Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 12 October 2022.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 12 October 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 details relating to Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resource for the Children, Families and Education Portfolio with the Portfolio Report based on the 2022/23 Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreement (PPRA), which was considered by the Committee on 7 September and approved by Cabinet on 28 September 2022.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to:

a)    Consider the Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resource Report; 

b)    Review the progress against delivering key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 2022/23;

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

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

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

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 details relating to Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resource for the Children, Families and Education Portfolio with the Portfolio Report based on the 2022/23 Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreement (PPRA), which was considered by the Committee on 7 September and approved by Cabinet on 28 September 2022.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education (Councillor Wendy Meikle) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

Priority Two – All Children and Young People are well prepared for Adulthood and engage in Education, Employment and Training

·       Clarification was sought regarding the percentage of young people in Years 12 and 13 not in education, employment and training at the end of the 2021/22 academic year and whether measures were in place to track the young people and re-engage with them. In response, it was stated that Stockport has had consistent low numbers of ‘unknown’ young people with only 13 at the moment mainly due to moving out of the borough and other reasons. Diligent work has been undertaken to ensure the ‘unknowns’ are found as quickly as possible.

·       It was commented that about 61.5% of Stockport Schools were currently rated good or better according to the report by Ofsted and 66.1% of secondary school aged children living in Stockport attended these schools, but this was below the English average on both measures.

·       Members enquired about the Monitoring Committee and if there were any updates. In response, it was stated that a report regarding the Monitoring Committee would be submitted to a future meeting in 2023, but that schools continue to be monitored.

Priority Three – All Children, Young People and Families have access to an effective integrated early help offer.

·       Clarification was sought regarding the ‘incremental increase in contact record reviews’ and the ‘expected increase from previous years in light of the MAASH early help pathway’. In response, it was noted that from the summer period onwards there was specific focus on the MAASH to ensure that children and families coming through were stepping up into statutory social work interventions only when they needed to and thinking about the  alternative help that would be available at the earliest opportunity. The decline identified was a direct consequence of the activity, showing the proportionate involvement which could reduce the social workers caseloads.

·       It was commented that regarding the early help pathway the targets have been reviewed and updated following members comments at a previous meeting to ensure there was a complete plan in place.

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 behaviour reduce

·       Members welcomed the ‘Staying Close’ pilot which had been awarded £2.3m over three years to strengthen support for looked after children and recognised that it was a really good initiative.

·       It was noted that the SEND Revisit recently completed by the Ofsted and CQC inspectors has shown significant improvements and that the full report has now been published and would be shared with the Committee.

·       Clarification was sought regarding the hold that was put on the co-working of domestic abuse cases from quarter two onwards. In response, it was stated that it was an approach taken to improve the support of the workforce by upskilling and having a more focussed approach.

RESOLVED – that the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The report sets out the business case for the delivery of additional internal residential placement sufficiency in Stockport. This expansion in capacity is required to meet increasing demand due to rising numbers and complexity of children in care and to reduce our spend on external placements.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to comment on the work undertaken to date and recommend for Cabinet approval to:

a)    Approve the capital funding to a maximum of £1.8m through prudential borrowing for the immediate purchase and conversion of up to three properties within Stockport.

b)    Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the relevant cabinet member, to approve the selection of suitable properties and undertake their purchase.

c)    Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the relevant cabinet member, to enter into any such contracts and agreements as may be required to complete the purchase, conversion and operation of the children's homes.

d)    Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the relevant cabinet member, to apply for any necessary consents associated with the delivery of the children's homes.

e)    Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the relevant cabinet member, to approve necessary revenue budget changes to support the running of the new homes.

f)      Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the relevant cabinet member, to take all necessary further steps to deliver the strategy.

f)

Officer contacts: Jeanette Warburton, jeanette.warburton@stockport.gov.uk  or James Kington, james.kington@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the business case for the delivery of additional internal residential placement sufficiency in Stockport. This expansion in capacity is required to meet increasing demand due to rising numbers and complexity of children in care and to reduce our spend on external placements.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education (Councillor Wendy Meikle) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·       Clarification was sought regarding what was being recommended in the report. In response, it was proposed to support Option Two.

·       Members enquired about the reference in the report to “No Wrong Door” Approach and this being ‘blocked by private providers who are financially motivated’. In response, it was stated that when the Council are supporting a child in a foster placement, residential homes would advise that the child may not want to move into foster care, as it would mean they would lose money, but this does not stop the Council from placing the child into foster care.

·       Members enquired about the £1.8m cost involved in progressing with Option Two. In response, it was noted that it was an invest to save model to invest now and save in the long term.

·       It was suggested that the voice of the child was important in making these decisions and that should be taken into account. It was commented that children want to live in the local community as close as possible to their families and want the best care as possible and in a placement that would support them with the best possible outcomes.

·       Clarification was sought regarding the choice and size of homes for the children. In response, it was stated that the decision would be to purchase small homes for it to be and feel like a family home.

