Meeting documents
Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Panel
Monday 25th January 2010
BATH AND NORTH EAST SOMERSET COUNCIL
CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY PANEL
Monday 23rd November 2009
PRESENT:- Councillors: Sally Davis (Chairman), Anthony Clarke (substitute for Marie Longstaff), Nathan Hartley, Dine Romero, David Speirs and Shirley Steel.
Councillor Chris Watt, Cabinet Member for Children's Services
Co-opted Members: (Non-voting): Chris Batten (Professional Teaching Association, ATL), Miles Armstrong (DAFBY) and George Lindars-Hammond (DAFBY).
Officers: Ashley Ayre (Children's Services Director), Tony Parker (Divisional Director - Learning and Inclusion) , Maurice Lindsay (Divisional Director - Children, Young People & Family Support), Charlie Moat (Child and Families Group Manager), Wendy Hiscock (Head of School Improvement and Achievement), Sara Willis (Early Years Team Leader), Danny Freedman (ECOTEC), Nick Jeanes (Team Leader, Traffic and Safety) and Jessica Fox-Taylor (Road Safety Officer).
Apologies: Councillors: Marie Longstaff and Marian McNeir
Co-opted Members (Voting): David Williams (Diocese of Bath and Wells - C of E) and Tess Daly (Diocese of Clifton - RC).
Co-optee (Non-voting): Hilary Fraser (Special School Governor), Cherril Pope (Secondary School Representative) and Stuart Bradfield (Secondary School Governor).
47 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting. She also wished to say a few words to acknowledge the recent death of Rob Henderson who was a co-opted member of the Panel.
48 EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURE
The Chairman drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure.
49 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were none.
50 ANNOUNCE ANY URGENT BUSINESS AGREED BY THE CHAIR
There was none.
51 ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC OR COUNCILLORS - TO RECEIVE DEPUTATIONS, STATEMENTS, PETITIONS OR QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE BUSINESS OF THIS MEETING
There were none.
52 MINUTES: MONDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER 2009
The minutes of the meeting held on Monday 28th September 2009 were approved by the Panel as a correct record and were signed by the Chairman.
53 YOUNG PEOPLES HOUSING NEEDS - INTERIM FINDINGS REPORT
Danny Freedman from ECOTEC introduced this item to the Panel. He explained that further research had now been commissioned to consider young people's housing needs across the whole area. This work would follow on from the July 2008 Panel meeting where the Task and Finish Group presented their final report and findings of their review into youth homelessness in Midsomer Norton, Radstock and the surrounding rural areas.
He added that it had been agreed that there would be a report of interim findings in November 2009 followed by a final report to be completed by the end of March 2010. A web survey is planned to be launched in the next few days and direct contact with focus groups will begin in the New Year.
The Chairman commented that she was looking forward to the work that will take place next year and seeing the results of the final report.
The Panel RESOLVED to note the interim report.
54 SUSTAINABLE MODES OF TRAVEL TO SCHOOL STRATEGY
The Team Leader for Traffic and Safety introduced this item to the Panel. He informed the Panel that publishing a Sustainable Modes of Travel to School Strategy (SMoTSS) is a requirement set forth by the Education and Inspections Act (2006). The SMoTSS provides a picture of the pattern of transport to, from and between educational establishments within the B&NES Council area. It details the aims and objectives that the Council has set, and the actions with which these are to be met as the Council strives to maximise the number of students using sustainable modes of transport to school. It is an ongoing strategy that is to be reviewed annually.
The five aims which permeate through the work of the strategy are:
(1) To reduce the use of the car for journeys to, from and between educational establishments;
(2) To improve accessibility to, from and between educational establishments;
(3) To improve child road safety;
(4) To improve child health;
(5) To improve the quality of the local environment.
