Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 21 September 2016.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 21 September 2016 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair subject to the inclusion of Councillor Mark Weldon in the list of those members present.

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.

Representatives of the Stockport Youth Partnership will attend the meeting and make a presentation on the recent Young Reps Event.

Representatives of Stockport Youth Parliament attended the meeting and made a presentation in respect to a Stockport Young Reps Event held in the Town Hall on Thursday 29^th September 2016. The event had been attended by 70 young people, Members of Parliament, Councillors and Officers from the Council proving to be the boroughs largest ever youth management event. Representatives of the Youth Parliament had led a number of discussion workshops exploring ways and ideas to improve Stockport for all young people. The most important priorities identified from the event were:-

·         A curriculum to prepare young people for life

·         Tacking racism and religious discrimination

·         Transport

·         Refugees and homelessness

·         Parks and safe place to meet with friends

Other topics of discussion included tackling bullying, tackling poverty, the provision of cheaper activities and access to youth clubs. Councillors heard that the top five issues identified in similar events through the UK would be debated in the House of Commons on Friday 11 November 2016 by Members of the Youth Parliament Community.

Councillors asked question in relation to the event and expressed thanks to the representatives for their hard work and efforts in facilitating the event and suggested that they should meet with representatives of the Council’s Executive.

On behalf of the Committee, the Chair thanked the representatives of the Youth Parliament for their attendance and presentation. She encouraged them to attend future meetings of the Committee to raise issues important to young people with Councillors and to keep members informed of issues affecting the Youth Parliament.

RESOLVED – That the presentation be noted and representatives of the Youth Parliament be thanked for their attendance.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration

The report provides an overview of the current road safety provision in and around the educational facilities in Stockport. It gives information about the current road safety training provision in schools and a review of the current issues faced in terms of road safety around education sites in peak periods. The report also considers the potential for the introduction of further provision in regard to road safety in and around educational facilities and the resource implications of expanding these areas of work to develop a comprehensive approach to road safety around schools.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the report and request that a review of the existing situation is undertaken and a report is produced identifying a comprehensive approach to congestion around schools incorporating educational activities, physical infrastructure improvements and enforcement.

Officer Contacts: Sue Stevenson/Nick Whelan on 0161 474 4351/4907 or email: sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk/nick.whelan@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of the current road safety provision in and around educational facilities in Stockport.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

• An audit of the area around schools to identify opportunities to develop a prioritised programme of interventions, including physical interventions within approximately 300m of schools was to be undertaken.
• Councillors noted that congestion around educational fascilities  was a focus of concerns for residents and a range of community groups - a range of strategies has been implemented tp alleviate these problems over the years.
• The use of more sustainable means of travel to school also aids in efforts to reduce obesity levels by encouraging greater activity levels amongst children and young people
• Councillors discussed the timing for consideration of Traffic Regulation Orders in conjunction with school expansion. Lessons needed to be learned from past mistakes whereby orders were implemented long after developments had been completed, resulting in significant traffic problems in the intervening period. Councillors noted that this issues had been discussed at the Planning and Highways Regulation Committee and it was further suggested that this be referred to the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration for consideration.
• The recruitment of School Crossing Patrol operatives and current vacancy levels was discussed including the use of Camera Cars as a preventative measure.
• Concern was expressed that should there be an increased demand on ward delegated to fund features such as yellow lining or bollards - then the budgets allocated to Area Committees should be proportionate to the number of schools in each ward. Councillors asked that this information be included in the updated report in the new year.
• Educating and Communicating with parents was integral to any programme for enhancing school safety in schools – Head Teachers and School Governing Bodies were fundamental to this objective.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council (Policy, Finance & Devolution).

In August the Executive outlined how it will address the severe financial challenges faced by Stockport because of central Government cuts and significant local cost pressures, and set out a framework of principles that would shape engagement with residents and businesses In October the Executive received an updated Medium-Term Financial position and, in response, set out business cases for proposed changes to address the spending reduction requirement for 2017/18; a series of working papers explaining initiatives that will shape a future reform programme and address wider challenges over the medium-term, and confirmed an intention to raise Council Tax by 3.99% in 2017/18.

This report affords an opportunity to discuss the Executive’s proposed approach taken to addressing the medium-term, by reference to the published background papers and 2017/18 business cases that fall within the remit of each scrutiny committee.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the report and appendices.

