Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 1 June 2016.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 1 June 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.

No declarations of interest were made.

There were no call in items to consider.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The report provides information to support scrutiny committees in the oversight of the work of the Safer Stockport Partnership. The report will be accompanied by a presentation which will outline key performance trends, the proposed SSP priorities for 2016/2017 and recently agreed changes to governance arrangements for the Partnership.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

1) Consider the proposed themes for the 2016/2017 SSP Plan set out in section 3 of the report.

2) Note the proposed governance arrangements for the SSP set out in section 4 of the report.

3) Comment on key data trends and information within the presentation.

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

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive and Greater Manchester Police submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated providing information to support the Scrutiny Committee in providing oversight of the Safer Stockport Partnership. A presentation was also made outlining key performance trends, the proposed Safer Stockport Priorities for 2016/2017 and the recently agreed changes to the governance arrangements for the partnership.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The reporting of crime and the analysis of crime figures and statistics.

·         New ways of working for Neighbourhood Policing was currently being implemented. It was suggested that presentations be made to Area Committees in respect to this issue.

·         Gateways for information to help the vulnerable and people who abuse alcohol and drugs.

·         The reporting process for children who go missing from care homes.

·         The strategies in place for helping children people in the avoidance of anti-social behaviour and committing crime.

·         The changing role of the Community Safety Unit.

RESOLVED – That the representative of the Deputy Chief Executive and Greater Manchester Police be thanked for their report and presentation.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The report presents the draft 2016/17 Agreements for the Children and Families and Education Portfolios (Appendices 1 & 2) for consideration and comment by the Committee.

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

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

Representatives of the Corporate Director, Services to People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing for comment the draft 2016/2017 portfolio agreements for the Children and Families and Education Portfolios for 2016/2017. The Executive Councillor (Children and Families) and the Executive Councillor (Education) attended the meeting and answered Councillors questions in respect to the report.

The following comments were made/issues raised

Children and Family Services Portfolio

·         The coming year presents many challenges at a local level within Stockport given the changing landscape being generated by the emerging proposals for the Greater Manchester devolution of Children’s Services.

·         The Stockport Family concept is to be supported and nurtured to allow time to “bed-in” having only been fully implemented from 1st April 2016. The first indications are that integrated working and restorative approaches are working well.

·         Achieving the reduction of 20% of spend on looked after children is particularly demanding. Childcare is a high policy priority area that during the coming year will be subject to examination.

·         The Education and Adoption Act had received royal consent in March 2016 which included the provision to establish joint arrangements for the carrying out of local authority adoption functions. Stockport Council is part of a Greater Manchester and Cheshire East Partnership which

successfully obtained funding in 2015/16 as an early adopter of ‘regionalisation’. Councillors requested a report be submitted to a future meeting on this project.

Education Portfolio

·         Key areas of focus included the delivery of improved performance in the Adults’ services, creating opportunity through apprenticeships, road safety, ensuring the number of primary and secondary places meets existing pressures and Special Educational Needs and Inclusion.

·         A Portfolio priority was raising educational attainment across the Borough and making sure those children and young people at risk of under-achievement receive the additional support they need.

·         The redesign of Special Educational Needs Transport.

·         The Government will define the criteria for ‘coasting’ schools following the publication of the 2015/16 attainment data and it is expected that ‘coasting’ interventions will commence during the 2016/17 academic year. Coasting interventions will apply to local authority maintained schools and academies.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The report provides an update to the Scrutiny Committee on a proposal to seek approval form the Executive on the recommendation to provide Werneth High School with funds of £0.350m to acquire capital assets via the LA Prudential Borrowing Scheme.

The Scrutiny Committee are requested 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, Services to People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Scrutiny Committee to comment on a proposal that would be presented to the Executive to provide Werneth High School with funds of £0.350m to acquire capital assets financed via the Local Authority’s Prudential Borrowing Scheme.

RESOLVED – That the Executive be informed that the Scrutiny Committee supports the proposals detailed in the report.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The report outlines a suggested process for the selection of Scrutiny Review topics for 2016/2017.

The Scrutiny Committee are invited to consider and comment on the report with a view to selecting a review topic and nominating Councillors to sit on the Review Panel at the August meeting. The Scrutiny Review Programme will be submitted to the Council Meeting in September for approval.

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) requesting the Scrutiny Committee to consider the selection of a scrutiny review topic to be carried out during the 2016/2017 municipal year.

RESOLVED – That “Improving Children’s Mental Health” be selected as the scrutiny review topic for the 2016/2017 municipal year that the Councillors be requested to confirm at the next meeting if they wish to participate in the review.

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: 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 agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and any forward plan items within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.