Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Director of Children’s Services.

This report provides an update on progress with Tameside and Stockport shared services programme which aims to improve outcomes for children and families by delivering the best possible services through challenging times and within diminishing resources, supported through an emphasis on collaboration and partnership. The programme aims to explore and realise the opportunities to do things differently to build capacity and share best practice across traditional boundaries.

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

Officer contact: Carolyn Anderson, Carolyn.anderson@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on progress with Tameside and Stockport shared services programme which aims to improve outcomes for children and families by delivering the best possible services through challenging times and within diminishing resources,  supported through an emphasis on collaboration and partnership. The programme aims to explore and realise the opportunities to do things differently to build capacity and share best practice across traditional boundaries.

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:-

·         Clarification was sought regarding the governance and scrutiny processes involved with the shared services. In response, it was noted that there was Shared Services Board that included Cabinet Members and Directors from both authorities and that once details relating to opportunities and benefits for both authorities are identified then the scrutiny process would follow.

·         Members were concerned that there was no performance data included in the report and sought clarification on the outcomes, resource and capacity challenges referenced in the report. In response, it was commented that performance date would be included in future reports. Regarding the challenges it relates to the local authorities resources, school budgets and increase in academy schools.

RESOLVED – That this Committee resolves to urgently place the Shared Services proposals on the agenda of the next Children & Families Scrutiny Committee and requests that officers bring a report which clearly sets out comparative data between Stockport MBC and Tameside MBC on all Children & Family Services and Education service areas. This should include, but is not limited to, performance, outcomes and attainment data, relevant demographic and demand data, a comparison of the budgets at the two authorities for the Children & Family Services and Education services and current and proposed organisational structure charts for the affected service areas. This Committee also requests that this item is drawn to the attention of the CRMG Scrutiny Committee and, at the discretion of the Chair of that Committee, a new report is placed on the next available CRMG Committee for consideration given the governance and management issues this is likely to raise and the significant level of resource involved in this service area.