Officer contact: Steve Skelton on 0161 474 3174 or email: steve.skelton@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out for comment a series of working papers explaining initiatives that will shape a future reform programme and address wider challenges over the medium term. The report set out business cases for proposed changes to address the spending reduction requirement for 2017/2018 and confirmed the intention to raise Council Tax by 3.99% in 2017/2018.

The Executive Councillors (Children & Families) and (Education) attended the meeting and answered questions in relation to the reports.

The following comments were made/questions raised:-

Digital By Design

·         Councillors welcomed the efforts being made in respect to this project.

·         It was suggested that, in light of the presentation earlier in the agenda, user testing should be targeted at young people and that there was a specific opportunity to meet the ambition of young people to be engage with the Council.

·         It was suggested investment in appropriate and up to date technologies was required to ensure that the project was successful. Hardware and Software must be appropriate and that they should be costed in to the project.

·         The principles of ‘change management’ were integral to the project and needed to be applied accordingly.

Working With Communities

·         It was suggested that rather than create an "expert panel" to determine funding applications for the Community Investment Fund, rather Area Committees were better placed to give consideration to applications as local Councillors better knew their communities and groups who may apply for funding. Councillors requested that this be given consideration as part of any Business Case.

Joined Up Local Services

·         Councillors welcomed the proposals detailed in the paper but requested that more detailed information be submitted outlining both investment costs and prospective savings

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and comments referred to the Executive.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People

The Mid Year Portfolio Performance and Resources Reports (PPRR) for the Children & Families and Education Portfolios are presented for consideration by the Scrutiny Committee. These provide a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects during the first half of the year, with a particular focus on the second quarter (July to September) of 2016/17. It includes forecast performance data (where this 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 Mid Year Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports;

·         review the progress against delivering key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 2016/17;

·         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 Contacts: Gaynor Ward on 0161 474 3186 or email: gaynor.ward@stockport.gov.uk and Emma Bowe on 0161 218 1026 or email: emma.bowe@stockport.gov.uk

Representatives of the Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing for comment the mid-year Portfolio Performance and Resource Report (PPRRs) for the Children & Families and Education Portfolios. The reports are based on the 2016/2017 Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreements.

The Executive Councillors (Children & Families) and (Education) attended the meeting and answered questions in relation to the reports.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

Children and Families

• The recent Phoenix Peer Review of the Stockport Domestic Abuse and Sexual Exploitation TEAM (DACSE) provided an independent assessment of the excellent practice operated by the team and demonstrated that integration was working well
• Stockport Family had been in place for 6 months and had already made significant progress. Joint working between health visitors and early year’s workers through Children's Centres was beginning to demonstrate tangible results for children and young people.
• Budget issues continued to present a challenge with many ongoing pressures particularly external residential places. However the overriding aim remained to ensure the safeguarding and protection of Stockport's most vulnerable children.
• Councillors welcomed the most up to date data which demonstrated a continued decrease in the number of 15-17 years old becoming pregnant.
• Councillors requested further information in respect to the percentage of mothers smoking at delivery and in particular what constituted smoking.
• Concerns were expressed in respect to levels of children in Reception and Year 6 who were recorded as obese. Councillors requested that the Corporate Director for People write to the Manager of Life Leisure expressing their concern that vending machines located in the receptions of life leisure buildings continued to sell unhealthy products such as crisps, chocolate bars and fizzy drinks.
• Councillors discussed the possibility of restricting the number of fast food takeaways and approval of new fast food takeaways in the close vicinity of the boroughs High Schools - it was agreed that this issue be referred to the Planning and Highways Regulation Committee for consideration.

Education

·         Recently published educational attainment data for 2015/2016 academic year demonstrates the excellent results achieved in the borough across all key stages.

·         One of the major challenges for the portfolio remains meeting the challenge of providing sufficient school places across the primary and secondary sectors. Marple, the Heatons and Cheadle Hulme were of most concern. Added to which, the pressure on Special Schools was a particular challenge. Options were currently being developed to build capacity and investment would be needed to ensure the needs of those children were met.

·         Councillors requested further information in respect to the uptake of the entitlement to free early year’s places for 2 year olds.

• Councillors discussed the increase in pressure on school places resulting from already approved house building programmes and looking to the future the implication of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework
• It was agreed that a report be submitted to a future meeting in respect to the various Transition Projects being undertaken throughout the borough.
• Further clarification was sought in respect to persistent absence rates from schools (pupils missing 10% or more school sessions) - it was suggested that the information presented should also include pupil numbers rather than just a percentage rate.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the Corporate Director for People be requested to submit information to future meetings of the Committee as outlined above.

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 within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.