Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Children, Family Services and Education.

The report provides an update upon the Cabinet’s proposed approach to responding to the opportunities, challenges and uncertainty outlined within the review of the medium-term financial plan presented at the Cabinet meeting on the 21st September 2021.

Our focus remains on progressing our collective ambitions for Stockport by delivering impactful and outcomes-focussed transformational change for communities and businesses across Stockport. However, we have long recognised that a resilient budget is key to this by enabling us to face and respond to the unprecedented uncertainty ahead.

This report builds on previous updates to scrutiny and cabinet providing the latest considerations on how we intend to address financial and demand challenges, enable longer term transformation and shared ambitions.

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

Officer contact: Peter Owston on 0161 474 3274 or email: peter.owston@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Member for Children, Family Services and Education submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update upon the Cabinet’s proposed approach to responding to the opportunities, challenges and uncertainty outlined within the review of the medium-term financial plan presented at the Cabinet meeting on the 21st September 2021.

The report included an update on the previous reports to scrutiny and cabinet providing the latest considerations on how we intend to address financial and demand challenges, enable longer term transformation and shared ambitions

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

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Further integration was being looked at within the service to better co-ordinate and synchronise services into an integrated management system while keeping the capacity and capability at the frontline.

·         Clarification was sought regarding the support and funding for asylum seekers and refugees. In response, it was stated that the funding was based upon the number of children being placed in Stockport which was 46 children and would be funded by the Government with a funding formula, that could be claimed back from the Department of Education and the Home Office. At the moment only 10 were placed in Stockport based upon the equitable distribution around the country.

·         Were shared services being looked at for the future. In response, it was noted that both authorities were exploring providing and delivering services together with a task and finish group being established.

·         The Committee expressed concern regarding the number of times ‘shared services with another authority’ was referred to within the report. In response, it was stated that nothing had been agreed and the Committee would be kept informed of any developments.

·         Enquiries were made regarding the number of vacant posts referred to in paragraph 5.3 of the report. In response, it was stated that the information was not available but would be shared with the Committee in due course.

·         Clarification was sought regarding the ‘school crossing patrol’ and whether these were for primary or secondary schools and the wording ‘complex work’ referred to on page 78 of the report.. In response, it was stated that the information was not available but would be shared with the Committee in due course.

It was further stated that it would be helpful if future such reports were tailored to the remit of each of the respective scrutiny committees, and that further work be undertaken to ensure that reports were drafted in ‘plain English’.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That it be recommended that future such reports be tailored to the remit of each of the respective scrutiny committees, and that further work be undertaken to ensure that reports were drafted in ‘plain English’.

(3) That detailed responses be provided to the Committee on the following: -

a)    The number of vacant posts referred to in paragraph 5.3 of the report.

b)    The ‘school crossing patrol’ and whether these were for primary or secondary schools.

c)      Explanation of the wording ‘complex work’ referred to on page 78 of the report.