Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The report presents for consideration the final update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRR) for the Children & Young People and Lifelong Learning & Achievement Portfolios. The reports provide a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, budgets and capital programmes during the third quarter of 2014/15, and include full year forecast performance and financial data for each Portfolio. The reports also include a progress report and updated risk assessment of the portfolio savings programmes.

The Scrutiny Committee are invited to consider and comment on the reports.

Officer Contact: Simon Finch on Tel: 474 4019 or email: simon.finch@stockport.gov.uk

Representatives of the Corporate Director for People and the Executive Councillors Children & Young People and Lifelong Learning & Achievement submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, budgets and capital programmes during the third quarter of 2014/2015, including full year forecast performance and financial data for each Portfolio.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

Children and Young People portfolio

·         There had been a successful bid for Social Care Innovation Programme grant – the Council had been awarded £3.03m which would be used to further support the integration of social care with the integrated children’s service.

·         Data revealed that there had been a sustained improvement in early year’s provision as the number of child minders rated good or better had increased from 284 at the end of 2013/2014 to 297 in quarter 3 of 2014/2015.

·         There had been a reduction in the number of young offenders with 102 offenders recorded during the first 9 months of 2014/2015 compared to 133 during the same period in 2013/2014.

·         Concern was expressed that whilst the number of children who ran away from home during the first 9 months of 2014/2015 has stabilised , the number of children who had run away from care had increased.

·         Councillors requested that a report be submitted to a future meeting concerning the emotional well being of Looked After Children.

Lifelong Learning and Achievement portfolio

·         Schools have continued to perform at a high level. The 2013/2014 HMCI annual report identified Stockport as having ‘the highest percentage of leadership and management judged good or outstanding at 92%’. Councillors requested that this report be circulated for consideration.

·         There had been a sustained reduction in the number of young people not in education, employment or training which in part was attributable to the continued good work of the Apprenticeship Store in helping young people find training and employment.

·         The expansion of Greave Primary School and amendments to the capital programme.

·         The estimated cost for the capital investment needed to implement free school meals for all children in reception, year 1 and year 2 in state run schools. It was noted that four schools required build investment with three schemes commencing in the near future.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.