To note that Council has appointed Councillors Michael Young and Mike Cordingley as Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively of this committee for the Municipal Year 2016/17.

RESOLVED: That Councillors Michael Young and Mike Cordingley are appointed as Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee respectively for the municipal year 2016/17, as determined by Council at the Annual Meeting held on 25 May, 2016.

To note the membership of this Committee for the Municipal Year 2016/17, as determined at the Annual Meeting of the Council held on 25 May 2016.

RESOLVED: That the Membership of the Scrutiny Committee for the municipal year 2016/17, as determined by Council at the Annual Meeting held on 25 May 2016, be noted.

To note the Committee’s Terms of Reference as agreed at the Annual Meeting of the Council held on 25 May 2016.

RESOLVED: That the Committee’s Terms of Reference as agreed at the Annual Meeting of the Council held on 25 May 2016, be noted.

To receive and, if so determined, to agree as a correct record the Minutes of the meetings held on the following dates:

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meetings held on 9 March 2016 and 16 March 2016, be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Members to give notice of any interest and the nature of that interest relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the adopted Code of Conduct.

No declarations of interests were made by Members.

To consider a report of the Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee.

Committee Members discussed and agreed the work programme for the municipal year 2016/17. It was also agreed that the Committee would conduct a Task and Finish Group review during the year, with a number of topics being suggested. Members were advised to submit their topic suggestions to the Democratic Services Team for their consideration by the Chairman.

It was agreed that the proposed Task and Finish Group review of school funding would not be pursued as a national consultation had recently been undertaken on the same topic.

RESOLVED:

1)    That the Scrutiny Committee work programme for the 2016/17 municipal year, be agreed.

2)    That Scrutiny Committee Members submit their Task and Finish Group review suggestions to Democratic Services.

To receive the Executive Member for Children’s Services’ formal response to the Closing the Gap task and finish group findings report presented to the Executive on 21 March 2016.

The Executive Member began by thanking the Committee for their excellent work and recommendations. The Executive supported the majority of the recommendations, and advised that Executive Members would visit schools and attend workshops in relation to recommendations 2 and 4. The Executive Member agreed that the Council would deliver a press release to coincide with the letter to parents suggested in recommendation 7, and also confirmed that the funding requested in recommendation 3 had been identified and authorised. In relation to recommendation 4, the Executive believed signposting would be more effective than funding a new event.

The Committee discussed the responses with the Executive Member. Members felt that the recommendation 1 had been misinterpreted, as this requested more outreach support prior to secondary school for all children not just children in care. The Executive Member advised that this recommendation would be reconsidered taking this information into account, and a revised response would be provided in due course.

Members discussed the work that neighbouring Councils had done relating to closing the attainment gap. Despite the differences between areas, it was agreed that the Children, Families and Wellbeing Directorate would work with other councils around closing the attainment gap to see what good practice could be shared.

The Committee discussed the mechanisms by which they would follow up on the report’s recommendations, and the Committee requested a follow up report be provided in six months’ time. As the recommendations required a holistic approach, the Members requested the report be sent to the Trafford Partnership and the Health and Wellbeing Board to ensure that a broad range of relevant organisations were engaged.

RESOLVED:

1)    That the Executive Member be thanked for attending the meeting and for the response to the Committee’s recommendations.

2)    That the response to recommendation 1 be reconsidered, and a revised response be provided in due course.

3)    That a press release be delivered in conjunction with the letter to parents proposed in recommendation 7.

4)    That the Closing the Gap report be taken to the Health and Wellbeing Board and Trafford Partnership for information.

5)    That the Children, Families and Wellbeing Directorate work with neighbouring Councils on closing the attainment gap by sharing good practice.

6)    That the Committee receive an update on the report and the implementation of its recommendations in six months’ time.

To receive a report of the Executive Member for Economic Growth, Environment and Infrastructure.

The Committee received a report providing an update on Town Centres. The Director of Growth and Regulatory Services highlighted key areas including the reduction in vacancy rates, the planned commencement of the first phase of public realm works in Stretford, set to begin in 2017, and emerging proposals for the redevelopment of Sale Square. It was noted that the Council had exceeded its set targets on the increased revenue due to new parking charges.

Members enquired as to why it had taken 18 months for the Council to provide additional bins in Partington District Centre. The Director of Growth and Regulatory Services advised that he would provide a written response once he had the required information.

The Committee discussed the trends of both parking and footfall in Altrincham Town Centre, but Members were advised that this was not always a precise measurement of the health of town centres.

The Committee requested that an update on the trends of commercial properties within town centres be included in the next Town Centres report and a report on Christmas Lights funding be provided at the meeting scheduled for September 2016.

RESOLVED:

1)    That the Director of Growth and Regulatory Services be thanked for his update.

2)    That the Director of Growth and Regulatory Services provide a written response regarding the time it took to provide additional bins in Partington.

3)    That updates on trends of commercial property be included in the next Town Centres report.

4)    Christmas lights be added to the agenda for the Committee meeting scheduled for September 2016.

To receive a report of the Executive Member for Transformation and Resources.

The Committee received a report of the Executive Member for Transformation and Resources. As the Executive Member was unable to attend, the report was presented by their Deputy. The report highlighted that out of all of the key indicators only 8 were under target by greater than 10 per cent, and 13 indicators had been significantly overachieved.

The Committee asked a number of questions about various aspects of the report including permanent placements and delayed transfers of care. The Committee received detailed answers to all questions bar one on Community Confidence, which the Corporate Director for Transformation and Resources agreed to provide a written response for following the meeting. The Committee also asked for details of how changes made to the Children, Families and Wellbeing delivery model had impacted on delayed discharges of care.

RESOLVED:

1)    That the Deputy Executive member and Officers be thanked for attending the meeting.

2)    That a written response be provided to the question on Community Confidence.

3)    That the information requested on how changes made to the Children, Families and Wellbeing delivery model had impacted on delayed discharges of care be provided to Members.