Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education.

The report provides an update on Project Skyline (GM proposal to create supply of children’s homes to increase availability of placements for Children Looked After in the GM region for some of the most vulnerable young people) and approve in principle the entering into of a Partnership Agreement with the remaining Local Authorities in GM, GMCA and NHS GM for delivery of the project.

The Cabinet is recommended to:-

(1) Approve in principle that the council can enter into a Partnership Agreement for Skyline as referred to in this report.

(2) Delegate to the Executive Director People and Neighbourhoods, in consultation with the portfolio holder for Children, Families and Education, Section 151 Officer and the Assistant Director, Legal and Democratic Governance to agree the terms of the Partnership Agreement.

(3) Delegate to the Assistant Director, Legal and Democratic Governance authority to enter into any documentation required to give effect to the Partnership Agreement, including the Partnership Agreement and any related legal agreements referred to in the Partnership Agreement or arising out of the project as a whole.

Officer contact: Vicki Bates on 0161 474 3219 or email: vicki.bates@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education (Councillor Wendy Meikle) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on Project Skyline outlining a Greater Manchester proposal to create supply of children’s homes to increase availability of placements for Children Looked After in the GM region for some of the most vulnerable young people.

It was stated that the most important consideration was the welfare of the young people involved and that it made sense to accommodate Stockport children within the area that they grew up and were familiar with.   It was also noted that there was currently a significant cost to the Council and other Greater Manchester authorities in sending children to be accommodated outside of the region.

RESOLVED - (1) That approval be given in principle for the council to enter into a Partnership Agreement for Skyline as referred to in this report.

(2) That authority be delegated to the Executive Director People and Neighbourhoods, in consultation with the portfolio holder for Children, Families and Education, Section 151 Officer and the Assistant Director, Legal and Democratic Governance to agree the terms of the Partnership Agreement.

(3) That authority be delegated to the Assistant Director, Legal and Democratic Governance authority to enter into any documentation required to give effect to the Partnership Agreement, including the Partnership Agreement and any related legal agreements referred to in the Partnership Agreement or arising out of the project as a whole.

To consider a joint report of the Executive Director People and Neighbourhoods (Director of Children’s Services) and the Assistant Director Legal and Democratic Governance.

The report provides an update on Project Skyline, the Greater Manchester (GM) proposal to create a supply of children’s homes to increase availability of placements for Children Looked After in the GM region for some of the most vulnerable young people and to approve in principle the entering into of a Partnership Agreement with the remaining Local Authorities in GM, GM Combined Authority and NHS GM for delivery of the project.

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

Officer contact: Vicki Bates | 0161 474 3219 | vicki.bates@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Director People and Neighbourhoods (Director of Children’s Services) and the Assistant Director Legal and Democratic Governance submitted a joint report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on Project Skyline, the Greater Manchester (GM) proposal to create a supply of children’s homes to increase availability of placements for Children Looked After in the GM region for some of the most vulnerable young people and to approve in principle the entering into of a Partnership Agreement with the remaining Local Authorities in GM, GM Combined Authority and NHS GM for delivery of the project.

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

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·       Members welcomed the report and praised the ambitious project.

·       Members enquired about the social care workforce and the challenges with recruitment. In response, it was noted that there had been an increase in the looked after population in Greater Manchester and that means, that there were more places required. The governance of Skyline includes the ten Director’s of Children’s Services across Greater Manchester with a clear workstream and it was a priority.

·       Clarification was sought regarding the expenditure references and expectation of savings. It was noted that one of the key principles was a high quality experience and provision for the children and it also costs less based upon facilitating this ourselves as a local authority.

·       It was stated that recruiting the right staff was crucial to the project including providing the right training and bringing in those with the right experience. It was stated that the issues around recruitment for good residential care has not really been a challenge in Stockport as it has excellent residential services with a strong leadership, based upon the culture and relationships that have been developed.

·       Members enquired about the four areas that had been selected to purchase the homes and whether or not there would be any issues with underoccupancy. In response, it was noted that the four areas that had been identified does not relate to those local authorities having to make an investment to purchase that property, it was on a Greater Manchester wide basis, so it would not affect any underoccupancy.

·       Clarification was sought on the tendering process and it being private. It was stated that there were three applications, but were unable to disclose any detail at this time.

·       It was also stated that this process has been led by Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Salford City Council who are the lead commissioners and procurers based upon the procurement rules and legislation but it has been monitored by the Director’s of Children’s Services across the Greater Manchester Combined Authority area.

·       It was noted that that there was a legal duty to have sufficient provision for the children in Stockport. There was a well established children’s commissioning team and a placements team that work daily to know exactly what placements are available across the region and nationally.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.