Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the notes of the Meeting of Members of the Children and Families Scrutiny Committee held on 16 June 2021.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 16 June 2021 were approved as a correct record.

Councillors and officers to declare any interest 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 interest was declared:-

Personal Interests

Councillor                             Interest

Linda Holt                              Agenda Item 4 – Youth Justice Plan 2021/22, by virtue of employment.

To consider call-in items (if any).

There were no call-in items to consider.

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

The report provides a statutory annual plan that is required under Section 40 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 which sets out the Youth Offending Partnership’s responsibilities in producing this plan and states that it is the duty of each local authority, after consultation with the partner agencies, to formulate and implement an annual youth justice plan.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to endorse the Youth Justice Plan for 2021/22.

Officer contact: Jacqui Belfield-Smith, 0161 474 4789,

Jacqui.belfield-smith@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of children’s Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a statutory annual plan that is required under Section 40 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 which sets out the Youth Offending Partnership’s responsibilities in producing this plan and states that it is the duty of each local authority, after consultation with the partner agencies, to formulate and implement an annual youth justice plan.

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

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         It was commented that the report made reference to the knife crime awareness strategy programme “On the Edge” and at Tier One, the involvement of 5 and 6 year olds. In response, it was stated that it was not 5 and 6 year olds, but the current Years 5 and 6.

·         Clarification was sought relating to ongoing training programmes and supporting the young people. In response, it was noted that the team worked closely with “Mosaic” which involved interventions and screening done both by the team and “Mosaic”.

·         It was noted that the restorative justice was working well and the team were encouraged to keep up the good work.

·         It was commented that during the pandemic there were a number of different types of behaviours from young people e.g. anti-social behaviour and off road bike riding which resulted in additional funding to develop the youth work programme. It was also stated that Detached Youth Workers were back on the street following the funding to respond to these behaviours.

The Committee recognised the detail in the report and thanked Jacqui Belfield-Smith and her team for such a well written report.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report outlines the proposed scope and brief with regard to dealing with prejudice-based incidents/ bullying type behaviours.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to note the report.

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

The Director of Education submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an outline to the proposed scope and brief with regard to dealing with prejudice-based incidents/ bullying type behaviours.

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

The following comments were made/issues raised: -

·         It was commented that it was good to hear about the data being collected, but the figures were a bit out of date and were not a true reflection of the current picture of the borough.

·         Clarification was sought regarding the number of schools that had taken part in providing the information and were the schools evenly spread in terms of the secondary and primary schools and was the information selective and consistent across the borough. In response it was stated that the information was not available, but would be collated and shared with the Committee in due course.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the following information be shared with the Committee relating to:

·         the number of schools (secondary and primary) involved in providing the data;

·         a breakdown of the schools involved across the borough; and

·         was the information selective and consistent across the borough.

To seek suggestions for Scrutiny Review Topics for inclusion in the 2021/2022 scrutiny work programme.

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance) invited the Scrutiny Committee to choose a Scrutiny Review topic for inclusion in the 2021/22 scrutiny work programme.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Council Meeting be recommended to include:-

·         Strategy for School Places – Pupil Place Planning in the Borough within the 2021/22 Scrutiny Work Programme; and

·         Sexism and Misogny in Stockport Schools (to include racism and bullying) within the 2021/22 Scrutiny Work Programme.

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 3207 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 Forward Plan items.

Councillor Senior proposed that the Director of Education (Tim Bowman) provides the Committee with a review on his working experiences to date including what has worked well and where there maybe areas for improvements.

The Chair suggested that an update be submitted to the Committee on pupils transitioning from primary to secondary school during the pandemic, identifying any issues and where improvements could be made.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance) be recommended to programme the following items into the Scrutiny Committee’s work programme for the 2021/22 Municipal Year:-

·         A review from the Director of Education relating to his work experiences to date including what has worked well and the areas for improvement.

·         An update on the pupil transitions from primary to secondary school during the pandemic, identifying any issues that occurred and where improvements could be made.