Agenda item

Report of Simon Nokes, Executive Director Policy and Strategy, GMCA

Andrew Lightfoot, Deputy Chief Executive, introduced a report which provided Members with the latest six monthly update of the Greater Manchester Strategy (GMS) implementation plan and performance dashboards. It was explained that the update provided progress against the agreed delivery milestones and ambitions, and updated the outcome measures for each of the GMS priorities. The updated plan also provided new delivery milestones at 6 and 12 months.

Key areas highlighted included:

·         It was recognised that GM had greater control over progress in some areas, compared with those impacted by national Government. GM would concentrate its focus on its areas of slow progress within each priority.

·         Priority 1: children starting school ready to learn, and Priority 10: an age-friendly Greater Manchester, and enabling actions and ways of working were identified as areas of particular focus.

·         There was a vast amount of work being undertaken across Greater Manchester in relation to priority 1 – children starting school ready to learn. This has seen steady improvement over recent years. However, whilst the gap within the national average has narrowed over recent years, it still remains significant, therefore achievement of the 2020 target would be challenging.

·         Improved early years outcomes were a fundamental to achievement of our ambitions across the GMS priorities, and work was underway with schools to support them to become leaders in early years. A GM Early Years Workforce Academy had been agreed in principle with the aim of rolling out a consistent, high quality workforce development approach to place-based team and early years settings. 

·         A pilot had been delivered with partners including the BBC to develop parental online support for early language development.

·         Good progress was being made on priority 10 – An Age-Friendly Greater Manchester, noting that a study was currently underway to identify a new suite of indicators for the Age-Friendly Strategy, with support from the Centre for Ageing Better (CfAB). Once concluded, the current set of priority 10 measures would be refreshed for future reporting.

Member’s comments and questions included the following:

·         A Member of the School Readiness Task and Finish Group highlighted that they had produced a report on their findings which they would like to present to the Committee. It was confirmed that the report would be considered at the July meeting.

·         The Member questioned why the dashboard indicated that there had been improvement whilst the gap between GM and the national average remained the same? Andrew Lightfoot advised that the Cabinet Secretary had attended a recent Reform Board where the challenges and opportunities had been discussed. There was recognition that a significant part of the gap related to the proportion of children with the most complex needs, and a strong correlation between lower levels of school readiness and deprivation. However, it was anticipated that next years intake of reception children would demonstrate further improvement against the national average.

·         A Member asked whether the number of ‘hospital admissions due to falls amongst GM residents aged over 65’ included figures relating to the number who had fallen whilst a patient in hospital? It was confirmed that that this would be explored and the answer circulated to the Committee.

RESOLVED:

1.      That the update be noted.

2.      That the School Readiness Task and Finish Group report be considered by the Committee at the July meeting.

3.      That further information regarding the data included within the ‘hospital admissions’ metric be circulated to the Committee.