Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 5 July 2017.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 5 July 2017 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made.

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The First Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs) for the Children & Families and Education Portfolios are presented for consideration by the Committee. These provide a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects in the first quarter of the year (April to June). They include forecast performance and financial data (where this is available) for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programmes. These are the first reports to be based on the 2017/18 Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreements (PPRAs). They were considered by the Committee on 24 May 2017 and approved by Cabinet on 13 June 2017.

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

Officer Contact: Gaynor Ward on Tel: 474 3186 or email: gaynor.ward@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report of the Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the first update Portfolio Performance and Resource Report  for the Children & Family Services and Education Portfolios providing a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects since the final update report, with a focus on the first quarter of the year (April to June 2017). The report also included out-turn performance and financial data for the Portfolio, along with an update on the portfolio savings programme.

Children & Family Services Portfolio

The Cabinet Member for Children & Family Services (Councillor Colin Foster) attended the meeting to present the report and respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         In response to a comment in relation to the increase in the number of children the subject of a child protection plan, it was stated that there had been in a change in approach of the courts across Greater Manchester which had resulted in the increase.

·         The number of children placed at home who were the subject of a care order had also increased and a detailed analysis was taking place with regard to those children the results of which would form part of a report which would be submitted to a future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee.

·         There were a number of young people who fell within the older teenage bracket where there were complex family situations which meant that the only way forward was to accommodate them in care. 

·         A discussion took place in relation to pupils transferring from private, voluntary and independent early years providers to maintained nurseries mid-year and the associated difficulties for schools in planning for and maintaining appropriate specialist practitioners to support those pupils with complex needs when the associated need was unknown at the commencement of the school year.

·         It was commented that public health advice in England was that vaping was a better alternative to smoking in those circumstances where cessation was not possible, and it was queried how that message was being communicated.  In response, it was stated that health visitors had been trained with regard to smoking cessation and public health workers were integrated into communities.

·         In response to a query in relation to Brinnington Adopter scheme, it was stated that this was not just a matter of co-location, but co-working where practitioners discussed cases and worked with each other as a recognition that their roles often overlapped and were complementary.  It was commented that the scheme was in its infancy and that the lessons learned would be used to inform future delivery strategies elsewhere in the Borough.

·         There had been a positive response from early years providers in relation to the government’s announcement on the increase in the hours for free childcare.

·         With regard to mental wellbeing it was stated that in addition to crisis care, there were also early intervention teams with health visitors, midwives and those workers who had direct contact with service users being trained in and aware of the service so as to be able effectively sign post and support individuals in need of support.

·         The work of Sure Start centres remained integral part of service delivery in the localities.

·         The renewed commitment to targeted youth provision was welcomed.

Education Portfolio

The Cabinet Member for Education (Councillor Dean Fitzpatrick) attended the meeting to present the report and respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was commented that the data relating to the performance of children resident in priority one areas was not necessarily representative of the cohort as a whole as it only captured those pupils who attended a school within a priority one area and not those who lived in the area but were educated elsewhere.

·         It was suggested that there was a discrepancy in the performance of primary  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The report outlines a suggested process for the selection of Scrutiny Review topics for 2017/2018.

The Scrutiny Committee are invited to comment on the report and select a Scrutiny Review Topic for the 2017/2018 municipal year and to nominate people to participate in the review.

Officer Contact: Craig Ainsworth on Tel: 474 3204 or email: craig.ainsworth@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Scrutiny Committee to consider the process for the identification of suitable Scrutiny Review topics and to suggest topics for inclusions within the Scrutiny Work Programme.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Council Meeting be recommended to include ‘Open Space Provision for 14-19 year olds’ within the 2017/18 Scrutiny Work Programme.

(2) That Councillors Tom Dowse (Lead Councillor), Malcolm Allan, Annette Finnie, John Taylor and Elise Wilson be appointed as members of the Scrutiny Review Panel.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The report sets out planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items that fall within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

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

Officer Contact: Stephen Fox on Tel: 474 3206 or email: stephen.fox@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and any relevant Forward Plan items.

It was proposed that the Scrutiny Committee should in the future give consideration to the impact of the Council’s recently introduced policy of providing Council Tax relief for care leavers up to the age of 25.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.