Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The Chair drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure.

Councillor Michael Evans had sent his apologies to the Panel. Councillor Colin Barrett was present as his substitute for the duration of the meeting.

Apologies were also received from Peter Mountstephen and David Williams who are both Co-opted Members of the Panel

The Liberal Democrat Group currently has a vacancy on the Panel, Councillor Manda Rigby was their representative on this occasion.

At this point in the meeting declarations of interest are received from Members in any of the agenda items under consideration at the meeting. Members are asked to indicate:

(a) The agenda item number in which they have an interest to declare.

(b) The nature of their interest.

(c) Whether their interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or an other interest,  (as defined in Part 2, A and B of the Code of Conduct and Rules for Registration of Interests)

Any Member who needs to clarify any matters relating to the declaration of interests is recommended to seek advice from the Council’s Monitoring Officer or a member of his staff before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

Councillor Loraine Morgan-Brinkhurst declared a personal and non-prejudicial interest in agenda items 11 (Children & Young Persons Plan) and 12 (Commissioning Plans) as she is one of the Council’s representatives on the Sirona Care & Health Community Interest Company.

Councillor Eleanor Jackson had registered to speak in relation to agenda item 11 (Children & Young Persons Plan) and would do so directly before the item was debated by the Panel.

The Panel confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting as a true record and they were duly signed by the Chair.

The Panel will receive a presentation regarding this item at the meeting.

The Senior Commissioning Manager for Preventative Services gave a presentation to the Panel regarding this item. A copy of it will be available online as an appendix to the minutes and on the Panel’s Minute Book, a summary is set out below.

Children’s Centres - Current and emerging model

Current Model

11 Children’s Centres dispersed across B&NES, 9 provided by the council, 2 by a voluntary sector provider

Currently managed as 4 groups: Bath East, Bath West, Keynsham and Chew Valley, Somer Valley

Models vary but each centre has a co-ordinator (either PT or FT) to manage the building, the staff and coordinate the services.

Who uses the current services

Families with children aged 0-4 who have additional needs. These families are targeted by the services, either because of where they live in the community, or because of a particular need of a child or parent, or both. For instance:

Mums with post natal depression

Children with disabilities

Some families without additional needs can access the more open (universal) groups such as Stay and Play, Bumps and Babes.

Emerging model for Children’s Centres

Remodel 4 groups into 2 new groups by centralising and consolidating management support and back office functions, but retain 11 Children’s Centres and other venues for delivery.

Group the Children’s Centres according to geographical location so the new groups will look as follows:

Bath – 5 centres

North East Somerset – 6 centres

Commission the management and running of the Children Centre buildings separately to the services.

In consolidating management and back office functions, a ‘service centre’ for each group will be housed in one of the Children’s Centres. It’s proposed that these are:

Bath – Parkside

North East Somerset - Radstock 

Plus two subsidiary ‘service centres’ at Keynsham and Twerton.

These will be the bases for most Children Centre staff.

Health visitors and other partners can remain in these and other Children’s Centres.

The consolidation will not adversely affect the delivery of the service from 11 Children’s Centres and other venues.

Outreach Service

An outreach service which is fully targeted, only supporting families and children with additional needs. It will provide:

Home visits to support children and parents.  220 families/children will be supported at any one time.

Groups for children and parents – Capacity to support 44 groups in the Children’s Centres and other community venues each week, with up to 22 groups supported by 2 outreach staff and others led by an outreach worker but supported by a volunteer/ other staff.

All groups will continue to be provided in the Children’s Centres and other community venues such as Temple Cloud and Fox Hill as they do now.

Opening hours

The two service centres, Parkside and Radstock and the two subsidiaries at Twerton & Keynsham will open full time.

Opening times of the other Children’s Centres will be matched to the times when the groups and activities are running.

Groups delivered by other partners and organisations will still be able to use the buildings as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

This report is to inform and reassure the Panel about the number of compliments and complaints over the period and to demonstrate the appropriate management of them along with the learning and service improvement from them.

The Complaints Procedure Manager introduced this item to the Panel. She explained that during the year a total of 60 complaints were registered at Stages 1, 2 or 3 of the procedure. Two complaints were received from the Local Government Ombudsman. 31 compliments or letters of thanks were recorded.

The People & Communities Strategic Director wished to thank the Complaints Procedure Manager and her team for all their work in this area.

Councillor Colin Barrett asked if any reason could be given for the increase in complaints.

