Agenda and minutes

Councillor J Clowes – Adults health and Leisure Portfolio Holder

Councillor G Hayes – Deputy Cabinet Member.

Nigel Moorhouse - Head of Early Help and Protection

Kate Rose - Head of Children's Safeguarding Unit

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 10 March 2015.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting of held on 10 March 2015 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To provide an opportunity for Members to declare the existence of a party whip in relation to any item on the agenda

There were no declarations of the existence of a party whip.

A total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to make a statement(s) on any matter that falls within the remit of the Committee.

Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes, but the Chairman will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned, where there are a number of speakers.

Note: In order for officers to undertake any background research, it would be helpful if members of the public contacted the Scrutiny officer listed at the foot of the agenda, at least one working day before the meeting to provide brief details of the matter to be covered. 

There were no members of the public present who wished to speak.

To consider a presentation and report of the Director of Children’s Services.

The Committee received a presentation from Nigel Moorhouse, together with a report from Ofsted relating to its inspection into the protection of children, looked after and care leavers and a review of the effectiveness of the local safeguarding children board which took place over a 4 week period starting on 6 July 2015.

Under the new inspection regime, Ofsted were able to give one of four judgements.

The Executive summary of the Ofsted report stated that:

·         Children who need help and protection Requires improvement

·         Children looked after and achieving

o   permanence - Requires improvement

o   Adoption - performance is Good

o   Experiences and progress of care leavers - Requires improvement

·         Leadership, management and governance -Requires improvement.

This gave an overall performance rating of ‘Requires improvement.’

The Committee questioned Nigel Moorhouse on the content of the report and on the process which would follow the publication of the report, the Council’s response, the production of actions plans and in particular, the role that this committee would play in overseeing the progress of the Council’s formal response.

The committee also expressed its desire to monitor the projected overspend of £400,000 reported in the quarter 1 financial and performance report at Corporate Scrutiny on 3 September 2015 and suggested that this could be undertaken in conjunction with the committee’s deliberations on the Ofsted report.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report be received;

(b)  That the Chairman be requested to liaise with the Director of Children’s Services and Deputy Chief Executive to determine the level of subsequent Scrutiny activity to monitor action plans in response to this report, and the work programme be amended to reflect this new activity;

(c)  That the Committee also keep under review the projected £400,000 budget overspend;

(d)  That the Director of Director of Children's Services and Deputy Chief Executive be requested to ensure that any training for members on Safeguarding be offered to all members of the Council.

To consider the annual report of the Local Children’s Safeguarding Board (LSCB)

Kate Rose presented the annual report of the Local Children’s Safeguarding Board (LSCB) which detailed the work of the LSCB for the year 2014/15.

The report commented on the progress the Board had made during the year against each of its strategic objectives and identified key challenges for the coming year and beyond.

The report acknowledged the links between the LSCB and the Improvement Board which had been set following the 2013 Ofsted Inspection and that whilst being independent of each other, the two boards shared the same objectives and determination to improve.

The LSCB had made significant progress to involve young people in its work in 2014/15 and many references to this were made in the report.

The report highlighted that in particular CSE remained one of the board’s highest priorities.

RESOLVED – That the report be received.

To consider a report of the Head of Corporate Resources and Stewardship.

The Committee reviewed its work programme.

The Chairman referred to a consultation document circulated to members outside of the meeting from the Barnados charity and noted that no comments had been received from Members of the committee and concluded that no further action would be required with respect to the consultation.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That  the following amendments be made to the work programme:

1.    That the item relating to the CFPS school attainment project be deleted;

2.    That the Chairman be requested raise with the new Director of Children’s Services the subject of Performance monitoring with a view to agreeing and including a timetable within the work programme;

3.    That the Chairman be requested discuss with the Director of Children’s Services the extent to which this Committee will be involved in the monitoring of the Council’s response to the Ofsted inspection;

4.    That the item relating to public health responsibilities be amended to read ‘0- 19 year olds’

5.    That the item relating to recruitment and retention of staff be linked with the Ofsted item;

6.    That the possibility of undertaking a joint piece of work on SEN be explored with Health and Adult Social Care Committee;

7.    That a Member briefing be arranged at the informal 26 October meeting on School Improvement and the building of new schools/planning regulations;

8.    That a briefing be arranged at the informal 21 December meeting on School Academies;

9.    That a new item be added to review mental health jointly with Health and Adult Social Care Committee;

10.That the appointment of additional members, namely: Councillors Rhoda Bailey and Dorothy Flude, to the CSE Task and Finish Group be approved.

To note the current forward plan, identify any new items, and to determine whether any further examination of new issues is appropriate.

The Committee reviewed the forward plan.

RESOLVED – that the forward plan be received and noted.