Agenda item

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

The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Councillor Michael Evans addressed the Panel. He wished to add to comments made earlier in the meeting his appreciation of all the work that Ashley Ayre has done within his role as the People & Communities Strategic Director.

His update included the following subjects.

Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children

The government is dispersing these children across the country to relieve Local Authorities in the South East, particularly Kent. B&NES will be required to accept another 20 in addition to the 3 we already have. These will be Looked After Children who will be fostered or in supported lodgings.

Adoption West

This co-operation with regional local authorities is going ahead and is a success story, offering better provision at potentially lower cost.

Regional Devolution

If implemented, this will see the regional authority take on responsibility for 16-19 provision, with the opportunity to ensure that the needs of local employers and young people are fulfilled.

Children’s Centres/ Children’s Services

I would like to give the Panel early warning that the restructured service which has completed its first year is suffering significant cost pressures. ‘Traded Activities’ such as ‘Play Buds’ and baby massage have not brought in as much income as was hoped and neither has the policy of renting rooms in Children’s Centres. A plan is being developed to prevent or limit a predicted short fall in income of between £200 and £300k in 2016/17. The Panel will receive a full report in due course.

Bath Community Academy

The former Culverhay school has been found ‘Inadequate’ by Ofsted. Pupils were found to have underperformed significantly over time. It is a matter of huge regret that any of our children’s life chances are reduced from what they might have been by less than good school provision.

Home to School Transport

The arrangements for SEND students to get to school have been identified as an area for potential savings without reducing the level of service, and a travel advisor post is to be created to lead in improving the arrangements, probably on a two-year contract.

SAT Results

Very recently published, these results are the first under the new arrangements, so not comparable with previous performance.  They show cause for concern, however, at both national and local level, and reflection will be needed on their implications.

Mentoring Plus AGM

An organisation which I admire and hope to see continuing its work and hopefully expanding into a role across the West of England if it wins a commission from the government’s Careers and Enterprise Company.

South West England Ofsted Conference

We received an inspiring presentation by Mike Gorman, head of our virtual school, and Mark Everett head of Writhlington School on attachment awareness in schools.

End of year assembly at Bath Studio School

This gave me and the Leader of the Council the chance to appreciate the students’ impressive individual progress and achievements.

Move a Mile

The Move a Mile initiative for primary schools by the department of Public Health was held at Odd Down Sports Centre. Physical fitness test as a tool to be offered by schools to help with gauging their effectiveness in promoting the fitness of their pupils is being developed by the Public Health department of the Council.

Councillor Tim Ball commented that two of his children attend Bath Community Academy and that he felt that the Ofsted report biased and based on Government guidelines. He added that it gave no recognition of their SEND work.

Councillor Liz Hardman asked for a little further information regarding his comments relating to Children’s Centres.

Councillor Evans replied that an analysis was ongoing and that the intention is to maintain targeted services to the most vulnerable.

Councillor Liz Hardman said that she felt that the problems relating to Bath Community Academy would have been picked up if it were not an academy and asked why these were not picked up by the Trust.

The Deputy Director for Children & Young People, Strategy & Commissioning replied that Cabot came in when the school was in a challenging situation. He added that the Council has challenged their data and worked with them on occasions.

Councillor Michael Evans added that Oldfield, Trinity and Bath Community Academy were not always receptive to approaches made by the Council.

The Chairman thanked him for his update on behalf of the Panel.