She said there had been a gradual rise in the number of complaints over recent years but the increase was more marked this year. She added that it was difficult to pinpoint the exact reason for the increase in the number of complaints; however, it had coincided with the increase in the level of service activity such as the number of children with a child protection plan.

The Head of Safeguarding Assurance for Children and Young People added that the Independent Chairs and Review Officers make sure all parties are aware of the procedure to complain if they feel they have not been listened to.

The Chair thanked them both for the report on behalf of the Panel.

The Primary and Secondary School Organisation Plan 2013 – 2017 at Appendix 1 outlines the current level of primary and secondary provision in the Authority, detailed projected pupil numbers over the next four years up to admissions in September 2017 based on births and resident population data and outline pupil numbers up to 2029 as a consequence of the future planned housing development in the Authority.

The School Organisation Manager introduced this item to the Panel. She explained that the DfE currently allocate Basic Need capital funding to local authorities in order to provide additional school places where pupils are projected to exceed the number of places available and where the increase is occurring as a result of population growth other than from housing developments supported by Developer Contributions. She informed them that the level of Basic Need Funding provided is calculated on the basis of the Local Authority pupil forecast data submitted to the DfE, which outlines the number of existing places in the Authority, the current number of pupils on roll and a projection of future pupil numbers expected, excluding any pupils supported by Developer Contributions.

She stated that Basic Need funding of £2.6m for years 2013-14 and 2014-15 is committed against the Basic Need schemes that are currently being developed to ensure that the places projected to be required for 2015/16 can be provided.

She said that the DfE had recently announced Basic Need funding for 2015/16 and 2016/17 and this had seen a significant increase in funding to £13m approximately. This reflects the projected growth in pupil numbers shown in the Council’s pupil place return to the DfE. Officers are assessing options and priorities for this funding.

She stated that in general, existing secondary school provision was expected to be sufficient for future pupil numbers arising from underlying population growth and future house building. She added that Secondary pupil numbers were expected to be lower over the next few years as the smaller numbers of pupils in the older year groups of primary school reach secondary school age and then to pick up again with admissions into Year 7 in 2018 onwards when the current younger primary age pupils who entered Reception in 2011 reach secondary school age.

She said that should a future proposed new housing development in a particular area be projected to result in a shortfall of secondary school places, the Authority would seek contributions from developers to provide additional places. This is highly likely to be delivered via the expansion of existing schools rather than by building new schools.

She informed the Panel that the future need for primary school places was expected to be affected by levels of underlying population growth coupled with pupils generated from new housing developments in line with the Revised Core Strategy and Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA).

Councillor Liz Hardman asked what would happen if the developers say they cannot contribute.

The School Organisation Manager replied that a viability assessment would then be carried out to show what the impact of that situation would be.

The People & Communities Strategic Director added that the work of the Core Strategy and the Placemaking Plan were critical to the future of the Council. He said that the Council needed to create sustainable communities and that the concept statements for this future work had been tested vigorously.

Councillor Liz Hardman asked when is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 78.

The Children Trust Board and Bath and North East Somerset Local Authority have jointly agreed to the development of a new CYPP 2014-2017. It will clearly define the priorities which will directly influence the future commissioning intentions for the delivery of services. The new plan is aligned to the Health and Well Being Strategy 2013-18.

Councillor Eleanor Jackson addressed the Panel. She spoke of the need to build confidence in young people and to promote a ‘Can Do’ attitude. She also highlighted the requirement to have a safety net of services available. She wished to commend the report to the Panel especially for the way in which it addressed obesity and physical fitness.

The Divisional Director for Children & Young People Specialist Services introduced the report to the Panel. He explained that the Children Trust Board and B&NES had jointly agreed to the development of a new CYPP 2014-2017. He added that it clearly defined the priorities which will directly influence the future commissioning intentions for the delivery of services.

He said that the 3 key priorities that had been identified were: -

·  Children and Young People are Safe

·  Children and Young People are Healthy

·  Children and Young People have Equal Life Chances

Councillor Liz Hardman said she was concerned over the figures in relation to alcohol misuse and asked what the Council could do to help on this issue.

The Divisional Director for Children & Young People Specialist Services replied that the intention was to continue to visit schools and to talk to pupils at an early stage to highlight the dangers of misuse to them. He also called for vigilance in licensing establishments.

The People & Communities Strategic Director added that the figures in the latest SHEU survey showed a decline in numbers and that the CCG had put in place an Alcohol Liaison Worker at the Royal United Hospital, Accident and Emergency department.

Councillor Liz Hardman commented that she felt that some people were bound to be missed through a lack of universal services.

