Issue - meetings

To consider a joint report of the Corporate Director (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director (Corporate & Support Services) & Deputy Chief Executive. 

Policy priorities for 2021/22 were set out within the Council Plan, which was adopted at the Budget Council Meeting in February. This incorporates the shared outcomes from the Borough Plan alongside specific priorities of the Cabinet.  

These priorities, re-shaped to take account of One Stockport and Building Back Better (building on Covid19), are articulated within the Portfolio Agreements, which form the basis for regular in-year reporting. Portfolio and Corporate Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs and CPRRs) will assess progress against key objectives, priorities, outcomes and budgets, enabling Scrutiny Committees to hold the Cabinet to account and for the Cabinet to identify current and future risks to delivery. 

This report presents the draft 2021/22 Agreements for the Citizen Focus and

Engagement and Resources, Commissioning and Governance Portfolios for

consideration and comment by the Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to review and comment on the draft Portfolio Agreements.

Officer contact: Gaynor Ward, Strategy and Performance Manager

gaynor.ward@stockport.gov.uk  (474 3186)

Gill Dixon, CSS Manager (Specialist) Finance – Children’s Social Care

gill.dixon@stockport.gov.uk   (474 3886)

Peter Hughes, CSS Manager (Specialist) Finance – Education & Schools

peter.hughes@stockport.gov.uk   (474 3947)

The Corporate Director (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director (Corporate & Support Services) & Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the draft 2020/21 agreements for the Citizen Focus and Engagement and Resources, Commissioning and Governance portfolios for consideration by the Scrutiny Committee.

The agreements articulated the policy priorities for 2021/22 that were set out within the adopted Council Plan , incorporating the shared outcomes from the Borough Plan alongside specific priorities of the Cabinet. These priorities, re-shaped to take account of One Stockport and Building Back Better (building on Covid19), are articulated within the Portfolio Agreements, which form the basis for regular in-year reporting.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Family Services & Education (Councillor Colin Foster) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised: -

·         Clarification was sought regarding ‘Earmarked Reserves’ and the ‘Balance of Reserve’ figure of £794,000 for SEND – Written Statement of Action. In response, it was stated that this amount was drawn down to respond to the actions following the CQC Inspection and the SEND area inspection. It was to do the strategic work e.g. the formation of the single point of access for wellbeing and the work undertaken to establish it in April 2021.

·         Clarification was also sought regarding ‘Performance Measures and Targets’ – CFSE11 and how it compared to regional and national targets and how attainable was the 78.8%. In response, it was stated that three secondary schools which had been inspected in September 2019 and were categorised as being ‘Inadequate’ under the new Ofsted regime. However, since March 2020 there have been no other inspections due to the pandemic and the inspections being frozen. It was also stated that the figures and percentage was a reflection of two or three schools improving that would affect the overall target. There would also have been some incremental changes had the Ofsted regime continued. It was also noted that the comparative information would be provided to the Committee.

·         Clarification was sought regarding ‘Performance Measures and Targets’ – CFSE12(ii) and what the reasons were for the reduction. In response, it was noted that a written response would be provided to the Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.