes.

f)      Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the relevant cabinet member, to take all necessary further steps to deliver the strategy.

Officer contacts: Jeanette Warburton, jeanette.warburton@stockport.gov.uk  or James Kington, james.kington@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the business case for the delivery of additional internal residential placement sufficiency in Stockport. This expansion in capacity is required to meet increasing demand due to rising numbers and complexity of children in care and to reduce our spend on external placements.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources (Councillor Malcolm Allan) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·       Clarification was sought regarding how the houses would be bought and in what areas of Stockport and for how much. In response, it was stated that Ofsted had developed a scoring model matrix and had specific requirements which were robust and took into account a number of factors including school provisions, transport and finance.

·       Members welcomed the report and commented that it was good to have more homes for Stockport children in Stockport.

·       It was commented that what was key were the outcomes for the children, keeping the children as near as possible to Stockport and the children themselves.

RESOLVED  - (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Scrutiny Committee endorse and recommend to Cabinet the following:

(i)              Approve the capital funding to a maximum of £1.8m through prudential borrowing for the immediate purchase and conversion of up to three properties within Stockport.

(ii)             Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the relevant cabinet member, to approve the selection of suitable properties and undertake their purchase.

(iii)           Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the relevant cabinet member, to enter into any such contracts and agreements as may be required to complete the purchase, conversion and operation of the children's homes.

(iv)           Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the relevant cabinet member, to apply for any necessary consents associated with the delivery of the children's homes.

(v)             Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the relevant cabinet member, to approve necessary revenue budget changes to support the running of the new homes.

(vi)           Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the relevant cabinet member, to take all necessary further steps to deliver the strategy.