Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The report presents for consideration the mid-year Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports for the Supporting Children and Safe & Resilient Communities Portfolios. The reports provide summary progress in delivering the portfolio priority outcomes through the Investing in Stockport programme and other key projects during the first half of 2015/2016, with updates on key activity during the second quarter. They also include forecast performance data and projected financial data for the portfolios including an update on the portfolio savings programme.

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

Officer Contact: Gaynor Ward on Tel: 474 3816 or email: gaynor.ward@stockport.gov.uk

Representatives of the Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a summary for delivering the portfolio priority outcomes through the Investing In Stockport Programme and other key projects during the first half of 2015/2016 with updates on key activity during the second quarter.

The Executive Councillors Supporting Children (Councillor Wendy Meikle) and Safe &Resilient Communities (Councillor Shan Alexander) attended the meeting to respond from questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Provisional education attainment data for 2014/2015 indicated improved outcomes at Early Years, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.

·         Councillors noted the excellent work of the School Improvement Team for closing the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers.

·         Data showed that in the last academic year there had been a slight increase in the number of permanent exclusions. Consequently, a Working Group had been established with Secondary Heads to look at alternatives to exclusion and to promote consistency in approaches to managed transfers. There was an aim to get consistency between schools when dealing with managed transfers.

·         Performance at Key Stage 2 for pupils who are on pupil premium.

·         Further work had been undertaken to progress the redesign of children’s social care and Integrated Children’s Services as part of the Stockport Family approach, work to secure the co-location of teams had accelerated and the Heatons and Tame Valley locality team had moved into accommodation in Central House. It was anticipated that all teams would be co-located from April 2016.

·         Additional funding of £584,000 had been released by Stockport CCG to enhance the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) subject to the development of a local transformation plan.

·         Councillors noted that Public Health had agreed to commit staff resources to work with Mosaic to develop a project based on the successful Orebro model to engage parents and schools in projects designed to prevent alcohol misuse amongst secondary school aged children.

·         Councillors welcomed the additional funding for CAMHS. Councillors discussed how success would be measured and the detailed assessment approaches adopted in respect to monitoring improvements.

·         In respect to child poverty – monitoring was being undertaken in respect to the effect of universal credit and the impact on families from the local assistance scheme. The Child Poverty Strategy and monitoring also fed into the Children’s Trust meetings.

·         The National Child Measurement Programme – reintroduction of the programme was welcomed. Councillors asked that a report being submitted to a future meeting on the effects of the re-introduction.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.