Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 2 November 2011.

The minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 2 November 2011 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The following interests were declared:-

Personal Interest

Personal & Prejudicial Interest

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The report sets out details of the Children and Young People’s portfolio performance and resources mid year review 2011-12.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Michael Henry on tel: 474 3830 or email: michael.henry @stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining performance over the previous 12 months and progress made against transformation projects within the portfolio which remain on target.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Funding of the Schools’ Sport’s Partnership.

·         Concern was expressed that at the end of 2010/11, 38.6% of mothers within priority areas were smoking at delivery compared with 15.2% borough-wide.

·         The further reduction in the number of young people not in Employment, Education or Training.

·         The longevity of the two apprenticeship schemes.

·         The number of persistent absentees in secondary schools.

·         Funding of SEN Transport and levels of complaints from parents.

·         Timescale for the review of SEN Transport.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Policy, Strategy, Partnerships & Transformation)

The report sets out the draft portfolio priorities in relation to the Children and Young People’s portfolio to be included within the Council Plan for 2012/13.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the draft portfolio priorities.

Officer Contact: Steve Skelton on tel: 474 3174 email: steve.skelton@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Assistant Chief Executive (Policy, Strategy, Partnerships and Transformation) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Committee to comment on the initial priorities developed by Executive Councillors taking account of the performance information included in the Performance and Resources report.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The safeguarding of children who have gone missing.

·         Partnership working and the measuring of outcomes rather than targets was welcomed.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the comments be referred to the Executive for consideration.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People. (To Follow)

The report provides a summary of the results of the consultation which relate to the portfolios under the remit of this Scrutiny Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee are invited to consider and comment on the consultation responses.

Officer Contact: Donna Sager on tel: 474 3928 or email donna.sager@stockport.gov.uk or Jim McMahon on tel: 474 4800 or email jim.mcmahon@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) summarising the responses to the consultation process which relates to the Children and Young People Executive portfolio. The report outlined the responses to three stakeholder consultations namely (i) Transition – Children to Adults: Children’s Disability Database (ii) School Commissioning and Support: School Meals and (iii) Streamlining Family Services.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The Committee noted that even with an increase of 10p per meal, the cost to parents of school meals remained below the Greater Manchester average.

·         Councillors praised officers for the extent of the consultation exercise.

The Executive Councillor (Children and Young People) attended the meeting and noted comments made by Councillors.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the comments be referred to the Executive for consideration.

To consider a report of the Chair of the Stockport Safeguarding Children Board.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: George Gilmore on tel: 474 5656 or email: george.gilmore@stockport.gov.uk

David Mellor, Independent Chair, Stockport Safeguarding Children Board, submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the effectiveness of local arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. The report provided an overview of the work of the Stockport Safeguarding Children Board, identifying achievements made and providing an assessment of the challenges that remain.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The Greater Manchester Multi-Agency Gang Strategy.

·         Cross boarder work to deal with issues of child exploitation.

·         The unannounced inspection of Contact Referral and Assessment arrangements and the efforts made to address concerns raised during the assessment.

·         The current membership and governance arrangements for the Board – the complexity of the safeguarding system and the number of agencies involved.

·         The Child Protection Plan and domestic violence.

·         The role of the training sub group and training provided to schools.

·         The establishment of a Sexual Exploitation Forum to co-ordinate the work being done across Stockport in relation to young people who are subject to sexual exploitation. The Forum concentrates on the preventative agenda and dissemination of information and good practice.

·         The proportion of Looked After Children who reside in Stockport from other areas of the country , the numbers of Looked After Children in foster care and the number of approved foster carers in the borough.

·         Lessons which could be learnt from the cyber bullying scrutiny review carried out by the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee in 2010.

·         The recruitment process for the appointment of a Lay member to the Board.

·         Learning from serious case reviews.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the thanks of the Committee be extended to David Mellor for his attendance and presentation.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The purpose of this Youth Justice Plan is to provide an update on the work of Youth Offending Services as monitored through the Youth Offending Services Partnership Board, which in turn reports to the Safer Stockport Partnership (SSP) and the Children’s Trust Board. It is worth noting that the timing of this submission is normally denoted by the Youth Justice Board (YJB), however this year the format has changed and as such this update is captured within a different format. The Youth Offending Services Partnership Board has been informed that the Youth Justice Board will require a Youth Justice Plan, which focuses on ‘Capacity and Capability’, to be submitted in April/May 2012 and therefore this report will provide an interim update on the work so far and the report in the spring will detail developments for 2012/13.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Jacqui Belfield-Smith on tel: 476 2876 or email: jacqui.belfield-smith@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the work of the Youth Offending Service which was monitored by the Youth Offending Services Partnership Board which in turns reports to the Safer Stockport Partnership and the Children’s Trust Board.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Councillors noted the excellent partnership working between various agencies and particularly the success of the Early Intervention (Prevention and Education) Team.

·         The reduction in the number of first time entrants has dropped significantly from a high of 642 to 201 young people in the year ending March 2011.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and officers in the Youth Offending Service be thanked and congratulated for their efforts.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

This report provides an overview of the developments in early Education and Childcare, including the changes since the introduction of the Single Funding Formula in Stockport, and associated developments.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to note the report.

Officer Contact: Viki Packman on Tel: 474 5709 or email: viki.packman@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of the developments in early Education and Childcare, including the changes since the introduction of the Single Funding Formula in Stockport and associated developments.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The formula funds the free 15 hour entitlement for 3 and 4 year olds and was implemented in April 2010.

·         An explanation in respect to Maintained Sector charging for additional childcare places.

·         The 2 Year old Offer Scheme has had a highly successful implementation in Stockport with a take up of 91% amongst the most vulnerable people.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

This information item has been added to the agenda at the request of the Executive Councillor (Children & Young People)

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to note the report.

A representative of the Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) explaining the element of the Children Act 1989 which requires Local Authorities to provide services designed to give breaks for carers of disabled children. The regulations require each local authority to provide a Short Breaks Service Statement so that families know which services were available and how they could be accessed.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.

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: Steve Fox on tel: 474 3206 or email: stephen.fox@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out planned items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items which fell within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The report sets out a summary of responses received during consultation about a proposal to amalgamate Nevill Road Infant and Junior Schools.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Stephen Bell on tel: 474 3846 or email: stephen.bell@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a summary of responses received during the consultation about a proposal to amalgamate Nevill Road Infant and Junior Schools. The report recommended that in light of the feedback from the consultation it would not be appropriate to amalgamate the two schools at the present time.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the proposed course of action be endorsed.