·       Members welcomed the report and the approach being adopted to ensure that children stay closer to home.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Scrutiny Committee endorses and recommends to Cabinet Option Two and Three as detailed within the report in paragraph five.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Children’s Social Care and Principal Social Worker).

The report provides a review of the Josh McAlister report and includes information relating to the Munro Review of Child Protection and the Competition and Markets Authority Children’s Social Care report.

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

Officer contact: Rebecca Key, rebecca.key@stockport.gov.uk

The Service Director (Children’s Social Care and Principal Social Worker) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a review of the Josh McAlister report and includes information relating to the Munro Review of Child Protection and the Competition and Markets Authority Children’s Social Care report.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education (Councillor Wendy Meikle) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·       Concerns were expressed that the policies might be cost driven rather than taking into account the needs of the children, but also placing children with family and friends which may also not be the best option.

·       It was commented that the needs of the child would come first and the special guardianships were in place to foster children. Wherever possible family members are assessed in the best interest of the child and meet their needs and keep them safe.

·       Members enquired about the financial costs recommended in the report. In response it was stated that the figure used was £2.6 billion worth of investment over five years from the Government to prevent 10,000 more children going into state care.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report provides details relating to the St Mary’s RC Primary School, Heaton Norris that received an inadequate judgement from OFSTED and was placed into special measures in January 2022. As a consequence of being placed into special measures the Diocese of Salford were issued an Academy Order under paragraph 10, schedule 1 of the Academies Act 2010.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to: -

a)    Comment on and note the report; and

b)    Commit to public engagement and consultation over whether the Council should publish a statutory proposal to formally close the school.

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

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing details relating to the St Mary’s RC Primary School, Heaton Norris that received an inadequate judgement from OFSTED and was placed into special measures in January 2022. As a consequence of being placed into special measures the Diocese of Salford were issued an Academy Order under paragraph 10, schedule 1 of the Academies Act 2010.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education (Councillor Wendy Meikle) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The Director of Children’s Services informed the Committee that there were a few errors in the report identified by St Mary’s School which would be corrected prior to the report being submitted to Cabinet as follows: -

·       The PAN is actually 168 rather than 210 as stated in the report.

·       The finances referred to in the report would be reviewed in advance of submission to Cabinet.

·       The percentages that follow the PAN in the report will also need to be corrected prior to submission to Cabinet.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·       Clarification was sought regarding the role of a voluntary aided school. In response, it was stated that a voluntary aided school in which a foundation or trust contribute to the building cost and has an influence in the running of the school.

·       Members enquired about future planning and how decisions would be taken to avoid these situations. In response, it was stated that the Government guidance advises it to become an Academy, but the Diocese don’t want it to become an Academy.

·       It was stated that the planning area of St Mary’s has a surplus of places of about 13% in the area.

·       Clarification was sought regarding the 23% of the current population of St Mary’s were catholic and were the choices of parents being protected. In response, through the consultation process it would be to listen to those parents and manage the admission process and their parental preferences.

·       Questions were asked about the consultation process and how wide it would be across the Town Centre. In response, it was stated that the consultation would be conducted across the St Mary’s planning area which includes the Town Centre.

·       Members enquired about the timescales involved. In response, it was noted that the final decision would be taken at the March 2023 Cabinet meeting.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) The Director of Children’s Services be asked to review the report and make the following amendments before submission to the next Cabinet meeting: -

(i)              The PAN is 168 and not 210 as stated in the report.

(ii)             The finances to be reviewed and any errors to be amended

(iii)           The percentages that relate to the PAN need to be reviewed.

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

This report presents recommendations from the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) to consider approval for the reimbursement of independent appeals panel members for the time and expense involved in undertaking this function.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to endorse that:-

a)    Council approves the introduction of a £32.50 per day payment to members of the Independent Appeals Panel.

b)    Council approves the introduction of the allowance being backdated to May 2021.

c)    Council notes that a recruitment exercise will be undertaken following the introduction of the allowance.

d)    Council requests that the Independent Remuneration Panel undertake a review of the rate of the allowance at a point 12 months after its introduction to assess its effectiveness in recruiting and retaining panel members.

Officer contact: Vicki Bates, 0161 474 3219 or email on vicki.bates@stockport.gov.uk

The Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the recommendations from the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) to consider approval for the reimbursement of independent appeals panel members for the time and expense involved in undertaking this function.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education (Councillor Wendy Meikle) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·       Members welcomed the report and the proposed remuneration by the IRP.

·       It was stated that the task is becoming more and more difficult and action needed to be taken to respond to the challenges.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Scrutiny Committee endorses the recommendations to Cabinet.

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.

Councillor Holt updated the Committee regarding the progress of the Scrutiny Review and the proposed way forward.

Members requested that the report be re-issued as some pages were not clear to read.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That Councillor Frankie Singleton be nominated to replace Councillor Christine Carrigan on the scrutiny review panel.

(3) That the report be re-issued to the Committee.