If you’re looking for a window into decision making at Trafford Council, the Executive Meeting of the council is the best place to start.
Whilst meetings of full council in the Town Hall chamber are designed for performative political bun fights, the meeting of the Executive at least ostensibly focuses on officer written reports requiring approval.
I thought I’d write this piece as my previous post was on the single issue of the coming expiry of Sale Waterside’s PFI contract. That is but one of the agenda items at a busy first Executive meeting following the summer recess, and it’s certainly not the only matter of interest.
So, other than the Waterside PFI, what’s on the agenda?
Greater Manchester End to End Fostering Recruitment Hub
Fostering is a critical element of Trafford’s children’s services. It was hard not to pick up this was also an area to which a lot of feedback was negative in terms of the reaction to Trafford’s inadequate rating.
This report seeks Executive approval in principle for Trafford Council to participate in the Greater Manchester End-to-End Fostering Hub, which will expand the existing regional fostering recruitment hub into a service responsible for recruitment, assessment and approval of mainstream foster carers across Greater Manchester.
The proposed model would transfer some fostering recruitment, assessment and approval functions to the Hub, whilst Trafford would retain responsibility for foster carer support and supervision, annual reviews, kinship fostering assessments and its wider statutory duties in relation to children in its care.
Thoughts
On the face of it, the project seems sensible. I would have liked formal input from the Trafford Foster Care Association. The report mentions that they’ve been briefed, but doesn’t provide any input from them. Given Ofsted’s judgement of Trafford’s provision as inadequate, it’s not reassuring for the report not to include user feedback.
Corporate Plan Performance 25/26
The council measures its performance against key indicators. These should really chart progress towards the Council Vision. I’m not a huge fan of corporate visions in general. Tom Ross and I took opposing positions on Trafford’s corporate vision.
My view on the Trafford Vision
If we cancelled every training session on corporate visions, it would be the easiest win on productivity we’re ever likely to make.
Tom’s View
Trafford – where all our residents, communities and businesses thrive
I guess I was never a natural manager. I knew what a good piece of work was and it never seemed to need input from a corporate vision to enhance it.
I’m being flippant, and even if Trafford’s seems vague and unobtainable, I’d still rather have it than Kellogg’s vision.
A good and just world where people are not just fed but fulfilled.
That’s Rice Krispies, right?
I digress
Back to Trafford, and I’m sure there’ll be some challenge from opposition parties on performance indicators in the red (below).
- 16/17 Neet %
- EHCP completion
- Children referred for 2nd time Protection
- Family Help re-referral rates
- Early Years Attainment Gap
- Improved conversion rate for Adults Safeguarding
- Proportion of people using social care direct payments
- Household Waste collected for Composting
- Proportion of journeys undertaken by bike or on foot
- Library loans
- Staff sickness
I always think these reports should be an opportunity to take a broad look across the council. For instance, it would be really useful for the executive not just to take stock of performance indicators, but things like staff morale and staff retention. Data is routinely collected and reported on within the NHS, but they rarely get beyond Employment committee in Trafford.
Budget Monitoring
Given that Trafford required a capitalisation directive from the Government to allow it borrow up to £12.6m to support the revenue budget it’s vital that a close eye is kept on spending this year.
As it stands, Trafford is projected to overspend by £2.78m. It’s not untypical for this to be the case in September. They’ll want to keep an eye on it but it’s not the time for panic.
Co-incidentally, Trafford has be awarded £7.5m by the Ministry of housing, community and local government (MHCLG) this week as part of a package to those councils who’ve had to apply for special arrangements to balance the budget. Ostensibly, it’s for efficiencies.
In Trafford using better technology, including AI, to make services smarter and easier for residents. This includes moving to a modern, more reliable computer system that brings all the council’s information together in one place, so different teams can work together more easily and give people better support when they need it, such as when applying for services or reporting an issue.
Trafford and IT systems is an interesting subject. I’ll believe in the modern AI powered modern computer system when I see it.
Sustainable Transport & Environment Board
This is a new committee. It’s long overdue. Trafford has never taken public transport seriously whilst council’s like Stockport and Bolton have seen it as absolutely key to prosperity.
Trafford Park Business Improvement District
Business Improvement Districts can be very successful if businesses in an area have shared vision for improving things within its boundary. They tend to work around town centres, but having one in Trafford Park would be really interesting if it got going. The idea’s been around for over a decade but maybe the time is right for it to proceed.
Trafford Park Business Improvement District
Elected Members Social Media Guide
I thought councillors already had a social media guide. In any event, they’ve got one now.
It’s perhaps a good moment to flag that I’ve been blocked by Trafford’s Conservatives on Facebook. I’m guessing this was for pointing out they were just wrong on council tax rises.
They shouldn’t be blocking people for that if that’s why they’ve done it. It suggests they want to deliberately misinform. I rarely comment on Conservative posts unless they’ve put something that’s verifiably untrue, as in this case, or more pertinently, I agree with them.
I think in twenty years, I’ve only blocked one person and I’ve only deleted when not to do so could get me into legal hot water.
That said, even if it hasn’t happened to me, social media can be difficult and it can get out of hand.
I still wouldn’t turn the clock back on it though. It’s still an incredibly useful way to engage.
Other items
There’s a couple of items that have been brought about by changes to national rules
Planning Committee Reform – making more applications for officer determination. Losing the ability to call-in applications. You are going to see less applications going to committee. The council does not have a choice in this.
What’s not coming to Executive committee
I’m really shocked that the two critical inspections are not on this agenda. Whilst issues are already being dealt with, I would still expect the Executive to receive a formal report of the process.
Executive Committee Behaviour
Since Executive meetings are chaired by the Leader of the council they can be just as performative as the main council. We saw this last year that the meetings can be subject to the lowest of stunts, when opposition parties were subjected to having to deliver serious questions from a wobbly kitchen table. I’m just an ordinary resident now. I don’t want to see childish shenanigans from the leadership.
I’d love your feedback
I do this because I enjoy it, but that doesn’t mean I’m only interested in my point of view.
Please tell me I’m right, tell me I’m wrong.
Oh and don’t forget you can subscribe to an email whenever I post.
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