Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Children & Families Scrutiny Committee

The report details the review carried out by Children & Families Scrutiny Review Panel into Services for Young People and the proposed recommendations.

The Cabinet is recommended to request that the Director of Education, Work & Skills be requested to prepare a response to the Services for Young People scrutiny review and the recommendations contained therein for consideration by the Cabinet at a future meeting.

Officer contact: Heidi Shaw on 0161 218 1100 or email: heidi.shaw@stockport.gov.uk

The Vice Chair of the Children & Families Scrutiny Committee and Lead Councillor for the Review (Councillor Janet Mobbs) attended the meeting to present the final report of the Scrutiny Review into Services for Young People (copies of which had been circulated) and to answer questions from the Cabinet.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was noted that the Stockport Youth Summit had taken place on 6 February 2024 involving high schools across the borough as well as many networks of young people from school councils to other youth forums which aimed to capture the views of young people.

·         The 7,008 diversionary holiday activities for young people that were provided by Stockport Youth Justice Service and Targeted Youth Support Service was highlighted.

·         Holiday activities and Food Programme that was run during school holidays provided an active and stimulating space for young people and makes a direct difference to children across the borough.

RESOLVED - (1) That the Director of Education, Work & Skills be requested to prepare a response to the Services for Young People scrutiny review and the recommendations contained therein for consideration by the Cabinet at a future meeting.

(2) That the gratitude of the Cabinet be recorded for the excellent work undertaken by the Scrutiny Review Panel ‘Services for Young People’ and others involved in the Review.

To consider a report of Councillor Janet Mobbs, Chair of the ‘Services for Young People’ Scrutiny Review Panel.

As part of the Scrutiny Work Programme approved by the Council, a review of the ‘Services for Young People’ by the Children & Families Scrutiny Committee was agreed. The review aimed to understand the demographics of the adolescent population across the borough, to scope and map the provision available delivered via the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector and the Council, to understand the infrastructure and connections across the provision, to understand how provision is funded and to identify any areas that would benefit from being strengthened.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on and approve the report for submission to the Cabinet.

Officer contact: Heidi Shaw | Heidi.shaw@stockport.gov.uk

The Vice-Chair of the Scrutiny Committee and Lead Councillor for the Review (Councillor Janet Mobbs) submitted the draft final report of the Scrutiny Committee’s Review of Services for Young People (copies of which had been circulated) that contained the findings and recommendations from the Review.  The Scrutiny Committee was invited to make amendments to the report prior to its submission to the Cabinet on 12 March 2024.

RESOLVED - (1) That the draft Services for Young People Final Report be approved and adopted

(2) That the thanks of the Scrutiny Committee be extended to all those who took part in the Scrutiny Review.