Agenda and minutes

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

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

No interests were declared.

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

The report sets out the Scrutiny Review Panel Procedure Rules and suggests that the Panel should adopt it for the purpose of conducting the review.

The Panel are requested to formally adopt the Scrutiny Review Panel Rules for the purpose of conducting the review.

Officer Contact: Charles Yankiah on 0161 474 3206 or email: charles.yankiah@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Assistant Director (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Panel to formally adopt the Scrutiny Review Panel Procedure Rules for the review.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted

To consider a report of the Director of Education.

The report outlines the proposed scope and brief for the review.

The Panel is requested to determine the scope of the review and outline any areas they wish to scrutinise further.

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

The Director of Education submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which aimed to assist the Panel to scope the review and determine the areas which they wish to explore and scrutinise further as part of the review of the Growth in Free School Meals.

The Director of Education informed the Panel that the scoping report outlined the aim of the review which was to understand the growth in children eligible for free school meals in Stockport and to assess its impact. He also explained that the three objectives identified in the report would be covered in all three sessions.

The following comments were made/issues raised: -

·       Members requested that further information be included in the objectives relating to early years and 16-18 year olds.

·       It was also requested that a cost benefit analysis be explored including how much it would cost to administer across Stockport.

The Director of Education confirmed that the requests for further information would be included in the scrutiny review at a future meeting.

Members welcomed the report and thanked the officers for the details in the report.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That further information be included in the scrutiny review as follows: -

·       Early years and 16-18 year olds data relating to free school meals.

·       A cost benefit analysis including how much it would cost the Council to administer across Stockport.

To consider a report of the Director of Education.

The report provides details relating to the Growth in free school meals in Stockport.

The Panel is requested to comment on and note the report.

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

The Director of Education submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing details relating to the Growth in Free School Meals in Stockport.

Growth in Free School Meals – Headlines

The following comments were made/issues raised: -

·       Pupils are eligible for free school meals where parents are in receipt of certain benefits or are in receipt of Universal Credit and have a household income of less than £7,400 a year.

·       43,683 pupils in Stockport schools of whom 8,344 were eligible for free school meals.

·       Stockport primary pupils eligible for free school meals has increased over the last five years from 2,904 to 4,648.

·       Stockport Secondary pupils eligible for free school meals has increased over the last years from 1,529 to 3, 050.

·       Clarification was sought on the number of claimants that were on the transitional protection. In response, it was stated that the information was not available, but will be researched and provided to the Panel in due course.

·       The Panel enquired about the difference in entitlement and taking of free school meals and whether there was any other details. In response, it was noted that the details of why there was a difference would be presented to the next review session.

Primary School pupils data

The following comments were made/issues raised: -

·       There has been an increase in primary pupils in Stockport eligible for free school meals (FSM) from 2017 to 2022.

·       Stockport was ranked 9^th out of 10 in the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCS) Local Authority’s measure for pupils known to be eligible for FSM.

·       In 2017/18 2,659 Primary pupils were entitled to and taking a FSM, this has risen +949 over the last 5 years.

·       Clarification was sought regarding the FSMs and KS1 and if there was  any evidence of the take up of those entitled to FSMs on Universal Credit and if there were any difficulties. In response, it was stated that the details were not available, but that a response would be provided at the next session.

Free School Meals by Ward Setting

The following comments were made/issues raised: -

·       At a local authority level, the percentages of FSM claimants did not dramatically change until the initial period of the pandemic, at a Ward level, the changes were more significant.

·       The data relates to schools that are contained within the Wards, rather than the Wards in which individual pupils reside.

·       In 2014, less than half (43%) of Stockport's 21 Wards had FSM claimant levels of at least 10%. As of 2022, 81% of Stockport's Wards have FSM claimant levels of at least 10%.

·       Every Stockport Ward has been affected by the growth in FSM claimants.

·       Members enquired about the disparity between the school and the residencies across the wards relating to FSMs. This information would be provided to the Panel at the next session.

Wider Context

·       As of October 2022, there were 21,091 people in receipt of Universal Credit in Stockport, which was comparable to its nearest neighbours.

·       Across the Stockport, Cheadle and Hazel Grove constituencies there were 10,614 households (rather than individuals) receiving children-related support through Universal Credit or legacy benefits in August 2022.

·       It was commented that regarding Universal Credit and Legacy Benefits the data needed to be scrutinised properly as there were two wards within the borough with high numbers of pupils on FSMs and there was an assumption that the numbers would be higher for those on Universal Credit.

Members thanked the officer team for the presentation and for the data and concerns highlighted.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To provide the Panel with the opportunity to discuss the information and evidence presented by officers and witnesses, receive responses to questions relating to the scope of the review and formulate recommendations.

There were no further questions.

To agree the dates for future meetings (January and February 2023) and the timescales for undertaking the review.

RESOLVED - That the Assistant Director Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer be authorised to determine future dates of the Panel in consultation with the Chair and the Panel members.