Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 29 January 2014.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 29 January 2014 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 Corporate Director for People.

The final update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRR) for the Children and Young People and Lifelong Learning and Achievement Portfolios are presented for consideration by the Scrutiny Committee. The reports provide an update on progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, budgets and capital programmes during 2013/14, and include performance and financial projections for the year. The reports also include a progress report and updated risk assessment of the portfolio savings programmes. 

The Scrutiny Committee are requested to consider and comment on the reports.

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

a) Children and Young People

The Executive Councillor (Children and Young People) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on performance of the portfolio in the third quarter 2013/2014. 

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         An application to secure early access to the Family Nurse Partnership scheme had been successful.

·         During Q3, the Reddish Group of Children’s Centres were inspected by Ofsted under the new Children’s Centres Inspection framework and they had received the grade ‘requires improvement’. An action plan had already been established to address the findings from the inspection.

·         Councillors requested further detailed reports in respect to (a) Hospital admissions as a result of unintentional or deliberate injury and (b) the 0-25 Transformation Programme.

·         Alcohol misuse remains a major issue in Stockport across all ages.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

b) Lifelong Learning and Achievement

The Executive Councillor (Lifelong Learning and Achievement) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on performance of the portfolio in the third quarter 2013/2014. 

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         From September 2014, every child in reception, Year 1 and Year 2 will be entitled to a free school meal. The government has made £150m of capital funding available for improving school kitchens and dining facilities and Stockport’s share is £0.812m.

·         The quality of educational provision in Stockport continues to improve – a recently published Ofsted regional report for the North West commends Stockport for showing considerable improvement in recent years.

·         Persistent absence and fixed term exclusion rate for pupils in Stockport schools have reduced in 2012/2013.

·         The revenue out-turn forecast for the Portfolio is a surplus of £0.702m for 2013/2014.

·         The use of pupil premium money by schools to accelerate the progress of those pupils who are in receipt of it.

The Chair informed Councillors that this would be the last meeting at which Richard Bates, Service Director (Education) would be in attendance prior to his retirement. On behalf of the Committee he thanked Richard for his support and hard work and wished him the very best for the future.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The report outlines the work undertaken following the recommendations made following the Scrutiny Review of Tackling Child Poverty.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to consider and comment on 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) updating the Scrutiny Committee on the recommendations of the Scrutiny Review on Tackling Child Poverty in 2007.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Since the Scrutiny Review in 2007, there had been extensive work by the Children’s Trust Board in respect to child poverty which included the completion of an extensive Child Poverty Needs Assessment which informed the Child Poverty Strategy 2011-2014.

·         Child poverty now has a high level focus with a strategic Child Poverty Group reporting to the Children’s Trust Board and quarterly reports to the Scrutiny Committee.

·         Councillors discussed the alternatives for communicating to members of the public, costs of childcare. There was a critical role for health visitors and children’s centres when promoting the free child care offer for children from the age of two years old.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The report outlines issues relating to zero hour based contracts as they relate to the Children and Young People’s Directorate.

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

Officer Contact: Stephen Fox on Tel: 474 3206 or email: stephen.fox@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 number of employees in the Children and Young People’s Directorate on zero hours contracts and how the Council was addressing any current issues.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the Deputy Chief Executive be recommended to submit a report to the Corporate, Resource Management and Governance Scrutiny Committee outlining the extent of zero hour based contracts within all of the Council’s Directorates.

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.