Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 1 March 2022.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 1 March 2022 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers to declare any interests which they have in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

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

The following interests were declared:-

Personal Interests

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

The report provides a comprehensive summary of progress against portfolio priorities, performance indicators and budgets during the second half of 2021/22, with a specific focus on the fourth quarter (January to March 2022).

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

·       Consider the Annual Portfolio Performance and Resource Report;

·       Review the progress against delivering key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 2021/22;

·       Highlight key areas of and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any performance or resource issues;

·       Highlight any significant issues or changes to be fed back to the Cabinet  alongside the Corporate Performance and Resource Report;

·       Identify how areas of strong performance and good practice can be shared in other services.

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 Director of Place Management and Corporate Director (Corporate & Support Services) & Deputy Chief Executive submitted a joint report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a comprehensive summary of progress against portfolio priorities, performance indicators and budgets during the second half of 2021/22, with a specific focus on the fourth quarter (January to March 2022).

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:-

Priority One - All babies and children are given the very best start in life by their parents and carers and start school ready to learn.

·       Members enquired about the early years provision and the support they get for improvements. In response, it was noted that all settings were provided with more intense support that was differentiated and was more targeted.

·       Clarification was sought relating to the monitoring panels. In response, it was stated that information would be circulated to the Committee following the meeting.

·       Members sought clarification on the impact of young people following the pandemic. In response, it was stated that it has had an impact and an intentional recovery plan is in place with targets and levels of development.

Priority Three - All children, young people and families have access to an effective integrated early help offer

·       Members welcomed the early health assessments, but questioned the 70% target that had been in place for 5 years. In response, it was stated that there were no comparable targets for this and a new framework had recently been published which will review the assessments by next quarter which should show an improvement.

Priority Four - Children and families with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the best possible support at the right time to ensure that the best possible outcomes are achieved

·       Members enquired about the pending re-inspection. In response, it was noted that the re-inspection would be done within 18 months, so it would be expected by the end of the year.

Priority 5 - All children and young people live safely and happily within their

families, there are fewer family breakdowns, and rates of crime and anti-social

behaviour reduce

·       Members enquired about the Looked After Children numbers. In response, it was stated that there were 448 in care and that as a result of the demand across the system it has had an impact on capacity and resources, which was a challenge and the teams were working hard to resolve it.

·       It was noted that the figure also include refugees, Afghan and Ukrainian children and unaccompanied children.

Financial Resources and Monitoring Section

·       Members highlighted the increasing ‘remand costs’ year on year and enquired about the progress being made relating to lobbying the Ministry of Justice. In response, it was noted that the lobbying was continuing at a national level and significant progress had been made to date.

The Chair on behalf of the Committee expressed its greatest thanks to all the staff for their ongoing work in relation to Stockport children and that the Ofsted report demonstrated the very high standards carried out.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Strategy.

The report provides details relating to the background and context information relating to the Integrated Care Systems (ICS), including the opportunities for Stockport, the Greater Manchester ICS Model, Stockport’s transition work and the emerging Stockport integrated health and care model.

The report also provides a further update and describes the opportunities afforded by the new legislation; highlights the progress and recommendations made by the Shadow Locality Board and its constituent working groups; highlights the progress made at Greater Manchester level; and provides an overview of the future direction of Stockport’s Locality arrangements.

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

Officer contact: Laura Mercer, 0161 218 1799,laura.mercer@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Strategy submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing details relating to the background and context information relating to the Integrated Care Systems (ICS), including the opportunities for Stockport, the Greater Manchester ICS Model, Stockport’s transition work and the emerging Stockport integrated health and care model. The report also provided a further update and description regarding the opportunities afforded by the new legislation; highlights the progress and recommendations made by the Shadow Locality Board and its constituent working groups; highlights the progress made at Greater Manchester level; and provides an overview of the future direction of Stockport’s Locality arrangements.

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

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·       Members enquired about the 11 proposals for adoption referred to in the appendices. In response, it was stated that the feedback received referenced putting people, patient and community voice at the heart of everything, which is reflected in the 11 proposals.

·       Clarification was sought regarding the transformation process and accountability. In response, it was noted that the Locality Board will develop a relationship in Greater Manchester and held to account by NHS England and this would be delivered by the Integrated Care Board and the Integrated Care Partnership.

·       There would be a big impact on the clinical commissioning staff from the 1^st July 2022 who would no longer be employed by the clinical commissioning group, but by the Integrated Care Partnership going forward led by the Chief Executive.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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.

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

The report provides an update relating to Start Well.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to note the update.

Officer contact: LJ Woodward (Locality Lead – Health & Early Intervention), 0161 474 4012, lj.woodward@stockport.gov.uk   

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update relating to Start Well.

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 regarding the 18 and 24 months between contact. In response, it was stated that evidence has been built relating to the 18 month contact which had been developed for the last 5 years. The 18 month contact was a window of opportunity to develop speech and language. Following a test relating to the WELCOME tool and working with experts it was recognised that to assess children at 24 and 27 months.

·       Members enquired about what happens next with the early years. It was stated that it was not just a system, but through the Startwell Board there were efforts to mirror the teams around the school and support around the provider.

·       It was commented that a lot of the content within the presentation highlighted the inequalities to be addressed which was a concern as it seemed as though the gap was widening.

The Chair, proposed that a progress report be submitted to a future meeting in six months.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That a progress report be submitted to the Scrutiny Committee in six months.

To seek suggestions for Scrutiny Review topics for inclusion in the 2022/23 scrutiny work programme.

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out a suggested process for the selection of scrutiny review topics and an explanation as to how the reviews would be supported.

The Committee was invited to choose a topic for their next review.

RESOLVED – (1) That the members of the Scrutiny Committee be invited to submit their topics for the next review to the Democratic Services Officer within one week following the meeting.

(2) That following the submission of suggestions authority be delegated to the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance), in consultation with the Chair, to recommend to Council the next scrutiny review and to appoint members to the Panel as necessary.

To consider a report of the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance).

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 is invited to consider the information in the report and put forward any agenda items for future meetings of the Committee.

Officer contact: Charles Yankiah on 0161 474 3206 or email:

Charles.yankiah@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance) 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.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance) be requested to make arrangements for the following items to be programmed onto the agenda for future meetings of the Scrutiny Committee:-

·       Integrated Care System Update – every meeting

·       Stockport Family Update – September 2022

·       Schools White Paper Update – September 2022

·       SEND – Regular Reports (to be determined how often)

·        SEND – Written Statement of Action – Green Paper

·       Josh McCallister Report – Children social care – September 2022

·       Family Hubs – September 2022

·       SEND Provision for Children of Stockport

·       Early Years Update – re-shared services – April 2023

·       Update on Shared Services & Interim Findings

·       SEND – Mental Health Provisions – children’s voices

·       Post 16 – Transition to Higher Education

·       Startwell update – within 6 months

·       Growth of Free School Meals