Issue - meetings

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

The report provides details relating to a proposal for shared leadership for the early years functions of the School Improvement Teams across Stockport and Tameside Councils and builds on previous updates to the Scrutiny Committee.

The current assessment of the teams in terms of grades duties and roles means there is scope for assimilation or ring-fenced recruitment process for the new roles. In addition, the new structure enables the leadership roles to operate at a Strategic level – rather than the current mix of mainly operational responsibilities with a relatively small element of leadership. Again this will strengthen Stockport’s early years leadership. Current operational teams in both Stockport and Tameside will not be impacted by this arrangement.

The Cabinet is recommended to endorse the proposal to move to a shared appointment of three Shared Service Leadership roles. These roles are to be full year, and will be initially delivered as a 12 month arrangement with robust evaluation of outcomes to inform future direction.

The new proposed roles are as follows: 

·         Principal role – Head of Early Years Education (Shared Service) Stockport are host employer

·         PVI Lead (Shared Service) – Tameside Host employer

·         School based Lead (Shared Service) – Stockport Host employer

Officer contact: Tim Bowman, tim.bowman@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education (Councillor Wendy Meikle) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a proposal for shared leadership for the early years functions of the School Improvement Teams across Stockport and Tameside Councils.

RESOLVED – That the proposal to move to a shared appointment of the following three Shared Service Leadership roles be endorsed, initially delivered as a 12 month arrangement with robust evaluation of outcomes to inform future direction:-

·         Principal role – Head of Early Years Education (Shared Service) Stockport are host employer

·         PVI Lead (Shared Service) – Tameside Host employer

·         School based Lead (Shared Service) – Stockport Host employer

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

The report provides details relating to a proposal for shared leadership for the early years functions of the School Improvement Teams across Stockport and Tameside Councils and builds on previous updates to the Scrutiny Committee.

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

Officer contact: Tim Bowman, tim.bowman@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing details relating to a proposal for shared leadership for the early years functions of the School Improvement Teams across Stockport and Tameside Councils and builds on previous updates to the Scrutiny Committee.

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

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·       Clarification was sought on the length of the post for one year. In response, it was stated that a balance had to be looked at, as it was a pioneering approach for real benefits to proceed cautiously.

·       Members enquired if the benefits were the same for both Stockport and Tameside. In response, it was noted that the benefits would vary for each organisation due to the different targets and needs for each local authority.

·       It was noted that the existing team of staff would continue to work across Stockport with two members of the team taking up leadership posts that would be backfilled as there would not be a reduction of staff within the team.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.