Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Stretton.

There were no public questions received.

The minutes of the Performance and Value for Money Select Committees held on 23^rd January 2020 and 4^th February 2020 are attached for approval.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Performance and Value for Money Select Committees held on 23^rd January 2020 and 4^th February 2020 be approved as a correct record.

The minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting held on 21^st January 2020 are attached for noting.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting held on 21^st January 2020 be noted.

The minutes of the GMCA Housing, Planning and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 14 November 2019 are attached for noting.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the GMCA Housing, Planning and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 14^th November 2019 be noted.

The Select Committee gave consideration to a report which provided the position statement on education standards n Oldham in 2019 as indicated by outcomes across Key Stages and in Ofsted Inspections in order to:

·       Take informed positions on issues which affected standards in Oldham;

·       Promoted broad, evidence-based dialogue;

·       Influenced local policies; and

·       Identified opportunities for capacity building.

The information referred to all Oldham Schools and Academies.  All published data referred to all publicly funded establishments.

Key education outcomes in Oldham schools and settings had improved in most area in 2019.  As a consequence, the gaps to national figures had narrowed for most borough indicators.  The most significant trends from 2018 to 2019 were:

·       The Early Years ‘good level of development’ (GLD) measure in 2019 had increased by 4 percentage points to 68.1% compared to a national rise of only 03 percentage points.

·       In Key Stage 2 assessments, the percentage of Oldham pupils achieving the National Standards for Reading, Writing and Maths (RWM) remained the same as 2018 at 63%, a rise of 16% since 2016.

·       Combined Key Stage 2 Reading, Writing and Mathematics for disadvantaged pupils in Oldham 12 53.5% which was 2% above the national average (51.5%).

·       At Key Stage 4 the data as set out at Section 2.3 of the report showed that Oldham pupils had on average not improved their attainment and progress from 2018 to 2019.  Excellent performance with the Blue Coat School and Oldham Academy North have made good progress and the Blue Coat School and North Chadderton attaining highly were noted.

The Select Committee were informed of the improvements made and that the gap between Oldham and the national measures had narrowed.  Oldham had had one of the top performances in the North West.

Members sought and received clarification on the delivery of Key Stage 3.  Members were informed that work was in place to looked at curriculum development for Years 7 to 11 and transitions.  Members were also informed of development training for schools. 

Members sought and received information on the ability to sustain performance.  Members were informed about investment around early years and work with the Educational Partnership and focus on Key Stages 2 and 3.   Getting Early Years right made a difference.  Discussions had taken place with Primary School Headteachers about performance and ‘good level of development’ measures.  Members were informed about work into the development of the Early Years Strategy and the creation of a system to make improvements. 

Members noted and welcomed the improvements at Waterhead Academy and asked if would be sustained.  Members were informed of work related to addressing inequalities in schools and work with Chief Executive’s of Trusts, the Local Authority, headteachers and the Regional Schools Commissioner through the Education Alliance with a set of priorities shared by all schools.  Members were informed about Opportunity Investment, building sustainability, and holding each other to account.  Members were informed that improvements needed to be kept, teacher retention and recruitment strategy needed.  It was hoped through the Alliance  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

The Select Committee received a report which presented a review of the Council performance as at December 2019.

The presentation of performance commenced with the provision of an ‘Oldham Profile in Numbers’ comprising basic data in respect of population, housing, education, crime, income & benefits, household information, health and community in the Borough.  Performance against each of the three corporate objectives of An Inclusive Economy, Thriving Communities and Co-operative Services was then reported, it being noted that 29 measures had achieved their target, 8 were within tolerance and 14 were currently outside tolerance.  The performance measures were considered in more detail within Appendices 1 and 2 to the submitted report.

The above performance meant that the percentage of measures meeting their target at December 2019 increased to 57%, up from 52% in September 2019.  Actions plans for each performance measure and the risks associated with those actions were considered at Appendices 3 and 4 of the report.  Members were referred to underperforming measures outlined in the report and to review them as part of the committee’s work programme.  The areas related to sickness absence, education in performance in terms of inspections and social care in respect of an update against the improvement plan. 

Members referred to sickness absence, the causes and number of days absence and asked if the Council trained mental health advocates.  Members were informed about information through internal communications on health and wellbeing and mental health activity. 

The following performance issues were highlighted:

·       Measure 202(CP) Sickness Absence;

·       Council Tax and Business Rate Collection;

·       M664 – Percentage of referrals which were repeat referrals to Children’s Social Care

·       SEND – performance on the Improvement Plan (Written Statement of Action)

·       S357 – Percentage of Council Tax in Year collected and S368 – percentage of National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR) collected.

RESOLVED that:

1.       The Council Performance Report for December 2019 be noted.

2.       The following performance measures be considered on the 2020/21 Work Programme:

·                 Measure 202(CP) Sickness Absence;

·                 Council Tax and Business Rate Collection;

·                 M664 – Percentage of referrals which were repeat referrals to Children’s Social Care;

·                 SEND – performance on the Improvement Plan (Written Statement of Action);

·                 S357 – Percentage of Council Tax in Year collected and S368 – percentage of National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR) collected.

The Select Committee is requested to comment and note on the work programme for the 2019/20 Municipal Year.

The Select Committee gave consideration to the latest Work Programme.

The Select Committee noted the resolutions from the meeting held on 4 February 2020 related to the scrutiny of the Opposition Budget Proposals.  The following was agreed to be included on the 2020/21 Work Programme:

·       Activities underway in the area of green energy and climate change;

·       Issues around brownfield site availability for housing in the Borough; and

·       Details of the Highways work programme with a focus on how funding for footpaths were determined.

RESOLVED that:

1.       The latest Performance and Value for Money Select Committee Work Programme be noted.

2.       The issues as highlighted above be included in the 2020/21 Work Programme.

The latest Key Decision Document is attached for consideration of issues and noting.

The Select Committee gave consideration to the Key Decision Document.

RESOLVED that the Key Decision Document be noted.