Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 15 June 2022.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 15 June 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:-

To consider call-in items (if any).

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director of People and Integration.

The report provides the priorities articulated within the Portfolio Agreements, which form the basis for regular in-year reporting with the Agreements being aligned with new Cabinet Portfolio Responsibilities agreed at Annual Council in May. Work has since been undertaken to review and update portfolio priorities in conjunction with the new Cabinet. The report presents the draft 2022/23 Agreement for the Children, Families and Education Portfolio for consideration and comment by the Committee.

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

Officer contacts:

Gaynor Ward, Strategy and Performance Manager

gaynor.ward@stockport.gov.uk  (0161 474 3186)

Gill Dixon, CSS Manager, Specialist) Finance – Children’s Social Care

gill.dixon@stockport.gov.uk  (0161 474 3886)

Peter Hughes, CSS Manager, Specialist) Finance – Education & Schools

peter.hughes@stockport.gov.uk (0161 474 3947)

The Corporate Director of People and Integration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the priorities articulated within the Portfolio Agreements, which form the basis for regular in-year reporting with the Agreements being aligned with new Cabinet Portfolio Responsibilities agreed at Annual Council in May. Work has since been undertaken to review and update portfolio priorities in conjunction with the new Cabinet.

The report presents the draft 2022/23 Agreement for the Children, Families and Education Portfolio for consideration and comment by the 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:-

Portfolio Summary

·       Members commented about the ‘Guarantee that was supported by the £560 million investment was a national grant and not just for Stockport with further details to be shared relating to the details of the grant.

·       Clarification was sought on how the national ‘Youth Guarantee’ was monitored. In response, it was noted that the Stockport Family Partnership Board, the SEND Improvement Board and the Quality Assurance Performance Board were all involved in planned monitoring with governance arrangements in place and oversight.

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

·       Further details were requested relating to CFSE.5 – Percentage take up of the 2 Year Childcare Offer and the increase 2019/20 actual target of 103/1%.

·       Members enquired whether any areas of concern had been identified when monitoring the data and statistics. In response, it was commented that the data had not yet been released and that once it is released it would be difficult to compare from 2019/20 due to the pandemic.

Priority Two - All children and young people are well prepared for adulthood and engage in education, employment and training

·       Members enquired about the targets for attainment and the pre and post pandemic levels. It was commented that there was a national target included the ‘white paper’, with the targets driving the right activity for the long term to establish positive outcomes. The targets need to be looked at including the ‘stretch targets’ to agree where things need to be and how to get there.

·       Further data was requested relating to the details that was beneath the data including the performance of gender and disadvantaged communities. In response, it was stated that some KS2 data had already been released, but further details was expected.

·       Clarification was sought relating to the low target for CFSE.26 and CFSE.27 which was quite good. In response, it was noted that the ‘unknown figures’ was really low and it was followed up but work was still ongoing.

·       Members sought clarity relating to CFSE.10 and CFSE.11 and Ofsted Inspections. It was noted that inspection activity was paused during the pandemic, but further details would be included in future reports.

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

·       Members enquired about CSFE.63 and the increase in target for 2021/22. In response, it was stated that the reduction was due to the pandemic and the closure of schools, but now that schools have reopened there has been an immediate impact on the early years assessment. Some challenges have been identified and the assessments will be ongoing going forward.

·       Data was requested relating to the pupils who were accessing the mental health in schools programme.

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

Further details were sought relating to CFSE.62 and how it related to covid.

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

families, there are fewer family breakdowns, and rates of crime and anti-social  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

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

The report provides information relating to Stockport leaders and elected members of a new programme of work to support access to family help in our communities.

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

Officer contact: LJ Woodward, lj.woodward@stockport.gov.uk or Carolyn Anderson, carolyn.anderson@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing information relating to Stockport leaders and elected members of a new programme of work to support access to family help in our communities.

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 welcomed the report and the investment.

·       Clarification was sought relating to the difficulties that had been identified regarding people who needed to access the services. In response, it was stated that there were three pillars of the family hub that focused on access, connection and relationships and a lot of work was ongoing to deal with the barriers and streamlining and improving services.

·       Regarding the £1m funding that had been provided for the transformation, clarity was sought relating to how long it would last. It was stated that the funding would be used to support the transition and transformation into the new delivery method up to 2024 with a view that following 2024 it would be sustainable.

·       A request was made for a report relating to the activity on interventions and outcomes for the programme.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Strategy.

The report includes the background and context information relating to Integrated Care Systems (ICS), including the opportunities for Stockport –

·       The Greater Manchester ICS model

·       The emerging Stockport integrated Health and Care model including;

o   The Stockport Locality Board

o   Transition arrangements for the Stockport Locality Team

o   The work of the Provider Partnership

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to comment on and note the progress that has been made and the arrangements in place.

Officer contact: Patrick McGee, by email on patrick.mcgee@nhs.net

The Director of Strategy submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the background and context information relating to Integrated Care Systems (ICS), including the opportunities for Stockport, the Greater Manchester ICS model, the emerging Stockport integrated Health and Care model including, the Stockport Locality Board, the transition arrangements for the Stockport Locality Team and the work of the Provider Partnership.

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:-

·       Members welcomed the report and the regular updates.

·       Clarification was sought relating to the governance arrangements and where the decisions would be taken. In response, it was stated that the Integrated Care Board had a scheme of delegation that set out the Greater Manchester level and that the formal scheme of delegation was still being developed and over the next six months there would be a clearer understanding of the decisions being made and at what level.

·       Would there be a risk regarding the funding and other authorities competing for funding. It was stated that there was always a risk when funding was involved, but the intention was to advocate for Stockport constantly with the robust arrangements in place.

·       The new legislation brings a better understanding about the process and the system to make it better through a more collective approach, but it was a great opportunity.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report details the work undertaken by the Scrutiny Review Panel of the Children & Families Scrutiny Committee in respect to ‘School Place Sufficiency – Pupil Place Planning’ and the proposed recommendations.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the information in the report and approve the recommendations.  

Officer contact: Christopher Harland, 0161 521 1707 or christopher.harland@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report (copies of which

had been circulated) detailing the work undertaken by the Scrutiny Review Panel of the Children and Families Scrutiny Committee in respect to ‘School Place Sufficiency - Pupil Place Planning’ and the proposed recommendations.

Councillor Becky Senior attended the meeting to respond to questions from

the Scrutiny Committee.

Members welcomed the report and the level of detail that been scrutinised and thanked the officer team for their support.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and recommended to Cabinet.

To appoint members to sit on the Scrutiny Review – Growth in Free School Meals for 2022/23.

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance) verbally reported on the recommended topic that had been chosen for the next review.

RESOLVED – (1) That the next scrutiny review topic chosen be ‘Growth in Free School Meals’.

(2) That Councillors Linda Holt (Lead Councillor), Shan Alexander, Christine Carrigan, Colin Foster, and Sue Glithero be nominated to sit on the

proposed scrutiny review panel.

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 a future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee: -

·       National Youth Guarantee

·       Family Drug & Alcohol Court