Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 2 November 2016.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 2 November 2016 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair subject to the inclusion of Councillor Wendy Meikle in the list of 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.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The Youth Justice Plan headlines achievements against last year’s plan and outlines the priorities, opportunities and challenges for the coming year. The work of Stockport Youth Offending Service is monitored through the Youth Offending Services Partnership Board (YOS PB), which in turn reports through the Children’s Trust Board.

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

Officer Contact: Jacqui Belfield-Smith on Tel: 474 4789 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) outlining the Youth Justice Plan achievements and explaining priorities, opportunities and challenges for the forthcoming year.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The Youth Offending Service was part of the Stockport Family Integration and the Youth Justice Board monitored three areas of work, namely, Reduction in First Time Entrants, Reduction on Youth Re-Offending and Reduction in the Use of Custody.

·         Early intervention work focused on responsibility for statutory and no-statutory pre-court work including elements of restorative justice and out of court disposal. Targeted Youth Support aimed to ensure that the needs of vulnerable teenagers were identified early and met by agencies working together effectively.

·         Councillors discussed the transition between youth to adult services and noted that this was particularly relevant due to changes in probation and the National Probation Service.

·         Councillors welcomed the fact that the Youth Offending Service and Children’s Social Care commissioned the Lucy Faithful Foundation (LFF) which worked across seven of the Greater Manchester Authorities to assess and undertake planned interventions for young people who commit sexually harmful behaviour.

·         Councillors noted the risks to delivery against the three outcomes and that they may be impacted upon through pressure to deliver the core statutory functions at times of reduced budgets but noted the opportunities to deliver services differently through the Stockport Family model.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The report explains that the Targeted Youth Support (TYS) policy was first introduced in 2008. A large number of LA’s incorporated the policy and changed the way that they delivered services to ensure that the most vulnerable young people were benefitting from a model of ‘Targeted Youth Support’. The model was not fully rolled out in Stockport and therefore it is an opportune time for this to be revisited. The way services are delivered has moved on since that time however pertinent elements of the concept of TYS can be incorporated into an implementation plan for Stockport and the principles of identification of young people and targeted service delivery can be adopted as good practice and form the basis for an updated local protocol and operating guidance.

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

Officer Contact: Jacqui Belfield-Smith on Tel: 474 4789 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) providing an update in respect to the Targeted Youth Support Policy which was first introduced in 2008.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Targeted Youth Support aimed to ensure that the needs of vulnerable young people were identified early and met by the most appropriate agencies which included the PVI sector.

·         Targeted Youth Support was a voluntary community based service which focused on inclusion and working with the hardest to reach, marginalised young people and their families.

·         Targeted Youth Support aimed to build on the previously successful Youth Offending Service Prevention Strategy which delivered crime prevention programmes in schools and a range of early interventions to children and young people identified as at risk of offending.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Directors for People and Place Management & Regeneration.

          The report explains the work of the Stockport Continuing Education Service which is the Council’s adult education and training service and is funded by the Skills Funding Agency. Part of the Place Directorate, the Service provides education and training for adults aged 19+ through a mixture of directly delivering courses and sub-contracting partners to deliver courses. In the last full academic year, the Service had around £1.2 million of funding and provided 3,320 learning aims to 1,931 learners through 290 courses. 95% of the Service’s learners are Stockport residents.

          The report also provides details on the outcome of the Ofsted inspection of the Service, carried out in May 2016, along with the actions taken in response to the inspection report and progress to date with those actions.  It further provides information about the new strategic framework that has been produced for the Service following the Inspection; and give summary performance information for the Service for the 15/16 academic year.

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

          Officer Contact: Richard Mortimer on Tel: 474 3864 or email: richard.mortimer@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update in respect to the work of the Stockport Continuing Education Service as well as information relating to an Ofsted inspection of the Services which was carried out in May 2016.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The Service was the Council’s Adult Education and Training Service and was funded by the Skills Funding Agency. The Service provides education and training for adults aged 19 plus through a variety of directly delivered courses and sub-contracting partners to deliver courses.

·         In the last academic year, the Service had around £1.2 million of funding which enabled the provision of 3,320 learning aims to 1,931 learners via 290 courses.

·         The Service had been subject to a full Ofsted inspection in May 2016 and was rated as ‘requires improvement’ across all aspects. Areas of note included the need to strengthen the existing governance arrangements. The Inspectors found that there was insufficient data provided to the relevant portfolio holders that covered the services and consequently this did not allow for robust challenge.

·         In addition, there was a need to improve the capture of destination data for learners after they have left the service.

·         Councillors welcomed the actions undertaken to address the concerns raised which included the establishment of an Improvement Board chaired by the Executive Councillor (Education) with a wider membership including the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration, the Head of Learning & Employment and the Head of Participation and Education Services.

·         In addition to the Improvement Board, a strategic framework has also been developed which informs the formulation of the annual Continuing Education Service aims, objectives, targets and action plans.

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 within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the Corporate Director for People be requested to submit a report to a future meeting in respect to Early Years provision.