Agenda item

The Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Communities will update the Panel on any relevant issues. Panel members may ask questions on the update provided.

Councillor Dine Romero, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Communities addressed the Panel and had circulated an update prior to the meeting. A copy of the update will be attached as an online appendix to these minutes.

In addition, she informed them that she had attended an Inequalities Summit on 7^th November at Bath College. She said that discussions took place regarding the local and national picture and the factors involved. She added that there was an agreed view of the need to grasp and address these issues.

She highlighted to the Panel that she had attended the Youth Connect South West Awards evening on 2^nd November. She said that the awards showcased the outstanding personal effort by young people through another tough year and that it was wonderful to see them and their families celebrate their achievements. She added that Youth Connect South West spun out from the Local Authority as a Staff Mutual 3 years ago and it was evident that they have gone from strength to strength.

Councillor Liz Hardman commented that cuts to resources are expected to be made in the upcoming budget and that she hoped that certain elements could be ringfenced for Children & Young People. She also asked if there was anyway in which the budget could be increased to enable statutory duties to be met.

Councillor Romero replied that this was an important point to raise and that she too was troubled by the current situation. She said though that many elements in relation to finances were out of their control as more children were coming into the care of the Council and that increases were being seen in Passenger Transport for assisting children to get to and from school.

She assured the Panel that she would do all she could to protect the most vulnerable people across the Council.

Kevin Burnett commented that Teaching Unions feel that we are now in a time of crisis and would urge the Council to do all it could to limit the cuts that are to be made.

Councillor Romero replied that she and officers have met with leaders of Multi Academy Trusts and have discussed financial matters, including the rising energy costs. She added that where possible they will lobby the Government to seek extra funding.

Kevin Burnett said that the Government’s investment in Early Years training was welcome as without it the impact of Covid-19 will be compounded. However, Kevin Burnett added that there was a woeful lack of funding for Early Years and this money wouldn’t help that problem.

Councillor Romero replied that the majority of funding will not be for statutory services and that preventative services would not be covered.

The Director of Education & Safeguarding added that he was not yet fully aware of the funding details, but said that it would be for staff training and not be an increase in the funding rate per child. He said that he would provide further information to the Panel in due course.

Councillor Paul May said that he was pleased to hear the progress that had been made by Youth Connect South West and would welcome further information on what has been achieved.

The Chairman asked Councillor Romero to integrate that information into her next Cabinet Member Update to the Panel.

Councillor May stated that the SEND Review was a key issue for the Council and asked if the Government were going to be able to provide further support within this area.

The Director of Children's Services & Education replied that they were expecting the Government to respond to three reviews (SEND Review, Care Review and the White Paper) around mid-December.

Councillor May said that if SEND was not funded properly there would be an adverse risk to many young people.

Councillor Ruth Malloy suggested to also lobby through the LGA (Local Government Association).

Councillor Romero stated that she would raise this matter wherever she could and that she would write to the appropriate Government ministers and local MPs to advise them of the need for a positive local solution.

Kevin Burnett said that locally there was a shortage of SEND support staff and asked if the Council had considered using a model adopted by Oxford where they use bank staff to fill these placements.

The Director of Education & Safeguarding replied that discussions have taken place internally and at the School’s Forum regarding what support can be provided. He added that they were aware of the approach taken by Oxford and that the Head of Education Commissioning was looking into this model.

Councillor Joanna Wright commented that she had heard that should university students complete their courses and not initially gain employment on conclusion of that course then it may be cut from that university’s curriculum. She asked the Cabinet Member to investigate this matter.

Councillor Romero replied that she would do so.

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