The Divisional Director for Children & Young People Specialist Services replied that information regarding services was to be made available in a variety of ways and therefore the numbers would be minimal.

The Panel RESOLVED to note the draft Children and Young People’s Plan (CYPP) 2014-2017.

The Panel will receive a presentation regarding this item at the meeting.

The Deputy Director for Children & Young People, Strategy and Commissioning gave a presentation to the Panel regarding this item. A copy of it will be available online as an appendix to the minutes and on the Panel’s Minute Book, a summary is set out below.

Emerging Priorities for the CYPP 2014/7 to influence commissioning intentions:

·  Recognising and managing risk

·  Improved emotional well-being and resilience for children and young people

·  Reduced rates of alcohol/substance misuse

·  Improved support to families with complex needs

·  Support for children and young people with SEN, disabilities and lifelong conditions (SEND)

·  Reduced educational inequalities for key groups of children/young people:

o  Children in need/protection/care and care leavers

o  Children on free school meals

o  BME

o  Young Carers

o  SEN

Opportunities for integrated commissioning in 2015/6

Specialist commissioning

·  Advocacy for children in need

·  Young Peoples substance misuse

·  Adoption support services

·  PCAMHS/CAMHS services

·  Community Health services

Preventative Commissioning

·  Community Play services

·  Children Centres and Early Support Services

·  0-11 preventative services for children missing education

·  Youth Service

·  Autistic Spectrum Disorder Support Service

·  Behaviour Support and alternative education service

Public Health Commissioning

·  Public Protection/Health Improvement Service

·  Director of Public Healthy Settings (early years/schools/colleges)

·  Passport to health Community Activities/Food in education settings

·  Healthy Lifestyles Services

Adult services commissioning

·  Opportunities for improved commissioning against the pathways, integration, value for money and improved outcomes

Councillor Sarah Bevan asked if the profile of Mentoring Plus needed to be raised at all.

The Deputy Director for Children & Young People, Strategy and Commissioning replied that he believed the service was reaching the people required.

The People & Communities Strategic Director replied that he believed the group were aware of the need for further marketing.

The Chair thanked him for the presentation on behalf of the Panel.

The Cabinet Member will update the Panel on any relevant issues. Panel members may ask questions.

Councillor Dine Romero, Cabinet Member for Early Years, Children & Youth addressed the Panel. She wished to inform the Panel of some upcoming events.

UK Youth Parliament Elections – Thursday 30^th January

Primary Parliament – Thursday 12^th June, Guildhall

Youth Parliament – Thursday 26^th June, Chew Valley School

She complimented Mike Gorman, Headteacher of B&NES Virtual School for Children In Care for his work on the In Care In School DVD which had been widely commended.

On the subject of Alcohol Harm Reduction she commented that peer led support would also be sought.

She said she had attended the 10 in 100 celebration event and wanted to highlight the success of ‘Reading between the lines’ which was sponsored by Mentoring Plus. She added that idea behind it is to enable volunteer reading mentors to work with children in complex families.

The Chair thanked her on behalf of the Panel for the update.

The Panel will receive a verbal update on this item from the People and Communities Strategic Director.

The People and Communities Strategic Director addressed the Panel. He informed them that the first stage of the Assurance Test relating to the role of the Children’s Services Director had been carried out and that they would receive a report in March on the matter.

He explained that the Council’s Health & Wellbeing Board was currently undergoing a Peer Review and wondered if the Panel may wish to receive a report on it in the future.

He informed them of the rise in Pupil Premium. Children in Secondary School will receive £935, Primary School children will receive £1,300 and Looked After children will receive £1,900. He added that work was underway to track the impact of this funding.

He also wished to commend the work of Mike Gorman and Paul Hamnett for their work on the In Care In School DVD and Reading between the lines (10 in 100 project) respectively.

Councillor Loraine Morgan-Brinkhurst asked for the Panel’s thanks to be passed back to the officers also.

Councillor Liz Hardman said she would welcome a report on the impact of the Pupil Premium and asked if Academies could also be tracked on this.

The People and Communities Strategic Director replied that the Council could ask them for that information and felt that most would be willing to share it.

The Chair thanked him on behalf of the Panel for the update.

This report presents the latest workplan for the Panel.

The Chair introduced this item to the Panel. She proposed that a report on the Pupil Premium be added to the list of future items following earlier brief discussion on the matter.

The Deputy Director for Children & Young People – Strategy and Commissioning proposed that a report on the Family Information Service be added to the list of future items.

The Panel RESOLVED to agree with both of these proposals.