Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 3 December 2014.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 3 December 2014 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

The following interest was declared:-

Personal Interest

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider a joint report of the Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) and the Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services)

The revised draft Business Cases for the Investing in Stockport Proposals for Preventative Commissioning Strategy is being submitted to the Scrutiny Committee for consideration and comment as part of the consultation.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the draft business cases.

Officer contact: Holly Rae, 0161 474 3014, holly.rae@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for People submitted a report of the Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) and the Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer and Community Service) (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the draft business case for the Investing in Stockport proposals for the Preventative Commissioning Strategy.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The range and extent of public health activity in each of the programme area which may be curtailed.

·         The impact of the proposed reforms on the MOSAIC service and the relationship of that service with schools.

·         Councillors requested more detailed information in respect to services which do not have a strategic fit with the new commissioning model for which funding is prosed to cease in the majority of cases on 31 March 2015.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The report details achievements against last year’s Youth Justice Plan and outline priorities for the forthcoming year.

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

Officer Contact: Jacqui Belfield Smith on Tel: 474 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) detailing achievements against last year’s Youth Justice Plan and outlining priorities for the forthcoming year.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The Youth Offending Service (YOS) has realigned resources in order to meet service demand and requirements of wider public sector reform contributing to necessary efficiency savings and promoting best practice.

·         As part of the wider Integrated Children’s Services, the YOS has aligned local authority children’s services with the equivalent services in the Foundation Trust.

·         The number of first time entrants entering the youth justice system continues to fall. Councillors congratulated officers for the significant efforts over previous years which saw a fall from 649FTE’s in the year to June 2006 reducing to 55 FTE’s in the year to June 2014. In addition, the latest re-offending rate for Stockport was 35.2% compared with 36.1% a year ago.

·         Safeguarding of children and young people is integral to the work of the YOS. Strong links are in place with partners, particularly social care – all young people are screened as part of their assessment for vulnerability.

·         Councillors sought further information in respect to reoffending and whether there was a typical profile for a young person who reoffends regularly.

·         Significant concern remained in respect to domestic abuse issues within the borough. The YOS was working in partnership with RESPECT, a national voluntary organisation to address and work with families who experience adolescent to parent abuse. The YOS continued to work with young people experience domestic abuse in close relationships.

·         Methods utilised to identify work in the community as part of the restorative justice programme.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and officers be commended for the excellent work over the last year.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The report provides information and an overview of the Education Funding Settlement announced by central government in December 2014 and details of the Schools Local Funding Formula consultation undertaken in autumn 2014 and the proposed amendment to the local formula to be implemented from April 2015 subject to the Executive approval.

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

Officer Contact: Peter Hughes on Tel: 474 3947 or email: peter.hughes@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for People submitted a report  (copies of which had been circulated) proving information and an overview of the Education Funding Settlement announced by central government in December 2014 and details of the Schools Local Funding Formula consultation undertaken in the Autumn of 2014 and the proposed amendment to the local formula to be implemented from April 2015 subject to Executive approval.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Funding announcements for 2015/2016 were made on the 17^th December 2014 and confirmed that the distribution of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) to local authorities would continue to be based on the current “spend plus” methodology got 2015/2016 set out in three spending blocks, namely (i) and early years block (ii) a schools’ block and (iii) a high needs block.

·         The minimum funding guarantee (MFG) would ensure that no school receives more that 1.5% per pupil reduction in 2015/2016 budgets compared to the 2014/2015 baseline.

·         In 2014/2015, Stockport attracted £9.089m (including academies) of Pupil Premium Grant. An early-years Pupil Premium was being introduced for every three and four year old from a low income family to help prevent them falling behind before they have commenced school. It was anticipated that this would bring an extra £0.224m of funding to Stockport.

·         A number of Councillors expressed concern in relation to the “feedback against” from those schools who responded to the consultation. They identified (i) changes to the formula having a detrimental impact on the most vulnerable families and children in the borough and (ii) flaws in the consultation process as being of particular concern.

·         Councillors noted that the Schools Forum had not made a specific recommendation in respect to the proposals detailed in the report for consideration by the Executive.

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 are invited 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 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 any Forward Plan items that fell within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

The Chair reported that Emma Atkinson, a chef at Larkhill Primary School, had recently won the School Chef of the Year Competition 2015 for the North West Region and would now represent the North West at Worthy Downs Military Base for the grand final in May.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Democratic Services Manager be requested to write to Emma Atkinson congratulating her for her award and wishing her luck for the School Chef of the Year Grand Final in May.