An assessment of the current travel and transport needs of children and young people has been undertaken using data on usual mode of travel to school, collected through the annual pupil census. With walking as the most popular mode of travel to school, and 6.8% reduction in car use for the school journey since 2007, the Council is performing well, remaining within the target of National Indicator 198 as stated in the Joint Local Transport Plan. Parent and pupil preference from School Travel Plans show further room for improvement in minimising car use for school journeys, and increasing levels of walking and cycling.
Councillor Dine Romero commented that she was concerned that the Council was too reliant on one particular provider of commercial transport.
The Team Leader for Traffic and Safety replied that the concern would be noted and expressed that this was an audit of the present system.
Councillor Nathan Hartley asked for a definition of the Sustainable Modes of Travel.
The Team Leader for Traffic and Safety replied that these were walking, cycling and public transport.
George Lindars-Hammond asked what progress was being made with schools that had not yet completed their School Travel Plans.
The Road Safety Officer replied that the remaining 16 plans were on course to be completed by March 2010.
Councillor Nathan Hartley asked if they were aware of the Panel's Transport to Secondary School Review.
The Road Safety Officer replied that yes they were aware of it and it would be incorporated into the next round of reporting.
The Panel RESOLVED to note the Sustainable Modes of Travel to School Strategy, its associated action plan for 2009/10, and the summary leaflet for parents and recommend to the Cabiet Member that they be approved for publication and implementation.
55 MEDIUM TERM SERVICE & RESOURCE PLAN (CHILDREN'S SERVICES)
The Children's Services Director introduced this item to the Panel. He explained that the Plan was still a work in progress and more detail would be available to the Panel in January.
He spoke of the general financial context across the Council and highlighted that gross spending would be cut in the region of 5% in all of the medium term plans now being drafted in 2010/11 with similar savings requirements in future years.
Some of the pressures that the Council faces include a reduction in the Government Grant, Pensions Liability, Pay Awards, Council Tax and Efficiency Savings.
Children's Services, along with all other Council Services, faces a `standstill' budget despite observing intensifying pressures particularly in relation to social care duties.
He outlined a number of the Drivers for Change that will have an impact upon the Service:
Sustainable Community Strategy and Corporate Plan
Improving the life chances of disadvantaged children and young people -
The Children's Service leads on this and it is central to the role of all services particularly Early Years and Extended Services, Schools, School Improvement and Achievement, Inclusion Support, Specialist Behaviour, Social Care Services, Youth Services and Connexions.
Improving School buildings -
This is a critical role in terms of improving the environment for learning and thus raising standards of attainment and achievement and therefore either maintaining or improving the reputation of the Council as high achieving and ambitious for its children and young people.
Legislative Change
Safeguarding: Major changes to social care practices and management including:
- Protected caseloads for newly qualified staff
- Workload management to prevent `overloading' of social workers with too many / too complex cases
- Protected entitlement to training and development
- Protected entitlement to supervision
- New National Performance Indicators for safeguarding
- A move to Independent Chairing of LSCB's
- Improved / strengthen quality assurance and audit requirements
Machinery of Government: Major changes to planning and funding of post 16 education and training. New duties placed upon Local Authority's with a range of new bodies to manage duties previously carried out by the LSC
Demographic change / other requirements placed upon the Service
Children in Care (CiC) Population -
There has been a relatively small but financially costly increase in the CiC population. Using national comparative data Bath and North East Somerset has one of the lowest CiC populations in England and has not experienced the type of dramatic rise in this population seen elsewhere following the reporting of the `Baby Peter' case. However, a number of factors are affecting the CiC population level and it is forecast that this population will rise from an average of 126 in 2008-9 to 145 by March 2011. This is the largest cause of extra financial pressure in 2010-11.
G v Southwark -
The House of Lords has given a ruling which re-affirms the right of 16-17 year old young people to be assessed under the Children Act 1989, where the assessment concludes that they are `Children in Need' they must be treated as such and not simply as a young person in need of housing or accommodation. The ruling does not extend the law but has over ruled the interpretation of this given to Local Authorities by Central Government in guidance circulars.
