Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 29 October 2014.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 29 October 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 report of the Chair of the Stockport Safeguarding Children Board.

The report presents for comment a summary of the work undertaken by the Safeguarding Children Boar and the arrangements for safeguarding children and young people in Stockport.

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

Contact: David Mellor, Independent Chair, Stockport Safeguarding Children Board on Tel: 474 5657

David Mellor, Independent Chair Stockport Safeguarding Children Board, submitted the annual report 2013/2014 (copies of which had been circulated) outlining issues relating to the effectiveness of child safeguarding and the promotion of the welfare of children in Stockport.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         During the past year the Board has made changes to its Quality Assurance and Performance Management sub group in order to ensure that performance information about the activities of all partners was considered and that a regular exception report was produced which focussed on areas of practice which were good or concern or required further examination.

·         Operation Windermere, jointly led by the Police and Children’s Social Care came to a conclusion when the men accused of grooming young women for sexual exploitation received substantial terms of imprisonment. The Board had now commissioned a review to help reflect on the key lessons emerging from Operation Windermere.

·         The effects of the austerity measures imposed by the government had been mitigated in Stockport through continuing commitment from partners including resources, careful redesign and restructure vigilant risk management and a high level of commitment from partners across the safeguarding children workforce.

·         Councillors sought further information concerning the regulation of privately run children’s homes and looked after children were at greater risk of child sexual exploitation.

REOSLVED – That David Mellor be thanked for his attendance and presentation.

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council and the Deputy Leader (Executive Councillor for Corporate, Customer and Community Services)

The report sets out the process of and key issues and themes arising from consultation on those Investing in Stockport proposals that are within the remit of this Scrutiny Committee.

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

Officer Contact: Andrew Webb on Tel: 474 3808 or email: andrew.webb@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the key issues and themes arising from the consultation on those Investing in Stockport proposals which fell within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Councillors welcomed the level of response in respect to the Early Years consultation. However, concern was expressed in respect to the response rate for the consultation on proposals for the Psychology Service. It was felt that dues to this poor response little weight should be given to it when decisions were made in respect to the future of the Service.

·         Councillors noted to excellent response to the short breaks consultation and that there was strong disagreement to the proposals with 253 (85%) or respondents either disagreeing or strongly disagreeing with the proposals.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The report provides a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, budgets and capital programmes during the second quarter of 2014/15, and include full year forecast performance and financial data for each Portfolio. The reports also include a progress report and updated risk assessment of the portfolio savings programmes. 

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

Officer Contact: Simon Finch on Tel: 474 4019 or email: simon.finch@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director, Services to People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing for comment the mid-year portfolio performance and resources reports for the Children and Young People and the Lifelong Learning and Achievement portfolios.

The Executive Councillors Children and Young People and Lifelong Learning & Achievement attended the meeting and answered Councillors questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

Children and Young People

·         The continued success of the Supporting Families Programme during Q2 was a particular highlight.

·         There had been a significant reduction in the number of young offenders in Stockport . 114 young offenders were recorded during the first six months of 2013/2014 compared to 72 during the same period in 2014/2015.

·         In respect to the 0-25 Transformation programme, a robust delivery framework had now been developed to support the implementation phase which commenced on 1 September 2014.

·         The out turn forecast as at Q2 was a surplus of £0.162m, a reduction of £0.177m on the £0.339m reported in Q1.

·         Councillors welcomed the offer of future reports which addressed issues relating to and what actions the Council was taking in response to concerns of child sexual exploitation.

·         Early interventions were helping to address the attainment gap for children in receipt of Free School Meals but there was still a great dela more work to do.

Lifelong Learning & Achievement

·         Q2 date showed a sustained reduction in the number of young people who were not in education, employment or training (NEET)

·         Significant progress had been made in relation to SEN Transport as SEN travel arrangements for 16-25 year olds successfully transferred from Adult Social Care to the Travel Co-ordination Service from September.

·         Year End date for 2013/2014 had revealed significant reductions in the rate of permanent exclusions and persistent absence and a slight reduction in school days missed due to exclusion.

·         The out-turn forecast for this portfolio as at Q2 is a surplus of £0.877m.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the Executive Councillors be thanked for their attendance.

A representative of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services will attend the meeting and make a presentation in respect to Schools Funding for 2015/2016.

The Scrutiny Committee are invited to comment on issues raised in the presentation.

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

A representative of the Corporate Director, Services for People attended the meeting and made a presentation in respect to Schools Funding for 2015/2016.

The following comments were made issues raised:-

·         The national school funding reforms of April 2013 resulted in a simplified local funding formula which incorporated 13 factors and the introduction of place-plus funding system for specialist settings/high need pupils.

·         The Government drive to a new “national fairer funding formula” from April 2016 at the earliest.

·         2015/2016 would see a local formula review and a review of the DSG structure.

·         In respect to Early Years Pupil Premium there would be a new Central Government Grant from April 2015 targeted at 3 and 4 year olds only from low income families.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Deputy Director of Public Health.

The  report provides an overview of childhood obesity and overweight rates

In Stockport as measured through the annual National Child Measurement

Programme. The report considers detailed data up to academic year 12/13;

data for academic year 13/14 has recently been published nationally but has

yet to be analysed in detail at borough level. The headline rates for 13/14 will

be referenced for information.

The Scrutiny Committee are invited to consider and comment on the

report.

Officer Contact: Russ Boaler on Tel: 474 3941 or alternatively email: russ.boaler@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Director of Public Health submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of childhood obesity and overweight rates in Stockport as measured through the annual National Child Measurement Programme. The report provided detailed data up to academic year 2012/2013. Data for the academic year 2013/2014 had recently been published nationally but was yet to be analysed in detail at borough level.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         In reception over one fifth (21.7%) of children were either overweight or obese.

·         In year 6, this was almost one in three (31.2%) – there was no significant difference between the sexes in year 6 children in any weight classification.

·         The percentage of obese children in year 6 (17.1%) was more than double that of reception (7.8%).

·         Three year pooled data suggested a gradual increase in overweight and obese children in reception whilst there are early signs of a plateau in year 6 children.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The report provides an update on recommendations of the Health and

Wellbeing Scrutiny Review: ‘Mind the Gap: mental well- being and mental

health services for children and young people in Stockport.’

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

Officer Contact: Eleanor Banister on Tel: 474 2447 or email: Eleanor.banister@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on recommendations of the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Review ‘Mind the Gap: mental well-being and mental health services for children and young people in Stockport.’

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.