Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 9 December 2015.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 9 December 2015 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 interests were declared:-

Personal Interest

Co-Opted Member

Ian Roberts                       Any discussion relating to the Schools Forum as a   

                                        member of the forum      

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The report presents for comment the Final Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs) for the Supporting Children and Safe & Resilient Communities Portfolios are presented for consideration by the Committee. These provide an update on key activity during the third quarter of the year, with a summary of progress in delivering portfolio priority outcomes through the Investing in Stockport programme and other key projects since the mid-year report. They include forecast performance data (where this is available) and projected financial data for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programmes. 

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

·         Consider the Final Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports;  

·         Review the progress against delivering key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 2015/16;

·         Highlight key areas of and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any performance or resource issues;

·         Highlight any significant issues or changes to be fed back to the Executive alongside the Corporate Performance and Resource Report;

·         Identify how areas of strong performance and good practice can be shared in other services.

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

Representatives of the Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing for comment the quarterly Portfolio Performance and Resources Reports (PPRR’s) for the Supporting Children and Safe & Resilient Communities portfolios. The Executive Councillor Shan Alexander (Safe & Resilient Communities) attended the meeting and answered questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

Supporting Children Portfolio

·         The Investing in Stockport service redesigns relating to the 0-25 Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) had secured Executive approval in December and work on the redesign had commenced in January.

·         Additional funding of over £584,000 had been awarded to enhance the Child Adolescent Mental Health Service.

·         The number of children subject to Child Protection Plans continued to fall significantly. It was felt that the cause for this fall was due to improved early intervention and more targeted support.

·         How the Council ensures that Schools and Academies are buying into the concept of Stockport Family – Two Head Teachers were seconded full time to the Stockport Family implementation team. All schools were in the process of having a Stockport Family Worker allocated to them.

·         The admission of young people to Accident & Emergency who had taken legal highs and the response and advice provided to them.

Safe and Resilient Communities Portfolio

·         The recently published HMCI Annual Report states that 90% of Stockport pupils attend ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ primary schools and 74% attend ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ secondary schools.

·         2014/2015 date revealed improved performance at Key Stage 1 and 2 and Stockport remained one of the top performers on progress and attainment across all key stages.

·         Inclusion Services are working with local schools to pilot a new approach to ‘managed transfers’ which aimed to reduce the number of pupil exclusions.

·         A number of projects to increase primary school capacity had been completed – a review was being conducted in respect to the future demand on secondary school places.

·         The Councils relationship with Academies was a strong one and they bought back many services from the Council. The Council challenges Academies about their exclusion rates and worked with the regional commissioner.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a joint report of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services and the Corporate Director for People.

The report provides the Scrutiny Committee with an update on the key announcements made by the Department for Education (DfE) on the education funding settlement for 2016/2017

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

Representatives of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services and the Corporate Director for People submitted a joint report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on key announcements made by the Department for Education (DfE) on the education funding settlement for 2016/2017. The Executive Councillor, Safe and Resilient Communities (Councillor Shan Alexander) attended the meeting and answered questions in relation to the report.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The role of Local Authorities in education and the implications of the Government phasing out of the ESG by the end of the decade which would mean a loss of £3.7m for Stockport. Many Local Authorities no longer had a Schools Improvement Services.

·         Changes to the index of multiple deprivation and the implications for the funding formula given that they present the most up to date information in respect to levels of deprivation in the borough.

·         The effect of the minimum funding guarantee on schools and what the Council intends to do when this temporary funding ceases particularly for those schools in the priority one areas.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report presents information to enable a view to be taken on the effectiveness or arrangements for safeguarding children and young people in Stockport.

The Scrutiny Committee are invited to consider and comment on the Annual Report from the Stockport Safeguarding Children Board.

Officer contact: Una Hagan on Tel: 474 5657 or email: una.hagan@stockport.gov.uk

Representatives of the Independent Chair of the Stockport Safeguarding Children Board (SSCB) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing for comment information to enable the Committee to assess the effectiveness of arrangements for safeguarding children and young people in Stockport.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The effects of austerity had been mitigated through the continuing commitment of partner agencies including the careful redesign and restricting of services which had been supported by vigilant risk management and high level of commitment from officers across the safeguarding children workforce.

·         The £3m grant received from the Department of Education Social Work Innovation Fund had been put to use creating the Stockport Family Model which was underpinned by a ‘restorative approach’ which could be defined as resolving conflict by repairing harm done in relationships.

·         The Board had commissioned an experienced independent reviewer to help reflect on lesson emerging from Operation Windermere – the jointly led Police and Children’s Social Care operation.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and that the best wishes of the Committee be passed to David Mellor for his excellent work as the Chair of the Board.

To consider a joint report of the Executive Councillor (Supporting Children) and the Corporate Director for People.

The report presents the findings and subsequent recommendations after a recent public consultation concerning Admission Arrangements for academic year 2017/18.

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

Officer Contact: Phil Beswick on Tel: 474 3832 or by email: phil.bewswick@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) presenting the findings and recommendations following a public consultation concerning the admission arrangements for the academic year 2017/2018. The Executive Councillor, Safe & Resilient Communities (Councillor Shan Alexander) attended the meeting and answered questions in relation to the report.

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.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.