The Committee received a report presenting the 2017/18 Quarter 4 (January – March 2018) performance report for the Wirral Plan Pledges under the remit of the Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  The performance report, included as an Appendix to the submitted report, provided a description of progress in Quarter 4 and available data in relation to a range of outcome indicators and supporting measures.  Further appended to the report was the 2017/18 year end close down report providing a summary of performance improvement against measures and Wirral Plan delivery of Pledge strategy actions at year end.

The appended performance reports contained details of the progress made, and with regard to the quarterly report overviews of that progress from the Lead Cabinet Member, in respect of individual measures being pursued with regard to the following Wirral Plan Pledges pertinent to the Committee - 

·  Children are Ready for School;

·  Children are Ready for Work and Adulthood;

·  Vulnerable Children Reach their Full Potential;

·  Reducing Child and Family Poverty (Improving Life Chances);

·  People with Disabilities Live Independent Lives; and

·  Zero Tolerance to Domestic Violence.

The year-end report highlighted both key achievements and areas for improvement, considered outcomes for residents measured against both the previous year and since the start of the Wirral Plan, and presented the next steps for action.

Paul Boyce, Corporate Director for Children, presented the performance and year end reports and invited comment from Members on the content contained therein –

With regard to the ‘Children are Ready for School’ pledge, Councillor Moira McLaughlin noted the improved performance of the supporting measure ‘percentage of infants who received a 6-8 week Development Check by the time they were 8 weeks’.  However, while the trends for this and the measure for receipt of a  2-2½ year Health Visitor review were improving they remained below target, and with the access to midwifery services measure worsening, Councillor McLaughlin stressed the importance of all indicators needing  improvement in order to improve life chances for children.  With regard to midwifery services, the Chair indicated that a response to the position would be obtained from the health service.

In response to a query from Councillor Wendy Clements as to the contribution of the Council to the improved percentage of early years providers rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’, the Corporate Director noted that good partnership working in the sector had developed effective early years services.  Further to a query in respect of the decline in performance relating to the percentage of Foundation Stage looked after children achieving a good level of development, Simone White, Deputy Director for Children, advised that this was a difficult measure as the point at which children came into the service varied meaning there was sometimes limited time to work towards the target or even to check attendance.

Members noted the worsening trend with regard to obesity.  Councillor David Burgess-Joyce queried the five year rolling average used as the basis for the measure given issues of early onset diabetes related to obesity.  The Corporate Director undertook to seek clarification from the NHS on this matter.  Further to the obesity statistics, Councillor Gillian Wood queried whether there was any breakdown by area, noting recent reports linking planning approvals for fast food outlets in deprived areas.  The Corporate Director noted that the data was summarised and that a postcode breakdown should be possible.  Councillor McLaughlin noted a previous scrutiny study on this issue, suggesting it may be worthwhile to revisit the study report.

With regard to the ‘Young People are Ready for Work and Adulthood’ Pledge and the Advice Line case study referenced in the Lead Cabinet Member’s overview, Councillor Liz Grey queried how the fact that no further contact had been received meant that the case could be judged a success, given that the family might have given up or sought other means of resolution.  The Corporate Director undertook to have a response forwarded.

In respect of the ‘People With Disabilities Live Independent Lives’ Pledge, Councillor Paul Hayes queried how ‘health related quality of life for people with long term conditions’ was measured and what it represented.  The Corporate Director undertook to have clarification on the Indicator provided. 

Relating to the ‘Zero Tolerance to Domestic Violence’ Pledge, Councillor McLaughlin advised of clarifications she had sought elsewhere as to why the  increased number of reported domestic abuse cases was seen as a positive and what assurance was there that this was due to increased awareness rather than an actual increase in abuse.  The correlation of the provided data and measures relating to the Family Support Unit and the number of children being assessed through domestic abuse reasons, had also been queried.  The Corporate Director undertook to have a written response provided.

Members noted a frustration with the provision of information sourced from many providers meaning Council Officers were unable to respond to queries.  Comment was made that if the Committee was to scrutinise the provided information they needed representatives from those other bodies in attendance to answer questions.

RESOLVED:  That -

(1)  the report and the performance data contained in the Quarter 4 and the 2017/18 annual reports be noted;

(2)  an item related to childhood obesity, to include a breakdown of the statistics provided in the submitted report and a consideration of the previous scrutiny study report into this issue, be included on the Committee Work Programme.