Laming Report into Safeguarding -
This report followed the death of Baby Peter and the urgent Joint Area Review of Haringey Council. The service and partners in safeguarding have audited our practices against the Haringey findings and whilst our practice is sound there is a need to invest in our safeguarding structures in terms of both front line services and quality improvement arrangements.
The fourteen proposed saving options were also presented to the Panel.
Councillor Nathan Hartley asked how much of the current budget was spent on the Youth Service / Youth Democracy.
The Children's Services Director replied that he did not have those figures to hand and would make them available as soon as was possible.
Councillor Chris Watt, Cabinet Member for Children's Services commented that the Service is required to provide a host of statutory services and it was therefore likely that some of the discretionary activities would have changes made to them.
Councillor David Speirs asked if the other Members of the Cabinet were aware of the challenges facing Children's Services.
Councillor Chris Watt replied that there was recognition within the Cabinet of the statutory services that must be maintained. The challenge remained though on how these services would be provided.
George Lindars-Hammond commented that by moving from a `universal' Youth Service model to a `targeted' one would completely change the way in which it would work.
The Children's Services Director replied that `universal' services could no longer be provided and that a substantial shift now needed to take place.
Councillor Chris Watt added that he felt the local community had a role to play in supporting Youth Services.
Councillor Dine Romero asked if there were any staffing issues following the death of Baby Peter and the urgent Joint Area Review of Haringey Council.
The Children's Services Director replied that morale was high within the Social Care teams and that posts were being actively recruited.
The Panel RESOLVED to acknowledge the work carried out so far on the Medium Term Service & Resource Plan and looked forward to receiving the service action plans as part of the budget setting process for their consideration in January.
56 SCHOOL PERFORMANCE DATA
The Divisional Director for Learning and Inclusion introduced this item to the Panel. He informed them that there were very few changes within the report from the verbal one they received in September. He wished to highlight that participation in Post 16 education was substantially higher in the area than either nationally or among statistical neighbours. He added that the proportion of young people who are not engaged in education, employment or training in the area is low, at 3.7%, and well below the national picture of over 10%. The relevant group is, as a result, small enough to be supported on a case by case basis.
He also drew particular attention to recommendation 2.4 in the report that asks the Panel to `Agree that raising the achievement of particular underperforming groups of pupils should remain a priority for Local Authority support to schools and settings.'
The Head of School Improvement and Achievement commented that outcomes for high attaining pupils could still be improved and specific groups that under attain at Key Stage 4 should be monitored.
The Panel RESOLVED to agree to:
(i) Note that pupils in Foundation stage, key stages 1, 2 and 4 continue to attain well compared with other local authorities and beyond national expectations on all measures.
(ii) Commend schools and Local Authority staff for their continuing high quality work and high standards achieved
(iii) Consider areas of relative weakness and ensure that the Local Authority has appropriate actions within resource constraints to ensure that the attainment and achievement of children & young people not reaching the benchmark measures at each key stage is improved.
(iv) Agree that raising the achievement of particular underperforming groups of pupils should remain a priority for Local Authority support to schools and settings.
57 CHILD PROTECTION / SAFEGUARDING (PERFORMANCE)
The Divisional Director for Children, Young People & Family Support introduced this item to the Panel. He explained that the number of Child Protection Plans within Bath & North East Somerset was low in comparison with its neighbouring authorities. The overall number of children with child protections plans at 31st March 2009 was 78. Each child protection plan is reviewed by a multi-agency case conference, and the decision to continue with child protection plans is quality assured by the LSCB's Safeguarding Children Sub Committee. The report detailed performance in respect of the key performance indicators for child protection services.
The Chairman thanked him for the helpful commentary provided within the report.
The Panel RESOLVED to:
(i) Note the report and the actions being taken in respect of current performance.
(ii) Request further performance reports from the Chair of the Local Safeguarding Children Board in order to maintain an overview of the Council, and partner agencies', child protection activity and performance.
