Issue - meetings

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

The report outlines the strategic approach in responding to the medium-term financial plan and also outlines the budget proposals being considered by the Cabinet to address financial and demand challenges, enable longer term transformation, and ensure the delivery of shared strategic partnership ambitions.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to comment on the report and the proposals presented within the report relevant to the remit of this committee.

Officer contact: Gill Lawton | gill.lawton@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the strategic approach in responding to the medium-term financial plan and also outlines the budget proposals being considered by the Cabinet to address financial and demand challenges, enable longer term transformation, and ensure the delivery of shared strategic partnership ambitions.

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 enquired about the £8.33m deficit and how it related to the  neighbourhood and prevention programme and where the savings would be made. In response, it was stated that the majority of the deficit was an element of the Stockport family budget that was related to external placements. It was noted that the recovery relied on being more preventative in order to promote excellent practice to get the spend down.

·       It was commented that as part of the recovery programme several projects had been progressed to enhance Stockport Family model to keep children in their families and communities with a focus on:

o   the opening of children’s homes to provide more internal children homes places,

o   reviewing the children with disabilities services

o   the delivery of evidence based interventions which provided focused support to children to remain with their families,

o   improving recruitment and retention,

o   the early help and prevention and

o   reviewing SEN Transport.

·       Clarification was sought regarding how the efficiencies would be realised regarding the ‘review of the children with disabilities services’. In response, it was stated that ‘children with disability services’ are reviewed regularly to ensure the most efficient and effective services for children and young people to ensure the best possible services and preventative support are in place.

·       Members requested further details relating to the anticipated funding changes for this coming financial year. In response, it was noted that the reports submitted details the recovery programme and captures the pressure points being contained in children’s social care and services. In addition, it was noted that there had been the announcement from Government regarding additional funding for children’s social care and the children’s well-being bill, but there are no guarantees.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Director of Education provides further details relating to the anticipated funding changes for the forthcoming financial year in order that the Committee can get a better understanding of how the budget pressures and settlement was being dealt with.