Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 7 December 2016.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 7 December 2016 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair subject to the inclusion of Councillors Richard Coaton and 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.

The following interests were declared:-

Personal Interest

There were no call – in items to consider.

(NOTE: The Chair was of the opinion that this item although not included on the agenda should be considered as a matter of urgency in accordance with Section 100B 4(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 to enable the Committee to consider a presentation from the Reclaim Group)

Representatives of the Reclaim Group attended the meeting and made a presentation in respect to the work of that organisation in Stockport.

Councillors heard that RECLAIM were a youth leadership and social change organisation.  They were small charity, using their experience and platform to support and amplify the voices of working class young people. At the heart of RECLAIM is the belief that young people from working class communities have unique and untapped leadership potential. The charity run intensive leadership development programmes for young teenagers (age 12-15) and offer a long term supportive Alumni Network (for 15-25 year olds). These were always free of charge to participants. The Committee heard that the organisation have delivered their core leadership programme – the LEAD Programme – nearly 20 times over four Greater Manchester boroughs, supporting over 900 young people.

On behalf of the Committee, the chair thanked the young people for their impressive presentation and encouraged them to continue to engage with the Council and to continue the impressive work they have undertaken.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The final 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 the delivery of the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects during the year. It also includes performance data and financial data for the portfolios and an update on the portfolio savings programme.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Gaynor Ward on Tel: 474 3186 or email: gaynor.ward@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 final Portfolio Performance and Resources reports which provided a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects since the mid-year reports.

The Executive Councillor (Children and Young People) attended the meeting and answered questions in respect to the report. The Executive Councillor (Education) was unable to attend the meeting and the representative of the Democratic Services Manager read out a statement on his behalf.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Councillors noted that some financial aspects of the Looked After Children (LAC) budget continued to be a challenge as reported in previous reports, with residential care being the largest element of the overspend.

·         The “Team around the School” was now being rolled out across all schools and had met with lots of support since its introduction last September.

·         The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Steering Group was now established and a smaller leadership group had also been formed to meet more regularly. The Steering Group had representatives from a range of services, including Stockport Family, CCG, Inclusion Services, Services within the Children’s and Young People Disability Partnership, Adult Services, the parent / carer forum (PIPS) and setting, school and college representatives.

·         Councillors extended their thanks to the DACSE team for their excellent work and welcomed that the Stockport Phoenix CSE Police team had been awarded a Divisional Commanders Commendation by GMP for the team’s achievements over the past 12 months and the outstanding outcome of the Phoenix Peer Review in September 2016.

·         Councillors requested further information in respect to the Functional Skills qualification.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the additional information requested be circulated to Committee members.

A representative of the Corporate Director for People will attend the meeting and provide and update on issues relating to FSM.

With the consent of the Committee, consideration of this item was deferred to the next meeting.

To consider a joint report of the Corporate Director for People and the Borough Treasurer.

The report provides an opportunity for the Scrutiny Committee to comment on the key announcements made by the Department for Education (DfE) on the education funding settlement for 2017/18 prior to its consideration by the Executive.

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

A representative of the Corporate Director for People submitted a 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 2017/2018 and outlining issues in respect to the local formula which will be used to determine the individual 2017/2018 budgets for early years providers and schools in Stockport.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the proposals contained within in be endorsed.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The report provides the Scrutiny Committee with details of the national fairer funding formula (NFFF) stage two consultation documents for schools and high needs released by the Department for Education (DfE) on 14 December 2016.

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

A representative of the Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the stage two consultation documents for schools and high needs released from the Department for Education (DfE) which was published on 14 December 2016. It was proposed that the new National Fairer Funding Formula for both schools and high needs would distribute the national envelope of funding to local authorities via application of the same national funding levels assigned for each formula factor for all pupils/schools, with the cumulative total of all factors then multiplied by the appropriate area cost adjustment (ACA) value for each Local Authority.

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 with the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.