A maximum of 15 minutes will be allocated to public questions submitted in writing to Democratic Services (democratic.services@trafford.gov.uk) by 4 p.m. on the working day prior to the meeting. Questions must be relevant to items appearing on the agenda and will be submitted in the order in which they were received.

It was reported that a public question had been received regarding the Greater Manchester House Project, on which a report was to be considered later on the agenda (Minute 105 below refers). The specific question received was as follows.

“Children in Care have suffered the most disadvantage and many have also suffered from multiple adverse Childhood Experiences, some have mental health issues and special educational needs. Whilst the House Project looks great on paper, I cannot see any reference online to the ORCHID framework being recognised by AQA or classed as education, could someone respond to let me know where that is please, and I would be interested to see updates on progress of individuals involved in this work and whether they eventually access employment and successfully live independently?”

The Chair, Councillor Hynes, noted that this matter related to her portfolio, and made a response in the following terms.

I’d like to thank Elizabeth, for her question and for all the reasons she has said and more, I agree that care experienced young people face considerable disadvantage.

I would like to reassure Elizabeth and others that addressing disadvantage is why we are proposing to bring this collaborative initiative to Trafford. I will go into a bit more detail about the project when I introduce the report later in agenda but I’ll hopefully address the question about the framework and training elements of the proposal.

The National House Project is an evidenced programme to support Care Experienced Young People to have the opportunity to secure their own tenancy for as long as they want it and can sustain it.  Whilst also being supported to gain their independence and develop the skills they need to do that.

There is a National House Project and the Local House projects that fall under that umbrella are required to adopt and work through an agreed practice model and approach that has been tried and tested in different localities across the Country.

We now have the opportunity in Trafford to be part of a GM House Project. This will enhance and add to a number of existing accommodation offers that we have for our care experienced young people.

ORCHIDS is the overarching practice framework that underpins the ethos and practice model of every local House Project. It stands for Ownership, Responsibility, Community, Homes, Independence, Direction and Sense of Wellbeing. This ethos is underpinned by the “psychological theory of self-determination”.

For every House Project there is a training programme to support the development of independence skills called the House Project Programme, which comprises of thirteen modules. The programme is accredited by AQA and, as such, has a number of learning outcomes.

When a young person passes the module, this is verified by the National House Project who submit a claim to AQA for certification.

The programme modules approach and learning are accredited through AQA and there is also a validation process that the AQA agree.

The content of the modules has been developed in part  ...  view the full minutes text for item 100.

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 were made by Members of the Executive.

To receive and, if so determined, to approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 24^th January 2022.

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the Meetings held on 22^nd November, 2021 and on 24^th January, 2022 be approved as a correct record.

To consider any matters referred by the Council or by the Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

Councillor Acton, as Chair of the Scrutiny Committee, advised Members that in consequence of issues arising from the movement of members of the Traveller community into the borough in the summer of 2021, the Scrutiny Committee had established a Task and Finish group to review the Council’s approach and seek to identify steps to improve relationships. In his context an awareness training session had been held for Members, involving members of the Traveller community; this had been well attended by Members, and would inform the ongoing project. In response Councillor Hynes noted that she had herself attended the awareness session, which had been very informative.

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Housing and Regeneration.

The Executive Member Housing and Regeneration submitted a report which advised the Executive that the HS2 Phase 2b Hybrid Bill had been laid before Parliament on 24^th January 2022. On 25^th January 2022 the consultation on the accompanying Environmental Statement began, with responses required by 23:45 hours on 31^st March 2022. It was noted that responding to the Environmental Statement was the first principal mechanism whereby Trafford could request that HS2 either a) avoid, b) mitigate and / or c) compensate for the impacts that its construction and operation will bring. The response to the Environmental Statement would then lay the foundations of any future petition(s) against the Bill.

The report provided a high level overview of the Environmental Statement, and set out the likely anticipated issues / areas of focus that would form the basis of the response. Due to the deadlines set by government, delegated approval was sought to submit the formal response on the Environmental Statement and for Trafford to become a Qualifying Authority to ensure it had a more enhanced role in certain matters such as approving design and construction.

In introducing the report, the Executive Member noted that responding to the consultation, especially in view of the limited timescale, was a task of considerable magnitude, with significant resource being devoted to it. The current focus was to identify the broad issues on which the Council had concerns; an opportunity would be available later in the process to set out the specific detail of the issues now identified. It was the Executive’s intention to publish for Members a draft of the response as soon as was practicable to allow members to comment.

An opportunity was provided for Members to raise questions in relation to the report. A number of issues were raised for consideration, including in relation to: airport car parking; flood risk in various areas of the borough, including Broadheath, Timperley and Hale; envisaged funding for the airport link; additional traffic movements arising from construction and development; the impact on cycling and active travel routes; the impact and any mitigation in respect of environmentally sensitive areas, such as ancient woodland at Davenport Green; the question of local contributions to any infrastructure, and broad issues of the challenges both for members of the public and for political groups to contribute effectively to the process.

Where possible, responses were provided, and in other cases undertakings were given that responses would be provided, where it was currently possible to do so, outside the meeting. In terms of participation, attention was drawn to the Council’s own processes, and it was noted that a primary responsibility lay with HS2 to undertake its own explicit consultation. The challenges imposed by the Government’s timescale were, however, acknowledged. Members were reminded that this initial stage was designed to identify broad issues only, and advised that that a draft response would be shared with Members for comment; and all were encouraged to forward any comments and issues directly to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 104.

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Children's Services.

The Executive Member for Children’s Services submitted a report which provided details of the House Project, an opportunity for working with other Greater Manchester Authorities to access funding together with the National House Project (NHP), to give a number of care leavers in the area an opportunity to access tenancies and support in becoming independent.

In introducing the paper, the Executive Member noted that the project would help to reduce reliance on costly alternative provision and was supported by evidence of positive outcomes, and that the collaborative approach would generate a more effective peer group for participants, and would facilitate staffing issues and ongoing support. Progress and outcomes of the project would be reported to the Corporate Parenting Board.

An opportunity was provided for Members to raise questions, which centred on wider issues of the preparation young people in care for independent living, the reasons for increasing numbers in supported accommodation, guidance for foster carers, staffing implications, and any responsibility on the Council in respect of acting as guarantor for post-18 tenancies. On the latter point it was indicated that further information would be provided outside the meeting.

          RESOLVED -

(1)      That the intention for Trafford Council to participate in the House Project be noted.

(2)      That approval be given to the making of any necessary agreements with other local authorities for the placing of staff at the disposal of those other authorities in relation to the House Project.

(3)      That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director for Children's Services to agree terms and conditions for the placement of Staff at the disposal of other Local Authorities in consultation with the Corporate Director for Governance and Community Strategy for the purposes of the House Project.

To consider a report of the Monitoring Officer.

(Note: for recommendation to Council.)

The Deputy Monitoring Officer introduced a report which provided Members with details on the development of a new Councillor Code of Conduct for Trafford. This had been developed, in consultation with Members, in the light of the receipt by the Standards Committee, on 22 September 2021, of a report providing information regarding the LGA Model Code of Conduct (“Model Code”) and associated guidance document. In commenting, the Executive Member for Covid-19 Recovery and Reform, attending his last meeting as the responsible Executive Member, thanked the Deputy Monitoring Officer, and the Standards and Scrutiny Committees, which had already reviewed and commented on the proposed code, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution. It was agreed that Council be recommended to adopt the Code.

          RESOLVED -

(1)      That the content of the report be noted.

(2)      That the Councillor Code of Conduct for Trafford be approved.

(3)      That the adoption of the Councillor Code of Conduct be recommended to the Council.