Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 1 July 2013.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 1 July 2013 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

No declarations of interest were made.

There were no Call-in items to consider.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Education)

The report provides an update on the relationship between the Council and Academies on a number of issues.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to consider and comment on the report and determine if they still wish to carry out a Scrutiny Review.

Officer Contact: Richard Bates on Tel: 474 3832 or email: richard.bates@stockport.gov.uk

The Service Director (Education) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the Council’s relationship with Academies on issues such as exclusion rates, school improvement, the provision of services and the relationships between Authority Schools and Academies.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Concern was expressed at the number of permanent exclusions made by the Academies in the borough especially when compared to the exclusion rates in Local Authority schools.

·         The Scrutiny Committee noted that the 2010 Schools White Paper made it clear that the Department For Education expected Local Authorities to continue to have a strong strategic role in relation to education in the Borough and that should a local Academy be struggling to achieve the expected level of performance then the Local Authority may wish to offer its support to raise those standards.

·         Councillors noted the Services to Schools Academy Buy Back for the period April 2013 – March 2014.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the following Councillors be nominated to sit on the Scrutiny Review Panel – Exclusions and Networks in Education:-

Councillor Paul Porgess (Chair)

Councillor Colin Foster

Councillor Patrick McAuley

Councillor William Wragg

To consider a report of the Service Director (Education)

The report informs the Scrutiny Committee of Government policy, of an entitlement to funded early education for Two Year Old children from lower income households from September 2013.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on the report.

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

The Service Director (Education) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) informing the Scrutiny Committee of the Government policy of an entitlement for funding for early education for two year old children from lower income households from September 2013.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Efforts made to encourage those families eligible to participate and benefit from the entitlement on offer to them.

·         The degree of choice and the options on how the 15 hours per week childcare could be utilised by parents.

·         The extent to which the offer was utilised in relation to Looked After Children. Councillors requested that further information be circulated in respect to this provision.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Children & Young People)

The Scrutiny Review examined the issues for the Council of having a large number of Private Children’s Homes in the Borough and covered key areas such as the impact on resources associated with the educational needs of the young people, planning implications, impact on the community and offending issues, and the risks associated with a large number of children who go missing who may be at risk of sexual exploitation. The Review made 20 recommendations which when implemented will, for instance, improve communication between the Homes and our schools enable the market to be managed more effectively and monitor take up of safeguarding training for staff employed by the Homes.

The report attached sets out the proposed response of the Executive to the recommendations contained in that final report.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to note the report.

Officer contact: George Gilmour, 0161 474 5656, George.gilmour@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the Executive’s response to the Scrutiny Review ‘The Council’s Relationship with Privately Run Children’s Homes.’

RESOLVED – That the response be noted.

To consider a report of the Assistant Chief Executive.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to nominate Councillors to carry out the review.

Officer Contact: Gaynor Alexander on Tel: 474 3186 or email: gaynor.alexander@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Assistant Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining proposals for the conducting of the Scrutiny Review on Tackling Inequalities.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the following Councillors be nominated to participate in the Review:-

Councillor Paul Porgess

Councillor Laura Booth

Councillor Linda Holt

Councillor Patrick McAuley

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: Stephen 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 agenda 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.