58 YOUTH OFFENDING TEAM - CORE CASE INSPECTION
The Divisional Director for Children, Young People & Family Support gave a verbal update to the Panel regarding this item. He informed them that a focussed inspection of the service was due to take place in the week commencing 18th January 2010. The inspection will assess the quality of safeguarding work within the team, their procedures in the prevention of re-offending and preventing a risk of harm to others.
Thirty eight cases will be reviewed across four days. The final report will be in the public domain in April and a subsequent report will be brought to the Panel in the future.
The Panel thanked him for the update.
59 CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN AND MOVING ON FROM CARE PROGRESS REPORT (2009)
The Child and Families Group Manager introduced this item to the Panel. He reported that good progress was being made with regard to the Care Matters Plan and meeting the pledge made to all children and young people in care and to young people moving on from care to adult life.
Councillor David Speirs asked if a Head Teacher had been appointed to run the Virtual School for children in care.
The Child and Families Group Manager replied that yes, an appointed had been made and that he was currently scoping the functioning of the virtual school including the establishment of a strategic board.
The Chairman added that a report on the development of the Virtual School is anticipated for the January meeting of the Panel.
The Panel RESOLVED to:
(i) Note the progress made on strategies for children and young people in and moving on from care.
(ii) Support the next steps as set out in the report.
60 CHILD POVERTY CONFERENCE FEEDBACK
Councillor David Speirs introduced this item to the Panel. He highlighted the role that the Council needs to play with regard to this issue.
- Duty on local authorities and partners to co-operate to reduce and mitigate the effects of child poverty in their area.
- Duty to carry out a child poverty needs assessment
- Duty to prepare a joint local child poverty strategy
- Duty for local authorities to take into account their responsibilities to reduce child poverty when preparing or revising their Sustainable Communities Strategy.
The Children's Services Director commented that a briefing on Child Poverty would be given to the Local Strategic Partnership in either January or February 2010.
Councillor Speirs added that it should be strongly noted that this is not solely a Children's Services issue.
The Panel thanked him for his update.
61 UPDATE FROM THE CABINET MEMBER FOR CHILDREN'S SERVICES
Councillor Dine Romero asked the Cabinet Member if he felt the fare of A313.50 for the Bath Rider was reasonable.
The Cabinet Member for Children's Services replied that he felt unable to comment on the pricing level as he had no direct experience of the service. He added that he hoped the presence of two other providers would bring a refreshing change to the services available and that the competition would achieve better value for the public.
62 CHILDREN'S SERVICES DIRECTOR'S BRIEFING
The Children's Services Director gave a handout to the Panel regarding this item. A summary of the briefing is set out below.
(i) Recruitment and Retention: The Bath Locality Team has successfully recruited to one of its three vacant Assistant Team Manager posts and a further round of interviews is scheduled to take place. Team morale and commitment remains strong although all staff are concerned about capacity and the wider context in which they work.
(ii) Machinery of Government Changes (LSC Transfer: This work continues and a report to Cabinet will be made in January 2010. There are a number of outstanding issues relating to things such as pensions liability, costs of accommodation etc. A meeting is being requested with Ministers to highlight these concerns.
(iii) NSPCC Report into Child Care Proceedings: A report was commissioned by the NSPCC following criticism of the Council by a Judge in the Family Proceedings Court. The report has been made available on our website. The second part of the report will not be made public as this could identify individual children. The report is generally positive about the work of the Service. An action plan has been put in place to address the criticisms and issues raised.
The Panel thanked him for this update.
63 PANEL WORKPLAN
The Chairman introduced this item to the Panel.
Councillor Nathan Hartley asked what information were the Panel likely to receive in March in relation to the report on Camerton Primary School.
The Divisional Director for Learning and Inclusion replied that the Panel would receive a summary report which they would then debate and decide if any further action was required.
The meeting ended at 7.24pm
Chair(person)
Date Confirmed and Signed